posted
Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me with my test results....I'm frustrated, feel lost and not sure what to do.
I have felt "sluggish" for many many years (15-20 yrs). I always feel like I'm getting the flu, body aches, fatigue, and overall "run-down" I have not been bitten by a tick that I know of, although I do recall having some ticks on me (long, long ago)
I've had many tests over the years, but never had a dr ask about Lyme until this Summer. I was shocked when they told me it was Lyme. I was prescribed Amoxcil for 10 days. My dr told me he wasn't very familiar with it and sent me to an ID Dr, who told me I didn't have LD and perhaps I had depression. Uggggg!!!!!! I went back to my dr who sent me to a Rheum (RA test is positive 28) He tells me I have CFS or Fibromyalgia?????? I am so frustrated...
Please help me with these test results...Is this Lyme???
Western Blot by Quest Diagnostics
41 KD (IGG) Band - Reactive B Burgdorferi AB - Positive 23 KD (IGM) Band - Reactive 41 KD (IGM) Band - Reactive
everything else was non-reactive
also Rheumatoid Factor 28 H
Is this Lyme?? I feel so uneducated about this and don't personally know anyone that has any expirience with this disease (even my drs). We are a military family, so I can only get care where they will approve me to go. And so far, everyone is making me feel like I'm crazy.
I have also lived in Europe for many years, both as a child and adult...I have read they have a different type of bacteria there...should I be tested for this strain?
Please, any advice, suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you!
Posts: 9 | From NC | Registered: Jul 2008
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Well now.
I see that your docs don't read even the CDC handbook on Lyme disease.
I believe you to be IgM positive (CDC) on that Western Blot.
You really need to find a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor.
There are many here with Lyme that have had RA factor show up positive as well.
Please go to Seeking a Doctor section.
Post your city and state and someone will help you.
Hang in there.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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I'm not quite sure what the CDC positive thing means..... should this be reported to them? I was reading and it said something about needing 5 bands to be positive.
I am in NC and have the names of a few LLMDs that I got off this site.
I see that they don't take insurance, this scares me. Is anyone on here a service member or family member that has had treatment from a military hospital or thru a Tricare provider?
I just don't know what to do Posts: 9 | From NC | Registered: Jul 2008
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Dawnee
Unregistered
posted
Tricare will not help dear.
Your test is positive for Lyme Disease... and the ID doc they sent you to that made you feel like you were crazy..yep, thats what they do. There aren't very many lyme literate medical doctors... and ID docs seem to be the worse ones you can go to when it comes to Lyme. I'm frankly surprised that your MD even suggested Lyme! Thats a good thing! Most doctors would never even suggest it based on your symptoms.
The best thing for you to do is to find an LLMD and seek his/her opinion. And yes, you CAN seek medical elsewhere... there is no rule that you can ONLY seek military doctors just because you are a military family.
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Yes, I got lucky that this dr finally tested me. As awful as it sounds, I was almost relieved to find out there was a reason for the way I've felt all these years...I just didn't realize there was such a controversy to the whole thing.
I understand that I can go to any dr, but I'm not sure we will be able to afford it. I need to read and learn more and then figure out the best way for us to deal with this. I have been living with the symptoms for almost 20 years now. It's almost become normal for me.
Posts: 9 | From NC | Registered: Jul 2008
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
You only need two out of three bands that the CDC counts to be IgM positive.
The five bands are required to be IgG positive.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
What is the difference between IGG & IGM?
Posts: 9 | From NC | Registered: Jul 2008
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gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
Hi mp and welcome,
Just as the others say, you need to find an LLMD as soon as possible.
You will be amazed at how the Lyme Literate doctor wont think you are crazy!
There is so much to learn about lyme and its treatment. Here is a link by the top lyme doctor in the USA and some handouts at his last lecture. You might want to print them out for future reference.
It might be alot in the beginning, but do read as much as you can as knowledge is power. And, you can do a search on this site for any topic you want to learn about.
I hope you can get an appointment in your area as soon as possible. If you cant seem to find one, post a new thread and ask someone about doctors in your area.
Unfortunately, most LLMD dont take insurance, but sometimes tests are covered.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
IGG is a previous infection. IGM is a present infection or recent one.
Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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quote:Originally posted by gemofnj: IGG is a previous infection. IGM is a present infection or recent one. [/QB]
Not exactly.
From Dr C's explanation:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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