I recently got back blood results, and am curious about a few of the items.
While my doctor seems to think I do not have any tick related illness, some areas are out of range.
Babesia MCV and MCH are just below normal range.
Absolute Monocytes are just below as well.
B. Burgdorferi: 2 non-reactive and 1 reactive.
I had more blood taken yesterday to explore further. Does anyone know if this is common?
Is it possible to have a few out of range/reactive items and NOT have a tick related illness?
Feel free to let me know. Thanks! jwick25
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Dear j...
I wish I had a bucket of ice cream for every negative test that was wrong.
Of course I'd be the size of a John Deere tractor by now.. but I'd also be happy!
More often than not.. folks who have been sick the longest have negative tests. The spirochetes don't like hanging out in the blood because they get beaten to pieces when there, by the immune system.
If possible they like to exit the blood stream and dig into the good stuff.. like muscle tissue, joints, bladder, brains, etc.
When that happens the antibodies don't get produced and the tests, therefore, can't pick them up.
You said..
"Is it possible to have a few out of range/reactive items and NOT have a tick related illness?"
ONLY if it is possible to be a little bit pregnant.
I wish I had a bucket of ice cream for every negative test that was wrong.
You said..
"Is it possible to have a few out of range/reactive items and NOT have a tick related illness?"
ONLY if it is possible to be a little bit pregnant.
[/qb]
Hi tincup,
Yeah...that "little bit pregnant" commercial drives me nuts every time I see it...lol!
It's weird because where I do fall out of range,
it's only by a very little bit. At least for now.
Yet, considering that I had a bull's-eye rash last May and my symptoms,
it seems like it would be a huge coincidence when, on top of that,
some of my results are out of range/reactive.
I still have results from the hospital as well as additional lab tests to wait for.
My doctor (won't be for much longer), said he highly doubts I have it. We'll see.
My Rheum appt. is in 2 weeks. I feel like I can't wait that long,
but I need to suck it up because many people have to wait MUCH longer!
I had the choice of seeing a Rheum with a BAD rep tomorrow,
or a Rheum with a GREAT rep in 2 weeks. I rather do it right the first time.
Thanks for your input! I was very curious to see what people on these boards have to say.
jwick25
[ 21. April 2008, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: jwick25 ]
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Lyme is a clinical diagnosis, but most doctors refuse to diagnose it without a positive test. I have heard stories of doctors refusing to diagnose it with positive tests.
You really want to see an LLMD, a doctor who is knowledgeable and experienced in treating Lyme. You can post for a doctor in the seeking doctors forum.
Remember that Lyme suppresses the immune system so many people won't make the antibodies that are needed for a positive test.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by lymednva: I've traced my Lyme symptoms back to my childhood...and I'm about to become a grandma, so that's a l-o-n-g time ago.
Wow...that is amazing! You would think that doctors should know all of this by now? Why is there such confusion about these diseases?
I am FAR from an expert in this stuff - which is what led me to these boards - but shouldn't the medical community know so much more about it by now?
What I do know is that the next time my doctor tells me that I am "young" and "look ok," I should have
the right to smack him.
[ 21. April 2008, 01:34 PM: Message edited by: jwick25 ]
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
jwick...I've been ill myself for 49 yrs. The medical establishment DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT LYME. They stick to their guns about it being cured with 2-4 wks of abx.
You need to come to grips with the fact that none of the drs you are trying to see will know anything about treating this disease.
Begin your search for an LLMD, or you will be ill for the next "49 yrs."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Well, I got some results back from Quest yesterday. Under Babesia, it indicated "past infection."
These results were from 04/10. My doctor is supposed to call me today because he now has the results from 04/18...which I have not yet seen.
I'm hoping that "past infection" is promising...? That this means something was detected?
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Jwick, that definitely seems promising. BUT, I wouldn't expect much from this doctor if he's not lyme literate. He'll probably tell you since it says "PAST INFECTION" you no longer have it and it's gone now and so no need to treat it.
