SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
Have others experienced less-positive Western Blots over time with treatment? After a few months of treatment, my latest WB showed fewer bands but much higher (and new) coinfections. My doctor said this could mean the treatment is working against Bb or that it is just hiding out somewhere but that the increase in antibodies against the coinfections was a likely good sign which could mean the immune system is now waking up and creating antibodies. Thoughts?
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
My last test after being treated on and off for a few years came back equivical. But when I started abx's again I herxed.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
I would think that less antibody reactivity COULD mean the treatments are working against Bb..
but also means your own antibodies are not. They are taking a break.
Maybe that's the way it needs to be with certain treatments..
I would be interested in a WB reading when patients are on homeopathy or other immune engaging therapies and in a 'healing crisis'.. (immune response..) and compare that with a 'herxing crisis'.. (treatment induced die-off..)
another note is often children test with strong band reactivity...as tho their immune systems are stronger.
It's such a tough call with the WB, depends on allot of factors.
IE: when I was severely ill and pre-aggresive treatment, I had only one band showing - number 41. Doc L writes in his papers about how often the most severely ill do NOT have antibody reactivity detected because their body is not able to put up a fight.. (one of the reasons the WB is such a poor diagnostic tool, but a good thing to track with IMO, and maych with treatments and responses)
after aggressove treatment, I had several more bands appear. Like something 'kicked in'.
Then again, also of you have successfully targeted Bb and rediced the load, then too you would have less antibody response. Tho, with co-infections...you may not be able to bring Lyme down to the levels you need to intil addressing them effectively.
also, it is common and two LL's (including the Ped, Doc J) have stated in our cases that oftentimes when Bb gets knocked out some, the other infections take opportunistic gain in the system.
Kind of like the 'Whack a Mole' game..knock one down and another pops up.
it is not uncommon that positive testing for co-infections comes after successful reduction in Bb. We caught Bartonella and Mycoplasma some time down the pike.
Mo
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
Yeah. I got this too. First IgM from Igenex positive--now almost a year later it is equivical with different positive bands.
Posts: 50 | From San Diego, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 2004
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
HEALTHY antibodies (as opposed to damaged ones) are measured by the WB test. This, to me, indicates a GOOD thing. Your OWN immune is kicking in...you are once again making HEALTHY antibodies...ones that will work...to the job intended.
One of TNF alpha's jobs (it has many) is to rid the body of damaged antibodies.
Damaged because they were malformed. In the case of the antibodies to Bb...the "fab" portion is often damaged and restoring Mg+Ca, restored the "health" of the antibodies to lyme. (Pubmed abstract)
Malformed because it takes enough Mg and Ca to make perfect/healthy antibodies. (mdschoice website explaining the functions of Mg).
The Marines have returned. ;-)
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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