I have been off antibiotics since 2002, and thankfully, I have been functioning fairly well.

However, I had a CD57 done in February of this year and the killer cell function score at that time was 9, which I was told was borderline. I had another CD57 done last September and the killer cell function score was lower (5).

I have not seen Dr. B. yet for his explanation, but can any of you tell me what this score means?

What can I do to boost my immune system?

Are Reishi Max and Immune Formula by Pharmanex good supplements to take for the immune system?

This product is organically grown and the nutritional evaluation stated it has contains many vitamins and minerals especially polysacharides for immune system booster. I got mine free when I order podi patch.

I've tried many other products before and to me this is the best. My CFS improves within a week using this. My T-cell counts is higher too and my circulation improves.

it's like having a car that works just fine but with a an electronic sign on your dashboard that says "needs service" when you don't.

but you still got to take care of the car, and yourself in the long run...

if you feel comfortable with dr.b's immune supps. like reishi max it couldn't hurt to take them. ultimately your choice.

if you are concerned with the scores call or fax dr.b's office, if that is who your doctor is, and ask what he thinks. or you can always make an appt, (if you really feel like driving the 3 hrs from mahwah!).

be gracoius that you are doing well, and don't fret over the "test scores".

happy healthy new year,

zip

J29 - I pretty much posted the same thing over the weekend. Only mines a 1, yet I feel great. If I knew the answers, I wouldn't have failed the test so miserably. I've tried just about everything under the sun.

Marnie gave me some interesting info though that's worth a read.

Actually I've been doing quite well this past few months since I did a few great programs from AKG Naturals so I'm crossing my finger things go well for me. I'm going to tell him that I don't want to be giving any drugs if I have a choice so let's see what he's going to say about that.

At this point whatever my test result will be it does not really a big concern for me. All that matters is how am I feeling and am I able to function well again. Thanks God I'm not laid up in my bed everyday anymore. Now that's a total drag before.

It's good to know I'm ending the year with good health and looking forward to great health in the coming year. Yeah!

So how are you doing lately with your treatment? I hope things go well for you too.

Zip, you're right I shouldn't be waisting time thinking about the test results if I am feeling okay right now. But if I am spending money on these tests I would like to know what these results mean and how credible they are.
I have faxed Dr. B's office requesting more info but he will not discuss anything by fax or over the phone. I have to make an appointment, which is not easy for me since I live 3 hours away from him.

JulieG, thanks for your input. I will find your previous post on this topic and read it. What's your doctor's explaination about score?

This time around, she tells me to take the double strength immune enhancer (well, duh, I've been taking it for 9 months now) and up the Cat's Paw. That's all I got, so I was a bit freaked too. I've had this test run 3 times now and it's always been this low.

I really thought that being off abx and feeling so great, I'd see some improvement.

I guess it's best to go by how you feel and let this stuff work itself out. There are tons of immune enhancers out there and I've been taking them all, to no avail. I've been sick for 10 years, so I figure what's another year or two for normal testing... as long as I continue to feel great and improve.

I would love to know what Dr. B. says about feeling great with a low CD-57 test.

After 20 months of ABX, I'm awaiting the results of my first CD-57 test & was told it was to get a baseline of where I'm at.

I found Dr. B's article about CD-57 published back in 2002.

Click on Melissa Kaplan's website and scroll down to heading, "THE EMERGING SCIENCE OF LYME". You'll find this article:

"Longterm Decrease in the CD57 Lymphocyte subset in a Patient with Chronic Lyme Disease"

Here's the link:
http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/

An earlier article in 2001 by Dr. S. and W. is also posted directly below Dr. B's article at the same website:

Decrease in CD57Lymphocyte in Patients with Chronic Lyme Disease

=============================================
Here's an opinion from Melissa Kaplan's website about the CD57 test.

"Last Important Note:

One thing that probably needs to be said is that these tests, while they may be useful in supporting or adding another layer of data to the picture of immune dysfunction, are not definitively diagnostic of anything.

The tests listed above may or may not be useful to the patient and the ordering physician in looking into other areas of supportive treatment.

If one's insurance carrier or Medicare pays, great. If not, the patient has to decide whether having the panel done is going to be interesting or useful enough (for example, in helping to support their claim of being too sick to work; in finding out about or tracking NK cell counts, etc.) to pay for the testing themselves.

If money is tight, as it is for most of us, then, since this is not a diagnostic test panel, don't have it done if what you are looking for is a diagnosis or confirmation of a different diagnostic test."

If you want to read the full opinion, click on Melissa Kaplan's link above and scroll down to the heading, OTHER INTERESTING ARTICLES.
Click on, "Stricker NK Panel CD-57."

============================================

Anyway, thought this was all very interesting.

Let us know what you find out.

Take Care,
Jan

Do you have any experience with Pharmanex's Reishimax and Immune formula. Dr. B. seems to favor this brand but I don't hear anyone on this board mention them at all.

Do you have any experience with Pharmanex's Reishimax and Immune formula. Dr. B. seems to favor this brand but I don't hear anyone on this board mention them at all.

Just thought I would say what I was doing regarding immune issues. Hope this helps.

Also I get acupunture and I think that helps.

Also heard meditation is one of the best immune enhancers there is but have yet to be able to discipline myself to do it.

NAC seems to have great results for some - I haven't it tried yet. My ND recommends Host Defense but I have yet to try that either. And her husband (a clinical research scientist) also does not have high hopes on Reishi mushrooms and says to save the $.