More than likely he'll say something to that effect if he isn't educated in the field of lyme/co-infections. And MOST doctors are not and they're very close-minded about it.
Make sure you find a LLMD (Lyme literate MD).
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
jw,
your story of past infection reminds me when i had my rashes NOT diagnosed and 4 biopsies were done at separate times.
twice it showed UNKNOWN BUG BITE!!!! GUESS I KNOW IT WAS A TICK; DON'T I!!!
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posted
I wonder if they had been checking for tick-related illnesses from 4 weeks ago when I was in the hospital,
would the results have been different?
It's weird because I am almost starting to feel a little better. Is that common? Does it all come and go like that?
If so, are you less likely to test positive during those times when you feel a little better?
I just want those results in my hands so that I can take them to the right doctor. Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
Ok, I finally heard back from the doctor's office today. I was told that the doctor said that the test result that showed a past Babesia infection is inaccurate and wrong.
What??!? When the tests are negative, he says that the results are accurate and could not possibly be wrong. Then, when a result indicates a past or longstanding infection, he says that that particular test is inaccurate and wrong.
Is he serious? I understand that these tests are often inaccurate, but for him to use that excuse when it suits him is ridiculous!
When I asked if Quest tests are often wrong, he told me that they are very accurate. Yet, the one test that indicates something is deemed wrong.
Thank goodness I have my specialist appointment on Tuesday. At that time, I am changing primary care doctors. There is nothing more they can do for me.
I just can't believe that this jerk actually still has patients. Sorry for venting. It just makes me angry when a doctor can sit back and watch a patient get sicker and sicker...and not care.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
What was your C-Reactive Protein test (CRP) or your vitamin D levels? The problem with Lyme and tick related disease is that because of the nature of the bacteria (it invades the cells and produces an enzyme that hides it from the killer T-cells) there are a series of different tests that should be done to indicate whether or not you have lymes or other tick-borne diseases.
Hopefully your doctor is lyme literate.
Good luck!
-------------------- If you think it you can achieve it; if you dream it you can become it! Posts: 22 | From Germantown, Maryland | Registered: Apr 2008
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I took a look at my results, but I cannot find those tests on the list. I may be overlooking them, but I don't think they are included.
My primary care doctor made it obvious that he knows little about (and cares little about) this. However, my Tuesday appointment should be better.
Thanks!
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
I would get a live blood microscopy done too, and WATCH them do the test...look for swimming or hovering sticks (keets) or dots...babies....babs...etc.. RECORD it with a cam, if they wont let you watch them and record it, RUN away. There are live blood micro videos on youtube to see what I am sayin. If your infected enough to be suffering, one drop of blood should show you some bugs.
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Thanks for the message. I'll definitely keep this in mind. I get scared reading that if these illnesses are caught and treated immediately, you can be cured forever,
but if you go several months undiagnosed, you may have problems for life.
Thanks, again!
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
Hello. Just an update. I had my appointment with the Rheumatologist today. While no official diagnosis was made just yet, he suspects that I have a tick-related infection.
Luckily, I had the picture of my rash from last year to show him. He said is was a textbook rash. He is putting me on a 30-day treatment of Doxycycline.
He is also sending me for additional blood work tomorrow to test for Celiac disease, C-Reactive Protein, Vitamin D and several other things. He is not, however, having me retested for all of the tick-related illnesses.
I believe he wants to be able to rule out other problems in order to feel confident in a diagnosis of a tick-related illness.
My concern is that because my past results indicated a past infection of Babesia (which my PC doc ruled "inaccurate"), would this be the appropriate treatment?
Any advice about this? Thanks!
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
fyi, iris joined and posted this 3 times in 3 different areas; ignore this one please. ******************************************
iris did start HER OWN THREAD about cd 57, etc...please show your answers for her there! thanks all!
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