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I would like to have my son tested for bartonella. Should that be run by a specific lab? Thanks Patti
Posts: 687 | From PA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Hi Patti, Another reliable lab for Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs) is the one my dr used for Bartonella: Med Diag Lab in Mt Laurel, NJ. www.mdlab.com
I was lucky - was positive.
My Bart symptoms were so subtle, I'm not sure I'd know if the treatment got rid of it or not. Main thing was that a persistent, re-occurring rash has not returned.
I've been told the tests for co-infections are not any more reliable than the tests for Lyme, so personally, I wouldn't want to 'rule-out' Bartonella based solely on a lab test.
Are you seeing a Lyme Literate Med Dr (LLMD)?
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Ive had about ten bartonella tests(all the well known lyme labs),the only two that came back positive was from my local hospital(St Lukes in New Bedford Mass.). I dont know if you could send blood there but it might be interesting.I had had elevated bilirubin,which can be a sign of bartonella,after I was treated with cipro and rifampin my bilirubin has been normal.I believe the bartonella really had my brain wired and racing,its a little better since these meds.Becareful though,the cipro messed up my tendons and I had to stop it.Bart seems to really mess with the brain.Joe
Posts: 225 | From mass. | Registered: Mar 2004
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cbb, I have an appt for myself tomorrow (YAY) but my son is another LONG story. I got pregnant with him after finishing 9 months of ABX for lyme the first time I had it 8 years ago. (and I have been symptom free since then till this year when I rec'd multiple bites again. BUT he had what I found out later to be a nasty yeast like rash around his anus (sorry so graphic) the day he was born. He has "issues" since he was 15 months or even earlier with leaky gut, yeast, anger and bi-polar type behaviors. We determined that he was also affected by his vaccinations. I had Dr. J test him when we had my daughter there for her lyme and he could not determine either way for sure if he had lyme. We treated him for 60 days but I was always hesitent becasue not knowing for sure and his yeast issues concerned me. Anyway it is all so tangled and when I read about bartonella and lyme and anger it makes me wonder. His anger comes and goes like lyme symptoms. He also has a vocal tic that comes and goes too. I always assumed it was yeast. Patti
Posts: 687 | From PA | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by cbb: I've been told the tests for co-infections are not any more reliable than the tests for Lyme, so personally, I wouldn't want to 'rule-out' Bartonella based solely on a lab test.
Hi ~ just thought I would add to this discussion that Dr. C in MO appears to be of the same opinion. He states that:
1) The tests are unreliable
2) It would appear there are different strains of Bartonella and when you have different strains of germs, the test results may be falsely negative.
3) He has never seen a positive Bartonella test yet.
4) To 'protect patients' pocketbooks' he rarely tests for co-infections, if the tests were more reliable he would be more inclined to order more.
5) He states: "In general, when potential coinfections are targeted with antibiotics, most patients get better."
It was interesting to read all the comments about everyone's experience with testing. I am suspicious of bart in my case (plus being bit by the deer tick I was bit by a stray cat around the same time). I had very swollen lymph glands and other symptoms of Bartonella. I haven't been tested for it. After reading about the testing, I didn't feel it was probably worth it.
Best Wishes!
Edited to correct typo
[This message has been edited by BambiLand (edited 04 November 2004).]
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