Topic: Anyone re-do babesia titre to see if up or down?
Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
This is something I'm considering doing for babesia WA-1.
I tested positive initially through Sonoma County.
Have treated it twice, several months apiece. I'm now six months treatment free (though not 'zackly symptom free).
I do understand that people who test positive might continue to test positive for a while after treatment, but surely not after six months!
AliG said in another thread: Quest also caught my Babs and has been showing ups & downs there that correspond to my increases & decreases in symptoms.
That makes me think it might be a good idea.
What do y'all do? I hate to start treatment again if my symptoms might actually be from lyme and not babesia.
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
Hi Michelle!
The first time, after 1 month Tx, symptoms came down. During next month, symptoms came back up. Txd another month, symptoms came down again. Then started Txing Lyme because LLMD thought it was gone.
I don't think titers fell for a month, maybe 6 weeks? I can't really remember.
When symptoms came back up, so did titers.
If you think it's back up again, I'd ask for the test. I think it's been helpful.
-------------------- 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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tabbytamer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3159
posted
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Michelle M: I do understand that people who test positive might continue to test positive for a while after treatment, but surely not after six months!
Isn't babs in the red blood cell? I thought it took 4 months for new cells to start forming (in a healthy person)??? If so, that wouldn't mean that all the bad cells die off at the same time, right?
I don't know. Whether six months would be long enough is a good question.
AliG said in another thread: Quest also caught my Babs and has been showing ups & downs there that correspond to my increases & decreases in symptoms.
Hmm. It would be interesting to see if others had this same symptom/lab result cycle.
Anyone else discover this correlation between symptoms/lab results?
MM: Let me know if you decide to start monitoring your babs in this way and what you discover, okay?
AliG
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Member # 9734
posted
The tests I'm referring to are the IGG/IGM. For me the smears were worthless. They weren't actually looking for the infected cells, just antibodies.
-------------------- 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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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Thanks Tabby and AliG.
I would probably do the Sonoma County test again, because I can afford $60 a lot sooner than $250 to have a smear done by the lab in Arizona, which I was considering.
If if was negative I'd be inclined to blame current issues on lyme instead of babesia WA1. I don't want to keep treating babesia if it's gone!
I really wish, like everyone, a test could measure our progress, or lack thereof. However, AliG's experience makes me hope it might be possible, assuming you have a strain that shows up on tests, as mine seems to.
Anyone else who re-tests babesia periodically?
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
My LLMD tests babs titers periodically. Titers have gone up and down, and do seem to correspond to my babs symptoms, too.
Generally, I think it's about 9 months between tests? Not sure exactly but that sounds about right.
At the time of my last test, b. microti was neg but WA-1 had gone up... I've had 6 months more babs treatment since then, and now I'm unclear whether my current symptoms are from another babs relapse or from Lyme/Bart.
We are re-testing at the end of this month, so it will be interesting to see where the titers are now.
Keep us posted on how this works for you...
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Cactus, I didn't know you were a WA-1 buddy! Welcome! Though I'm sorry your titer has gone up, it's informative to know it changes with symptoms.
Cave, if I were you I'd try a little artemisinin, if you haven't already. Going by classic "symptoms" is iffy at best. I declined to test at all in the beginning because I didn't have the "sweats" I'd read about.
AliG and Cactus, you've helped. I think I will retest. Cactus, keep us posted, please!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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