I am going to get some more blood tests done pretty soon. Currently I am on a low dose of doxy (200mg) and wondered, would 3 days off before getting the blood drawn be of any use??
I just had a neg test, and thought I would try again though. The plan is off doxy and take flagyl for a couple of days, draw the blood, and continue my abx.
Any thoughts??
Posts: 155 | From Norway | Registered: Jan 2006
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I can only speak to my experience. I was on 200 mg of Doxy when I was first ill. After being at that dose for close to three months, my doctor stopped the antibiotic for seven weeks and then ran another Lyme Western Blot.
This time we didn't bother with local labs since we never learned anything of value. We sent my blood to StoneyBrook Lab in Ny.
By Stoney Brook's lab standards I finally tested positive for three Lyme bands. We then knew I had Lyme Disease and began treating me more aggressively.
So in my case, I would say taking an extended break from the antibiotic helped to bring about useful test results. I did become more ill but it was worth it because we no longer wondered what was wrong with me. I also tested positive for Bartonella at that time using Quest Labs.
Wishing you all the best - Deb
Posts: 162 | From RI | Registered: Aug 2003
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TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
Siggy,
Thats so hard to answer. some patients test positive no matter what, and some test negative no matter what.
When I first tested in 2002, I tested equivocal by blood, but positive by Lyme DOt Blot Assay.
FOUR years later, I tested so positive, it was CDC positive and that was after 3 years of abx, and a year off ( and still not feeling quite right).
The thing was though, when I got the positive, I was flaring BIG TIME. Not herxing, flaring. That may have helped me out, as the lyme was out in my blood or whatnot.
Its very hard to answer. I have heard some people say that since lyme goes to injury sites, if you pinch your arm where they are going to take blood from, that may increase the chance of a positive. I never tried that technique, I just got lucky and got a shinning CDC positive bloodwork.
Let us know how yourresults turn out.
-------------------- You want your life back? Take it. Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
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The lab that did my tests the first time, had already looked at a video of my blood, showing a bacteria. They reckoned it was borrelia because of my explained symptoms.
They ran a few tests, all neg. Then I told that flagyl made an increase in the bacteria seen on bloodsmears. So, they told me to chew some flagyl and send another bloodsample, and they would have a look - free of charge!
I was so impressed at their service! It is a lab in europe, and the manager seems to genuinely want to help me get a pos.
It is a bit unexpected to recieve actual help like this. Everywhere else lyme seems to be a curse-word.
I will give an update when I know.
Posts: 155 | From Norway | Registered: Jan 2006
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