stymielymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10044
posted
there are no reliable blood tests to monitor lyme disease.
elisas will almost always stay positive even after treatment. western blots can also stay postive esp IGG
pcr's are rarely positive to begin with, and just because you were positive the next test may be negative.
bowen test may show a derease in titer but you need a baseline bowen prior to treatment. that may be the closest test to help monitor.
a spect scan can tell if it is becoming more progressiv, if over time the spect scan gets worse. docdave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
I agree that the Bowen is the best and you need a baseline. That said, why not get one and see where you are?
Keep in mind how long you were ill before diagnoses because the Bowen tests only the blood and in late stage lyme, the bacteria is in the organs.
I saw one test come back with the lowest titer they have, 1:2. Everyone was so confused because this man was VERY sick. The fact that he was so sick was the clue; the bacteria was throughout his organs and nervous system and out of the blood stream.
Others can have a very high titer but only be somewhat symptomatic because it hasn't moved into their organs yet.
Good luck!
Posts: 982 | From Florida | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
I had a bowen test in July that came back at 1:128 and the picture was of a cyst form. I had been having symptoms accumulate and migrate(some were fairly mild) for a couple months.
Then as I was able to take off work, rest, and research this disease (and try to get a local duck to work with me), the symptoms began to subside - but not fully.I had to get my sister-in-law (licensed but nonpracticing MD)sign off on the Bowen test for me.
I was able to get in to see Dr C in Mo in Aug and began treatment (200mg Doxycycline twice a day and Nystatin 4pills 4 times a day) . My symptoms had pretty much dissipated before I started treatment, except fatigue, slightly sore knuckle joints (especially thumbs), and my numbness on the outside of my right leg from the knee (this was the painful joint) half way down.
I don't think I really herxed on Doxy and I rarely have symptoms now (2 months since starting doxy), just occasional hand joint pain, fatigue still a little bit of a problem and my numbness from my knee down on the outside of my leg has gotten better (smaller area and almost feels normal now). I still have not gone back to work as we own our own business and hubby has not needed me yet. {almost forgot - I started antiyeast diet and probiotics before my first office visit w/ Dr C. because of all the reading & research I did here and other sites.}
I also started vit/mineral supplements like sublingual B12 and Mg to my regular vit/mineral regime and a Liver detox (after my office visit w/ dr C). Recently started the Heparin injections - hand joints starting to hurt more. Just ended the Doxy & Nystatin this weekend. Dr C wants to start me on hormones after I get the Heparin regulated, so will probably not get a Bowen for awhile.
I understand most of the Borrelia that the Bowen detects are the cyst form. I need to do some more checking on the theory of what forms are found where. I can see where it does make sense that a low Bowen titer could mean that the "bugs" are in the organs and of course I recently read where people are thinking doxy causes them to "burrow" into the organs. I am wondering what another Bowen test now would show?!?
Dr C does not like the Bowen since he is leery of all the positives. He will probably want me to do the IGenex.
posted
At first onset of this illness I tested neg. 8 times before a positive thru Igenx. (1990).
Somewhere around 1998 I was tested again, just to see, I was symptom FREE at this time, as a matter of fact doing better then ever, being approx. 95% - I tested highly postive.
Doc and I decided NOT to treat because as he said once postive always postive and after that it's more along the line of how many symptoms you have and how active they are.
Posts: 374 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2006
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JillF
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5553
posted
quote:Originally posted by bettyg: From the 2 years I've been correctly dx with chronic lyme and in treatment, my suggestion is this one:
CD 57, natural killer testing for current "infections".
My 1st IGENEX was done 5-04; 2nd IGENEX was done 4-06 and many less positives were shown for comparison. Bettyg
My LLMD is now using the CD57 to determine if you are cured of Lyme or not. I was told my level was normal and I should not have Lyme though I have many, many symptoms that still persist on a daily basis.
Posts: 1485 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2004
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