blood tests are too unreliable,a dn very inaccurate....

if you have symtoms after being bitten by a tick..then treat. PERIOD. THe longer you wait to start abx the more the spirochetes get into your CNS and cause more damage..time is of the essence....

Then find a new llmd.

Lisa

Time is ticking and not in your favor, believe me on that one.

Like lla2 said if your doc is waiting for the test to decide if you got Lyme or not; that a really bad sign, this one, is another ignorant, negligent duck.

You also need to find a LLMD ASAP!

quote:

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Originally posted by cafe67:
My doc is willing to start the doxy - but we wanted to wait until i actually get the test kit and get blood work done - will ABX interefere with tests if I start? Only asking because i've seen so may postings about negative testing because of this. Starting to feel numb on right side of body. Would like to start today! I will also call iginex but wanted another oppinion. Thanks!

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Based on my own experience, I would say its worth waiting. In the past 18 months I was tested twice while on antibiotics - negative test results. The third time I had been off antibiotics for 5 months. I tested positive this time.

The time you wait is quite short. Once you call Igenex, the kit arrives in about 2 days. Get the blood drawn immediately and as soon as that has happened, you can start antibiotics, no need to wait for test results (which take a few weeks for your doc to receive).

A positive test result, which makes life a lot easier in so many ways, is worth the few days of waiting to start abx in my opinion.

quote:

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Originally posted by treepatrol:
How long before test kit arrives if its in a week start the abx's it will free up antigens and put pieces of the bacteria in your blood and urine.

Need three day urine test and Western blot igg and igm.

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thanks!!!!!!!!!! I just ordered the kit monday -so I should get it within a week? I am hoping. I have had a western blot from another lab (Qwest) done last week don't have results back yet. I am wondering if I should do the iginex also or wait for Q results? or get Q results and post?

If kit arrives this week, I will have it done next m,t or wed so I guess it would be good to start abx then?

quote:

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Originally posted by lla2:
YOu need a new llmd...a good llmd will not depend on testing to put anyone on abx for lyme or any coinfecitons..they will base their reason for abx and treatment on the patients current symtomoms..as according to the CDC...

blood tests are too unreliable,a dn very inaccurate....

if you have symtoms after being bitten by a tick..then treat. PERIOD. THe longer you wait to start abx the more the spirochetes get into your CNS and cause more damage..time is of the essence....

Then find a new llmd.

Lisa

[This message has been edited by lla2 (edited 28 April 2005).]

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Thanks Lisa - my dr is a gp who is actually willing to listen to me so it is a learning process for both of us. He was willing to give me 6 weeks of doxy - but we both thought that it would interfere with the test results as i have seen many times quoted here that a negative test means nothing because 1) you may be on abx.

He knows as much about lyme as me, but is actually the only dr who will treat me or is willing to listen to and learn more. I can't find anyone in wisconsin who is taking new patients so this is my dillema. at least he will give me the doxy and run the iginex test. All other drs (3)said "absolutely not!!" we use our labs here they are perfectly fine and you are perfectly fine!

Hopefully I will be able to either have my gp consult with an llmd or find an llmd I can get into see here.

quote:

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Originally posted by rocky:
You need to start the doxy 5 days before they take the blood; Flagyl would have been better because it breaks the cysts releasing more material to detect by the immune system and then ANTIBODIES FORM. He is ordering IgG and IgM for Borrelia, right? If you are sweating at night or day and have breathing difficulties, then he could order Babesia also. That is the recommendation of most LLMDs. As somebody else told you, that will free antibodies and bacteria to detect with the western blood test from IGenex. If your doctor wants to learn, ask him to check the homepage of www.ilads.org, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, which is formed by the doctors and health care providers that know the most about Lyme today. I think they even have a button for doctor referals, if not, check the Lyme Disease Foundation: they have that and a telephone number. Make sure he (and you) get the 2002 guidelines for treatment from Dr. Joe Burra.., and the ILADS treatment guidelines from 2004 because if you got Lyme you will need months of treatment; both documents are in that homepage. Good luck and let me know because I have family in Madison and they are begining the process as you are; we in Texas already are tested and eating away lots of antibiotics but getting better at last.

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Hi Rocky - glad to hear from you!!!!! Please keep me informed of your family in Madison since we are so close by (hour away) yes, I'm sure I have babs too. I'm also glad to hear you are improving - I feel very discouraged about the whole thing, so it is good to hear encouraging thoughts as well as the things I have been reading about - so many sad things.

quote:

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Originally posted by cafe67:

All other drs (3)said "absolutely not!!" we use our labs here they are perfectly fine and you are perfectly fine!

Hopefully I will be able to either have my gp consult with an llmd or find an llmd I can get into see here.

Thanks again!

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Hey Cafe, you may be grooming a new LLMD for Wisconsin.

The LLMD we use does not use Quest for testing, but does use a reputable lab, though not Igenex. The main reason for this is so insurance will pay for it, and it doesn't put additional economic burden on the patient. This LLMD treats symptomatically, with or without the test.

Downloading ILADS guidelines is an excellent idea, and so is utilizing an LLMD to assist your doc as well. Many LLMD's will do this.

Once you have a positive test it's much easier to get treatment, because it alleviates the doctor's fear that they'll be harassed for prescribing abx without a positive result..