posted
Just because you test negative for babesia doesn't mean you don't have it. Go by symptoms. I clearly have babs, and tested negative. They don't even test for all the varieties .... not even most of the varieties.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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what are the symptoms? i have mycoplasma and rickettsia i think
something is eating my iron cause i've supplemented before and nothing works
just wasnt sure if this was common with lyme anyway but it is strange I cant bring the levels up
Posts: 187 | From FL | Registered: Nov 2007
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Low Ferritin for me too. After 2 months of supplementing I brought it up to 22.8 which is low end normal. LLMD wants it to be around 50 at least.
He said that Lyme eats up iron.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
do you have heavy periods? this may also be a cause.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Lyme does not use iron from what I've read. Babesia does. In addition, hypothyroidism can cause low ferritin values too. Check your thyroid status.
As the other poster said, periods can affect that value for women. Ideally ferritin should be over 50 at least.
Low ferritin--even without anemia--can contribute to fatigue.
I'm male and my levels have been low for sometime too...between 15 and 30....supps will work but may take months to budge the numbers...
Also vit C helps the w/absorption of iron so take together.....
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
My wife w/ Lyme has similar Iron levels. Went from 8-12 after several months of suplements.
Low iron can be a sign of other issues- i.e. Not all life's problems are from Lyme.
My wife is getting tested next week for Celiac disease, as well as a biopsy for internal bleeding, which could be a sign of other issues such as ulcers or cancer.
Stay tuned as she is getting tests next week. You can PM me or Tracy9 in a week or so to see what if anything turns up.
i.e. If nothing turns up-- must be Lyme or Babesia
-------------------- Positive 10 bands WB IGG & IGM + Babesia + Bartonolla and NOW RMSF 3/5/09 all at Quest
Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
It seems to be much more common in women as they naturally lose blood cyclically...low iron in males is a little more suspicious unless you're a long distance runner.....
it's good to rule out malabsorption issues though...and cancer for that matter...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
I don't have heavy periods, and a few months ago my Ferritin was 7. It is now up to 14.
As a result of this, on Monday I am having a colonoscopy and endoscopy to check for any cancer, internal bleeding, and Celiac disease.
My LLD thinks it is critical that anyone with such low ferritin see a GI specialist and have these tests done.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
My Ferritin has been low for years. Lowest was 5, highest 7. I also have leukopenia (low white count). I wasted 2 years with a hematologist, had every sort of test imaginable. He came up with nothing and labeled it "idiopathic"(which means nothing more than "I don't know"). I also saw immunologists, infectious disease specialists, etc., and received lots of "syndrome" labels but no real answers.
About 6 weeks ago, I was finally diagnosed with lyme disease, chronic mono, and a few other bacterial and viral infections. My new and wonderful doctor feels that my blood problems are related to both the lyme and the chronic mono.
Since I'm only in the early stages of treatment, I don't know whether my blood counts have risen. Also, I've been sick for more than 20 years, so my treatment will be long term and some damage may be permanent.
Posts: 8 | From New Port Richey | Registered: Jun 2008
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I also just had a Ferritin level of 6. I was bruising like crazy!! I began taking Iron Gluconate (easier to absorb) and plan to get my Ferritin levels checked again this week.
Good luck! -Amy
Posts: 73 | From just outside of Lansing, MI | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
Some ABX can cause Anaemia ( English Spelt ) Marnie put a site up to look what some ABX can deplete the body of. I have read of this many times.
I think it's the Penny family that does this. But best to check this out for yourself.
Posts: 153 | From England | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
I don't know why your LLMD says lyme eats up iron. If you read about the bacteria it's one of the few bacteria that lives without oxygen and iron, that's what makes it so weird and evasive.
Posts: 499 | From Indiana | Registered: Oct 2007
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Ok, my bad, my LLMD said that TBI's eat up iron, not necessarily Bb....so he was refering to the co's as well.
I'm the idiot, not him.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
My iron got once at 2 !!! And it was clearly caused by my babbs
Posts: 983 | From The sky | Registered: Feb 2005
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Yikes, just as an FYI, the GI doc who did my endoscopy / colonoscopy today was APPALLED when he saw my Ferritin was 14! I told him I thought that was good, since it started off at 7; he could hardly believe that one!
I guess I didn't think it was that bad, since so many of us have such low Ferritin, but he was pretty shocked!
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I have an iron deficiency as well.
In the bone marrow biopsy that I had done a short while ago, they specifically wrote iron deficient and no iron was seen.
YIKES.
I was told to start taking iron supplements.
-------------------- 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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posted
I had mine tested in June and my ferriten serum level was a 4
but it says on my test results that the "normal range" is "10 - 291"
-------------------- "We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us" - e.m. forster Posts: 921 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2004
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
babesiosis!!
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
I read somewhere can't remember where sciencetist are learning or whatever they do that by finding out what a disease needs to survive they maybe able to alter, change stop or whatever it's progression by altering what it needs to survive. I know I e mailed Nancy2 on this one time maybe she still has the article.
She's great she keeps most info...
I wish I could find that article. It's out there somewhere. The only thing is with lyme testing the lyme antigens they inject into a mouse aren't the same ones they remove meaning it changes that much....
Has anyone ever sought out what is being done in the area of genomics, DNA in regards to this. I know Fallon has done some research in this area but in one of my last AARP Mags they say they have had some positive results in certain diseases they have researched like Parkinson, MS of course it didn't mention lyme...
Allot of it has to do with a person's genetic make up and works based on that person's genetic makeup.
Also has anyone ever been to a dermatologist and if so what for? Just wondering I'm sure some have but for my own knowledge. Can you share you results?
Thanks
-------------------- Raymond Leave the gun, take the cannolis Posts: 214 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Nov 2007
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