Topic: Do most of you have positive co-infections tests?
CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
Hello- I'm 8 months into treatment and have tested and tested for co-infections. None showed up prior to treatment starting, and none have shown up since. Is it possible I don't have any??? I know most of us do, but wouldn't something have shown up by now?
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
I test negative for coinfections, yet I was clinically diagnosed with babesia and bartonella. There is no doubt in my mind or my LLMD's mind that I have them both.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
As you've probably heard ad nauseum co-infection testing is inaccurate. One of the main reasons is because there are many strains of these infections and only a few are tested. Just in the past few years several new strains of babesia and bart have been discovered and I've no doubt that many more exist and will be discovered in the future.
In my non-doctor opinion, co-infections are commonly diagnosed clinically if you are being treated by an LLMD. I had some tests that were not conclusive for babesia but were suggestive. Bart was negative. After starting doxy I got the long red/purple bart streaks and my symptoms are very suggestive of bart. I haven't made huge strides in lyme treatment but I've had an obvious response to babs treatment. I'm certain that bart treatment will also yield results.
If you aren't getting a lot better with lyme treatment, I hope you will get treated for co-infections since that may be why you aren't improving according to what I've read.
If you have no symptoms suggestive of co-infections and you are making progress with lyme treatment and your LLMD does not think you have co-infections, then I'd wait until you get through lyme treatment and see what you are left with.
The numbers that I've seen quoted for co-infections are somewhere in the 2/3 range of lyme patients. I've heard some here say that they think more than 2/3rd's have co-infections. I don't think anyone knows the real numbers.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
I am treating for clinical bartonella. My LLMD believes in treating clinically.
My question is: why wouldn't something show up once you begin treatment for it? I guess the many strains mean something -- for example, my LLMD was not concerened that my bart test was negative, but he WAS bafffled that my babesia tests have been negative. It seems that most people have WA-1 or microti show up if they have them. Or MO, for that matter.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I did the Igenex Fish test for babesia. It was negative.
Only two strains tested.....obviously not the one I have as
The herxing I do on babs meds is pretty bad.
LLMD didn't even test for bart at that point.
Just treated.
So far so good with progress.
Will your LLMD try you on babs meds?
See if you herx?
Just a thought.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
I've tested negative for everything (thugh not via Igenex), but I'm certain I have at least babs.
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
I'm still testing negative for coinfections.
Dr. B said that everybody has bart. Dr. B also said this rash on my thigh that I've had since I was 18 is babs, but Dr. S laughed it off. Dr. S is the devil.
I look at it this way - the longer he doesn't treat me, the more mosquitos bite me and spread this. With how many bites I get every year, pretty soon they will have to acknowledge its prevalence, and my mosquitos already know to bite HIM.
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
I was positive for HME Ehrlichiosis but negative and treated clinically for Babesiosis.
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Positive for babesia WA-1, negative for bartonella.
I think that it's possible you just haven't been treating lyme long enough too, at only eight months. That's really not that long, though it feels like FOREVER! If you haven't hit a real "plateau" yet, you might just need to treat longer.
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
With Bb, I tested postive for babesia and HME human monocytic ehrlichia in '97 through Igenex. I was not able to get treatment, however as we weren't supposed to have ticks in our state.
some of the strains, just as with the various borellia, are not tested for or mutation or the quality of tests all must be considered.
I've read that babesia can come and go regarding the testability of it. To be sure, you might ask a specialist about that. A history of where you've been and tick attachment might be of help.
Missouri has a unique form of babesia from what I've read (and it may not stop at the state line).
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I did the Fry labs blood smear and it found 2 forms of ehlichiosis and babesia. Igenex only found one form of ehrichia, and no babs.
Posts: 163 | From Cleveland, OH | Registered: Sep 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
You can't depend on the coinfection testing. Many of the tests can't test for all of the strains. I've never tested positive for the tick borne coinfections, but I've reacted to quinolines in what suggests a bartonella herx.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I was negative on tests for Ehrlichia, Bartonella, and Babesia. I did test positive for Q Fever, a lesser known, tick borne(also airborne), rickettsial bacteria. Probably something all lymies should test for, you don't want to let it go.
Posts: 31 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
The best way to know if you have bart or babs is to do a trial run of meds for each. Believe me, you'll know THEN!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
I have had at least 5 Igenex tests and in EVERY test, I tested exactly the same, Lyme, Bart and Ehrlichiosis. The testing for me seems to be accurate and consistent every time.
quote:I've reacted to quinolines in what suggests a bartonella herx.
You can also herx on fluoroquinolones due to Ehrlichiosis.
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