posted
I have heard both sides of the coin. I beleive the last I heard was that some DR's recommend a week of ABX first??? Pro's-Con's
Posts: 355 | From NY | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I asked the same question last week and I think the general consensus was test before starting the meds which is what I decided to do. You can call Igenex and talk to Dr.Nick Harris for his advice. Best of luck
Posts: 145 | From NorthEast US | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
I asked the same question last week and I think the general consensus was test before starting the meds which is what I decided to do. You can call Igenex and talk to Dr.Nick Harris for his advice. Best of luck
Posts: 145 | From NorthEast US | Registered: Aug 2005
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david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
I think it depends on when the infection occured. If you take it within 4 to 6 weeks of the bite, you may cause a false negative test result.
If you are a late stage, your antibody levels may be supressed and taking the antibiotics can bring those levels up by killing some of the batacteria. Don't forget that the tests look for antibodies to some of the fragments of the bacteria. So asside from the initial infection issue, there should in theory be minimal to no negative effect from taking abx prior to test.
As you probably know, it has been found repeatedly that tests will go positive in late stage after abx is taken.
Hope this info is of some use.
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
On my first visit with my LLMD he sent my bloodwork to Igenex and put me on a low dose of doxy (100 mg 2X/day).
I'm still awaiting results, but he said if it comes back negative we may do the test again after my having been on abx for the 4 weeks.
I would definitely be in the late stage category, assuming I do have lyme.
I don't really know about any pro's of taking it right away, except getting results as quickly as possible.
In retrospect, I wish my LLMD had given me more of an explanation about this, or that I knew enough at the time to ask questions about it.
If taking abx can help show antibodies (late-stage), why not just wait? Igenex tests are expensive!
Posts: 106 | From Michigan | Registered: Oct 2006
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
I was infected a long time I was also given abx's for a month before western blot and I was highly possitive. I had the 3 day urine test which I was on abx's about 3 days prior to this test and during the 3 day test I was highly possitive all 3 days.
Wife as far as we know was never bitten. She had the 3 day urine test on the first day she was negative the 2 day possitive the 3rd day possitive and she started abx's the day she started the 3 day urine test.
And my Dr allways primes the tests with abx's he gets lots of possitives for lyme.
So I think yes abx's help to kill spirochetes and free up antibodies so parts are in your blood and urine, yes do it.
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