My lyme MD, G. B. from Colmar, Pennsylvania (anything bad about him other than the waiting time?) ran a
zillion blood tests
and everything came back negative except western blot IgM. He put me
on 1 gram of Ceftin/day and 3 weeks later took blood again and
resubmitted it for the western blot IgG. It came back overwhelmingly
positive. Why? and more importantly which IgG result is more accurate?

Do I conclusively have lyme or some co-infection?

The reason I hesitate to believe the lyme diagnosis is that I have
virtually no classic lyme symptoms. I have been diagnosed with early
stage Parkinson's 2 years ago when I was 38 and my only real symptoms
is right hand resting and postural tremor, slowness with my right hand,
slight rigidity on right hand, recently muscles are starting to fatigue
early, especially in the right hand, random muscle twitching with
different muscles throughout my body from time to time, and the soles
of my feet cramp when I point my toes.

Don't get me wrong, nothing would make me happier than having lyme
instead of Parkinson's, but I just find it a big stretch.

after 6 weeks of 1g ceftin/day he just added doxicycline(?) 200mg/day
to the regime along with shots once per month. does that sound
reasonable?

I'm concerned about long term IRREVERSABLE effects of antibiotics, can
anyone tell me where to find out what they are for which antibiotic? (gall bladder, liver, candida, etc?)

should I get a second opinion? I live in long island,, but barras..
is not taking new patients. How is Horow..?
any info would be GREATLY appreciated,

Thanks,

The best way to get any info on a llmd would be to post in seeking a doctor and post your email (i have no idea if its posted now, i'm sorry I don't remember).

As for why the overwhelming positive, I know some llmd's have reasons for this but my brain isn't working well enough to explain it - maybe you could post the exact bands that were positive/equivocal on both tests and that could help some of the more knowledgeable.

Until then, peruse through these links and maybe they can help give you some answers, or probably more questions.

I apologize for not having more answers for you.
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/029260.html

you actually have some very classic symptoms....neuro Lyme (which all Lyme eventually turns into) doesn't hit like..."classic Lyme".

Your symptoms sound oh to familiar....the positive IgM. Well, that would do it for me.
Yep you got it....Lyme.

As for the follow up test...basically just checked to see if your immune system was turned off to the Lyme for a time...and it was.

remember...the CDC states...as does EVERYONE who knows anything about Lyme...the tests are innaccurate....to our detriment they show more false NEGATIVES than false positives.

Everything else sounds fine.

If you back off from anti-biotics now....fear the future.

The consequences of long term abx (antibiotics) falls far short of ongoing untreated Lyme. This disease WILL kill you if it goes untreated.

Trout

I know you said having a diagnosis of Lyme disease seems like it "is a big stretch."
But for many of us, your having a diagnosis of Parkinson's could be considered "a big stretch." It's all in how you look at something.

When symptoms are the same for different diseases, it's difficult to know what's really going on.

It's a well established fact that the Lyme tests can be negative when a person actually has the disease.

If Dr B (in PA) diagnosed Lyme based on your 2nd test being "overwhelmingly positive", along with the neurological symptoms you have, then I would consider his diagnosis to be correct. Lyme is supposed to be a "clinical diagnosis."

Most cases of Lyme do not fit the textbook descriptions of the disease.
Ex: My father only had Alzheimer's symptoms, but he had Neuroborreliosis - neurological Lyme disease.
Because he was mis-diagnosed for so long & we had so many complications (especially his age, our ignorance of LD & the LLMD was in NJ, no Lyme dr in SC) we stopped his treatment. A few years later, he died of complications of Lyme.

You are indeed fortunate - you have a Lyme Literate Medical Dr (LLMD), a positive test for Lyme, & you're on antibiotic treatment.

As for any irreversable effects of long term antibiotics -
Your LLMD will do routine blood work to monitor your condition.
If you adjust your diet & take adequate amts of Acidophilus to replenish the good bacteria in your system, then you should keep the candida under control.

The risk of these problems is minimal compared to the problems you'll develop if you do not get adequate treatment for this disease.

I hope this will help to dispel your fears about antibiotic treatment.

I don't know your LLMD personally, but a good recommendation for him is the fact he's one of the Directors for the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society. www.ilads.org
Maybe some of his patients can answer your questions.

You'll find lots of great info in "Links for new LymeNet members" http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html

I hope I have just lyme and not lyme on top of parkinson's!

How will I know if the antibiotics are starting to affect my gall bladder, thru the blood tests?

Thanks,

Thats why the second tests were possitive.

WELCOME To LYMENET

Here's more goodys! A typical response to newcomers.

Hi and WELCOME! Get a LLMD or at least Dr that is willing to learn about lyme. Borrelia Burgdorferi is a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms and on your response to treatment. Good Luck, bumpy road ahead.

Post for a LLMD in Seeking a Doctor. Ps remember I am not a Dr, just a fellow sufferer.
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( No you don't always see a bite and if there's no bullseye the only way your going to be able to tell is (symptoms) and (((Maybe))) WB or lyme dot blot 3 day urine banged with abx's to free your antigens up for the test. )
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