I have had Lyme symptoms for several years and have had tests done twice by my doctor in the last year or so. The lab results only say: Lyme IgG/IgM Antibodies: Normal
From some papers I have read on this forum, seems like these antibodies may be negative if the infection is not recent. My doctor tells me if this test is negative, I do NOT have Lyme. He told me he is more likely to have Lyme than me.
Should I have asked my doctor for any other type of test if the Lyme is chronic or late stage?
I posted a note looking for a LLMD and got a couple good pointers (thanks!!) My next step is to see an LLMD. I really need to confirm or rule out Lyme.
Posts: 5 | From Central Massachusetts | Registered: Feb 2008
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I think the test you had done was an ELISA. You want to have a Lyme Western Blot performed (IgM and IgG). Igenex is the choice lab.
Not everyone has a postive ELISA....a positive ELISA can be an indication of a number of things, besides an infection from Lyme. The western blot looks for more specific antibodies that are associated with the Lyme bacteria.
Let us know how you make out!
Kristin
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Welcome ld..
Glad you found the site... and that you posted.
You said..
"My doctor tells me if this test is negative, I do NOT have Lyme. He told me he is more likely to have Lyme than me."
Tell your doctor Tincup said he is an idiot.
A BIG FAT STUPID IDIOT!
He couldn't be more wrong... and his arrogance and ignorance is showing.
And I am so glad YOU knew better and came looking for answers. Good for YOU!
You can tell your idiot doctor that the tests miss 75-90 percent of the people who are infected.
Ask your doctor if he has ever heard of Johns Hopkins. They did a study on the Lyme tests and they deem them to be "unreliable" at best!
Even the Hopkins ducks would have to say your doctor is an idiot.
And NOBODY likes them!
Me? Outspoken? Nah..
Just angry when I see dopey ducks try to force a bunch of hooey on people and then take their money for doing it.
You are on the right track. Dump your duck ASAP and look for someone who actually knows their Lyme tests from a hole in the ground.
It is YOUR life and we care.
If you need anything.. just holler.
BTW- The above is MY opinion! And I am not a doctor.
posted
Howdy! A negative Lyme test DOES NOT mean that you do not have Lyme. In fact, I cannot stress that enough! I have confirmed positive Babs, LD, and Bart, so when my 8 year old daughter started to have Lyme symptoms, I suspected right away that she had it. Her non-LL pediatrician ran an ELISA on her that came back negative and called to tell me the "good news, that we could rule out Lyme". Thank goodness, for my baby's sake, I have learned so much about Lyme by having this disease myself. I took her to my LLMD, who examined her and clinically confirmed my suspicions. So, thru Igenex, she tested positive for Bart and Lyme and is now being treated by an outstanding LLMD in LA. However, even if she HAD tested negative, her LLMD would STILL be treating her for Lyme. As I have heard time and time again, Lyme is a CLINICAL diagnosis. It is very possible to have all negative tests and still be infected. Hope that helps, Stefanie
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echostef
Unregistered
posted
Oops, sorry, I forgot to post that... I am not a doctor. I am just a pi&$ed off, outspoken, know-it-all Lymie.
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Echo said... "I am not a doctor. I am just a pi&$ed off, outspoken, know-it-all Lymie."
posted
Thanks for the replies and opinions! They are as I suspected. I was not connfident in the initial Negative test.
Hopefully I can get to an LLMD and have a Western Blot thru Igenex done as well as discuss my symptoms.
Posts: 5 | From Central Massachusetts | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
I had a WB come back negative showing no bands - must have been CDC guidelines. An ELISA come back .44 and .16 with a WB showing bands at 28 & 41. My most current after being on ABs for a month showed - Igenex IgG 31+ 34IND 39++ 41+++ 83-93IND IgM 23-25Ind 41Ind 66+
-------------------- Raymond Leave the gun, take the cannolis Posts: 214 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Sorry meant to add usually IgM means current infection while IgG means you have been exposed to lyme. An example is I have a high IgG EBV most poeple do, but have a low IgM meaning the virus is inactive. This is not always true for lyme, IgG can mean an active infection. Melssia Kaplan who now writes in or has taken the place of Matt Goss has an excellent article on this on the net. If you can't find it send me a private message maybe I have it hidden somewhere.
-------------------- Raymond Leave the gun, take the cannolis Posts: 214 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Don't stop searching for an MD who will get you on meds now!!! I was told I did not have Lyme as well, but until I found my LLMD and he did the Western Blot and other more specific tests that were sent to CA did he find that I had Babs. My mother was undiagnosed for 10 years and has so much permanent damage. Don't give up...
Posts: 15 | From Connecticut | Registered: Feb 2008
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
Doctors are treating themselves, their friends, and families - like the one doctor told me.
There's no way your doctor actually believes that. Either that or they inject you with anti-Lyme genes upon graduation from medical school.
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