I would think with a low number your body is compromised and you should supplement and exercise to build it up, but not necessarily worry about the number.

Again, if you're feeling good but have a low number, how's that compare to someone with a high number that feels like crap?

REISHI MUSHROOMS
Pharmanex ReishiMax GLp supports your body's own natural immune system by supporting the activity of your antibodies and Natural Killer Cells.* Pharmanex's proprietary and uniquely effective cracked-spore technology unlocks reishi's active ingredient making ReishiMax GLp� highly bioavailable. ($88.60 retail -- ouch! -- so consider ordering it as an ADR "autoship" for a more reasonable price, $66.50.) You can specify the ADR price at checkout.

ReishiMax GLp from Pharmanex
http://www.pharmanexusa.com/cgi-bin/pxweb/product/en/ns_productDetail.jsp?content_id=01003519&spons_ID=US0668509

I can send you an overview page of all Pharmanex immune boosters (PDF format) if you email me. Or you can click on the "Immune Chart" on the previous web page.

1.Their blood level might be low because the remainder of them are elsewhere in the body in high numbers, and doing their job: a. in a hyperactive way, b. at normal level of functioning, and/or, c. suboptimally

2.0 Low count and poor functioning?
2.1 Low count and normal functioning?
2.2 One could have a high blood count of these, and yet they're poorly functioning.

3.0 Their count and function are normal, because other cells of the immune system are not sending signals to them that there is an infection. The ability of these other imm. sys. cells to let NK cells know something is arwy has been compromised by tick-borne bugs?

Gentle caveat:

Be careful of what you're 'boosting'. In some ways we are hyper-boosted; T-helper(CD4) cells are 'off the chart' in count and function, and this, alone, correlates with a low T-Suppressor count, and/or might even be one of several causes for the latter's low count and/or function. Therefore, taking supplements of many kinds that further boost CD4 count, and thereby encouraging the pumping-out of inflammatory cytokines will worsen symptoms.

Ex.:In lyme there can there can the paradoxical effect of megadoses, or perhaps even normal doses of certain vitamins and/or minerals that will cause the further rise in quinolinic acid by brain(?) phagocytes(certain neural structures in the brain), and possibly other kinds of phagocytes that WILL worsen your symptoms. Increased confusion, putting strange objects like one's shoes, or the tea kettle in the frig. might manifest this and other kinds of strange behavior. Agitation, irritability.

Megadoses of at least oral vit. C, B6, B2, and one mineral whose name escapes me at the present, will cause increased production of quinolinic acid.

Vit. B3, as in niacin(not niacinamide) and magnesium WILL counteract the above effects of the other mentioned nutrients. However, B3 in large doses will worsen existing liver problems, and inflammation including inflammation of the heart.

Gingko will worsen certain, if not all kinds of thyroid problem(s). If you get 'crazed' and you had gingko prior to getting crazed, consider gingko problematic; even if it does increase circulation to the brain, thereby counter-acting hypoperfusion of the brain, gingko might not be good to take.

See sources on the immune system for further information.

[This message has been edited by DiffyQue (edited 30 December 2004).]

[This message has been edited by DiffyQue (edited 31 December 2004).]

[This message has been edited by DiffyQue (edited 31 December 2004).]

AHCC/Active Hexose Correlated Compound

AHCC is a proprietary compound produced by cultivation and enzymatic modification of several species of mushroom mycelia, including shiitake, grown in rice bran extract. Considered a superfood supplement in Japan, AHCC has been researched extensively for its immune-enhancement properties. According to human and animal research, AHCC may significantly increase natural killer (NK) cell activity. AHCC may also increase macrophage activity, enhance cytokine production, and support the healthy functioning of the liver, as well as act as an antioxidant.

DiffyQue, thank you for the interesting information regarding the potential adverse effects of immune system supplements.
I will will discuss this with Dr. B. and see what he thinks.
What do you do to help your immune system?

Mbroderick, thanks for Dr. Bischoff's
interview article. It was very informative and made me realize that my high stress level and candida range are definitely not helping my NK cells.

Have you used Biomune and AHCC yourself and, if so, how did they effect your NK cell function?

Cat's claw:

"Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Uncaria tomentosa contains a number of different chemical compounds which contribute to the bark's powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Among these are the glycosides.

Glycosides, so-called because their main constituent is glucose, also contains other types of organic compounds which are responsible for their anti-inflammatory effects.

Dr. Rita Aquino at the University of Naples in Italy isolated

quinovic acid glycosides,

a rare type of glycoside, in both species of Cat's Claw. An extract which isolated the glycosides in cat's claw was given orally to rats whose paws had been made to swell. The swelling was reduced by almost half (46.8%).
http://www.nutraceutic.com/Products/AmazonHerbs/WholeWorldBotanicals/catsclawpowder.htm

DQ...do you know of a chemical similarity between
quinovic acid and quinolinic acid?

++ charged glycogen combined with an acid?

Anyway you cut it, if you knock off too many pathogen too fast, this releases the toxins in their outer cell walls. You will become more acidic. Dangerous to kidney cells (esp.). Up goes TNF alpha.

Alkaline, low glycemic index diet. Nice Epsom salt baths. Take walks if at all able or consider supp. with CoQ10 as Dr. B's guidelines suggest. The highest doses of CoQ10 avail. OTC might NOT be a good idea! Go slow and steady.