posted
I did the full babs test at igenex. the one that came back 1.2 titer was b.microti, igm. .Anything that is 1.2 or higher means infection. the babesia fish was negative, the babs duncani was negative.
1.2 is borderline, does that mean it is weak infection, is there such a thing as weak infection? doc is going to treat me , but says must treat for babs first. he based I had babs on clinical anaylsis, plus he ordered the begf. Jenin
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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Many here are being treated by clinical analysis as the testing for babs isn't foolproof. The general consensus is you have to treat the babs before Lyme. The good news is you have a positive test for babs so hopefully you can get your meds covered by insurance.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
Mine have been covered by insurance ... I have a $25 copay per month for Mepron, which is almost $2200 per month .... plus other meds.
My insurance does not require preauthorization for Mepron. I have not turned in LLMD bills because my insurance policy says they can stop paying prescription bills for any reason whatsoever, so I don't think it would be good for them to know I'm treating Lyme and coinfections.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
mephron is 2200 per month!@#$%^ the bicillin shots are 500 per filling. dang, what are we to doif insurance does not cover this ? jenin
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Jenin....My babesia test came back like yours....borderline.
I herxed HARD on the meds. WAY harder than on any Lyme meds.
It's good that you know what you're dealing with. Some drs will not treat babesia without a positive or at least borderline test result.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Low titres in babesia testing = chronic disease.
Babesia + lyme = potentially very tough.
Do whatever it takes. There are free meds places (Bridges to Access) that will help -- even those with insurance can sometimes get help if their insurer won't cover it.
(Blue Cross was OK; Blue Shield on the other hand thought seven days' treatment ought to do it. Yup.)
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Michelle-I initially had a high titer for babs 1:640. Retested 8 months later and had a low titer-does that mean it's chronic, or I knocked it down? I still have it-am retreating.
Thanks
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
I just looked at my test. Haven't looked at it in years!
IgM <1:16 [Negative for IgM antibody] IgG 1:40 [May indicate progression of disease and/or treatment]
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
TuTu,
I noticed your test is IgG & Jenin's is IgM. My tests have always shown IGG. No IGM as of yet. I'm wondering if that's making a difference in Babs.
I know that Babs goes into periods of latency & then recrudesces. I would immagine that could cause a flip-flop back and forth with your immune system.
I'm wondering if you or anyone else may have noticed this on testing.
Jenin-
It's known that the Babs testing gives ducks HUGE problems. If you have a good LLMD, I would value their clinical experience in treating these complicated co-infections.
I believe that if you have evidence of being infected with Babesia and have never been treated for it. Your LLMD is likely following the best course to get you well.
Babesia tends to protect Lyme by taking out your immune sytem. My LLMD has said that "these two tend to co-exist quite nicely in the human body, one takes the immune system down while the other one beats you".
It is fairly common knowledge among the Lyme Literate that you will never get rid of your Lyme with Babesia in your system.
I would certainly hate to see you find out that you should have treated it up front, years after uselessly treating Lyme. That would amount to much greater expense in the long run.
I would think that it's highly likely that your LLMD has seen numerous lab results for Babesia and has likely seen Lyme treatment failures as a result of untreated Babesia.
Babesia is also hard as the dickens to actually find in any tests other than the Ab tests, from what I've seen.
Whether it's actually a form of Babesia that just doesn't show up on tests or a similar organism that produces similar illness, many with Babesiosis symptoms have found Lyme treatment success after treating for Babesia.
My opinion there is that if the combined symptoms look like Babesia, there is a good chance it will respond to Babesia Tx, regardless of what the lab says.
Ali
Just a note: I am not a medical professional. My opinions are purely based on my own research and experience with my own Babesia & Lyme.
-------------------- 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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posted
does isurance cover it? Jenin
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
It depends on your insurance. My really crummy HMO covered my Mepron w/$60 deductible. I believe some may cover Malarone, but not mine. I had to DO the GOO!
-------------------- 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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posted
I was "borderline" for Babs also, my LLMD thought I had had it for a long time. Put me on Mepron, Plaquinil and Zith originally. I can't remember how long I have been on Mepron/Plaq, about 3 months, I think. Still taking it.
I've gotten used to it. But he also believes that Babs is "rocket booster" for the Lyme so we working on killing it off first. Just started Biaxin yesterday.
Babs, they are discovering, is harder to kill than they thought apparently. Duh...
"Keep it up, it's going to get better.", is what my LLMD keeps saying.
-------------------- When you reach your "wits-end" remember this: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 Posts: 397 | From Loudoun County Virginia | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
My IgX Babesia FISH (RNA) test shows Positive. I also show "+/-" for IgM Western Blot. Just about to finish 1 month of Zithromax....what do you think I'll get hit with next?
LocalMan
Posts: 212 | From Eastern CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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