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The search button isn't working again... sorry if I'm being reptitive. I'm trying to find out how important it is to test for co infections?
I've been in treatment for 6 months and my LLMD wants to check co infections. Is the testing accurate and will the LLMD target these infections if something comes up?
Can you have co infections and not lyme? Would the symptoms be similar to lyme?
I didn't have a lot of positive bands on the Igenex western blot but the bands that were positive did relate to lyme. LLMD definitely feels I have lyme.
Yes, I have a lot of symptoms so am pretty sure I have it.
Yes, important to look for coinfections. This is the sign of a good doc, that he wants to do this. However, the tests are about as good as the lyme tests, and the symptoms overlap.
Sorry, you are looking for some firm ground to stand on, but there's not a whole lot in tick borne diseases.
Lots of lymies have coinfections and the same meds don't work on all of them.
Sure wish they could fix the search function.
Good luck. Sounds like your doc is on the ball.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
MY LLMD tested me for co-infections at my first visit, MDL lab in NJ. From what I've read you must be treated for co-infections if you are to get anywhere with Lyme. MDL website- www.mdlab.comPosts: 79 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2005
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Yes, it is possible to have coinfections and not Lyme. It's not probable but it's possible. A tick can carry one or more of any of the diseases. It just depends on what your particular tick(s) was/were carrying.
A lot of times, a LLMD will treat for each coinfection even without testing.
posted
Well, when they do tick surveys, they find some ticks uninfected and others with varying assortments of germs. So, what is true for the ticks is true for the people they bite and infect or don't infect.
The rate of infection germs in ticks varies a lot depending on geographic locality. In some places bartonella is the most common germ. In some places, up to 50% of the ticks have more than one germ.
Yes, possible to have one germ and not others, whether lyme or the "co-infections."
quote:Originally posted by tickalert: Does anyone know the cost of testing for co infections?
The LLMD's want the whole family tested... husband and 2 daughters.
Will Igenex give me this information?
I think mine ended up being just under 1300.00. glup! I hope my insurance reimburses me! It was a bit of a shock when the bill came.
Posts: 207 | From san francisco, ca | Registered: Mar 2005
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MammaLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1257
posted
The best lab is the Bowen Research lab in FL. Have your doctor call them at: 727-937-9077 and have him ask for the serial dilution tests which includes the co-infections. This is the best test around since they send colored pictures of what is in your blood. I took all the other tests and they were only piecemeal at best.
Then I went to Bowen and they saw not only lyme but babesia and HME and HGE. Bowen was just patented for their lyme test. Wait until you see the pictures. it will creep you out.
The cost is $250 per test but it is a donation and you can deduct this from your taxes. They also see all the babesia not only the Microti and WA-1.
Go to www.lymediseaseinformation.com and print out the Pfizer pamphlet and that will show you the coinfections. They will look the same from Bowen. Remember, Bowen is a not for profit lab and the others are for profit. Bowen just received their patent for the lyme test. As soon as it is approved by the FDA, it will be the only lyme test approved that is accurate.
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Bowen tests for coinfections as well as for Borelia, and for the same low price. Bowen has a patent on their method of identifying Borrelia which took 3 months to obtain as they were fully examined and the result was that their tests was 100% ACCURATE in all cases.The patent is retroactive to January 4th 2005. FDA approval is now being applied for. Unfortunately that will be the worst hurdle, the FDA being a huge organization and recently under fire for corruption by some of their physicians. Will have to be patient and hold our breath. Ted
Posts: 77 | Registered: Aug 2004
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I should have mentioned that telephoning Bowen is rather fruitless, their telephone rings off the hook all hours of the day from all over the world. The best way is to use their Fax number 727 942 9687. Their e-mail address is also inundated [email protected] Ted
Posts: 77 | Registered: Aug 2004
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