posted
My other question might be kind of a duh! But, I am more comfortable asking and feeling stupid than not asking at all. To be tested for Bartonella I would need an IFA and/or PCR(which in studies is more accurate than IFA) test. Can they do this test with just blood and not CSF and be accurate? I have had three spinal taps that put me in the hospital all three times for dehydration and am not interested at all in another. And with me on antibiotics for the last ten weeks can a positive bartonella test happen? Thank you all again for helping me out on this. This board is so wonderful to all of us suffering. Posts: 38 | From Chattanooga, TN | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Just thought I'd share that I was diagnosed with Bartonella as well. I got a positive lab result from Fry Labs for Bartonella. I also had every symptom (except one) on the symptom questionnaire for Bartonella.
At the time I was tested for Bart, I was taking Doxy.
Having shared all that, I do know that there are plenty of people out there who have had Bartonella without having all the symptoms and who also got negative results from labwork.
I posted the Bartonella/Babesia Symptom Questionnaires that the doc used here on the Forum. They are on the very top of this Medical Question section.
Hope this helps!
Fuzzy
p.s. I also have Lyme and tested negative for Babs. But Babs has not been ruled out yet because I have alot of those symptoms as well. Haven't been tested for any of the other co-infections yet.
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Do you mind FuzzySlippers if I ask you what medications you are taking at this time? Thanks.
Posts: 38 | From Chattanooga, TN | Registered: Dec 2007
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I don't mind you asking at all. I'm not taking anything at the moment because I am in-between Lyme doctors. I'll be consulting with a new doctor in a couple of weeks.
I hope to begin treatment soon because I've been feeling quite ill.
Fuzzy
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
You never need to apologize for asking questions--we're all trying to figure things out.
From what I've observed, PCR for Bart is most often done on blood. I've never actually heard of anyone getting a pos. from spinal fluid for Bart. That's not to say that it doesn't happen, though.
My son had a pos. PCR from CSF (spinal fluid) for Lyme. He also had a pos. PCR for Bart from intestinal biopsy. He had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, but it was actually a Bart. infection in the intestines.
Hope this helps and I hope you have a LLMD who can answer your questions, too.
Nancy
Posts: 688 | From Florida | Registered: Aug 2001
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Nancy, thanks for your information. Fascinating that an intestinal biopsy revealed Bart! Intestinal issues have been one of the chief problems with me.
Fuzzy
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
May I suggest?
A bartonella PCR is positive when they find it.. but like Lyme it is so hard to find. You might have 10 negatives before you get that positive one... and all the while you could be sitting there with bartonella and not being treated.
A bartonella antibody test can detect several strains and seems to be an easier way to check for bartonella.. and shows more positives.. without taking on the chance of a negative .. one or more... PCR.
Quest Lab (not normally recommended for Lyme tests) is usually paid for by insurance.. easy for non-LLMD's to order... and figure out the results.. and might be the place to start?
It's called a bartonella antibody panel if you are interested.
I've noted that it seems about 1-2 out of 10 folks who have Bartonella and do the PCR are positive.
Approximately 5-6 out of ten with bartonella seem to be detected using the antibody test.
Those are just my observations from watching folks get tests and report back.
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