"If enough of the complexes are formed, eventually it may be seen with the naked eye as a dark band. - Band intensity reflects how dark or wide it is. Controversy exists about band intensity.
Many would say the " +/-" equivocal ["IND"] bands are not significant. The problem I have with that, is that there are "-" negative bands. The lab has no trouble calling some bands negative. So they must be seeing something when they put "+/-" at some bands.
The only thing that makes sense, is that there is a little bit of that antibody present in your serum. If the "+/-" equivocal is reported on the borrelia associated bands, it is usually significant, in my clinical experience. This is a strong clue that I am on the right track.
Instead of ignoring these, they should be a red flag to keep pursuing a laboratory diagnosis. Giving patients 4 weeks of antibiotics (usually tetracycline, 500 mg, 3 times a day), will convert a negative or equivocal Western blot to positive in about 36% of cases."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Hi Jaime. Below is the breakdown of the Western Blot bands:
9 cross-reactive for Borrellia 12 specific for Bb 18 unknown 20 cross-reactive for Borrellia 21 unknown 22 specific for Bb, probably really the 23/25 band 23-25 outer surface protein C (OspC), specific for Bb 28 unknown 30 unknown; probably an outer surface protein; common in European and one California strain 31 outer surface protein A (OspA), specific for Bb 34 outer surface protein B (OspB); specific for Bb 35 specific for Bb 37 specific for Bb 38 cross-reactive for Bb 39 is a major protein of Bb flagellin; specific for Bb 41 flagellin protein of all spirochetes; this is usually the first to appear after a Bb infection and is specific for all Borrellia 45 cross-reactive for all Borellia (sometimes people with Lyme who have this band positive also have the co-infection Ehrlichiosis) 50 cross-reactive for all Borrellia 55 cross-reactive for all Borrellia 57 cross-reactive for all Borrellia 58 unknown but may be a heat-shock Bb protein 60 cross reactive for all Borrellia 66 cross-reactive for all Borrelia, common in all bacteria 83 specific antigen for the Lyme bacterium, probably a cytoplasmic membrane 93 unknown, probably the same protein in band 83, just migrates differently in some patients
Band 41 is often the first to show and yours is positive. Bands 34 and 39 are Lyme specific bands and yours are IND. I think it is good you are getting treated.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Dear Jamie,
Glad to see you are being diagnosed and seeing a LLMD.
That Western Blot is highly suspicious of Lyme.
Remember, it is a clinical diagnosis....
Serological tests just help to support that.
Time to get on the road to getting better.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
thank you all for the responses. Currently I am on 300mg omnicef twice daily.
don't think my LLMD is the best....but it's a starting point.... he said next month we may try a new abx, or add one too this...
I'm concerned about viral infections that may have been "opened" up, since 4 months ago I had coritisone shots....12 of them in my spine....obviously before I knew I had lyme...and a good friend of mine had the same problem...which of course makes treatment harder.
He also hasn't tested for co infections, and from my understanding, can't get rid of lyme until you do co infections....
I also went to a naturopath, who says I have mold issues.... very, very badly....she said she's only seen 5 people with levels as bad as mine.... and that my iodine levels are very low.
I guess there have been studies where iodine has actually reversed cancer (I'm not a doctor, just hear say)..... so she put me on cat's claw (with something else in it too, some sort of antifungal), and iodine....
Posts: 151 | From ohio | Registered: May 2007
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
Just to clarify....
quote:Originally posted by Sammi: 41 flagellin protein of all spirochetes; this is usually the first to appear after a Bb infection and is specific for all Borrellia
I didn't read the whole list and I don't know them all off of the top of my head, but I know that the first part of this statement "41 flagellin protein of all spirochetes" is true.. which means the second part "is specific for all Borrellia" is false
It can't be specific for Borrelia and belong to all spirochetes.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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