posted
I've gotten mixed messages. LLMD told me that if you've ever had lyme, even if you got well, the bands could still show up in bloodwork. Kind of like if you ever had EBV it will always show up as a past infection.
Lyme friendly doc keeps testing me with the implication that she expects the bands to go away once I'm cured.
Also LLMD told me there was no distinction between IGG and IGM as in other diseases (those were his exact words). Lyme friendly doc says that because I only have IGM it indicates a more recent infection...and that IGG would indicate a past infection. LLMD said not true for lyme.
So if I go into remission and all symptoms are gone, would the lyme bands still show up? And is there really any difference between Lyme IGG & IGM?
I'm confused.
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
In answer to your question.. I really don't know. I'd love to have another test now that I'm well!!
Read this......
"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." -- Dr C of MO
Print this out and take it to your "lyme friendly doc."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I recently took the Bb test for the first time and it came back "very positive", according to the new LLMD. The LLMD insisted I quit my bart treatment to treat lyme - even though I have treated lyme for two years and do not feel sick from it right now. It is the bart affecting me most right now.
So it is my opinion, that Bb is dormant at the moment and the results of my test mean that my body recognizes the infection and is keeping it under control. I think that is why it was such a strong positive - I even passed the CDC guidelines.
I don't know how long we can show up positive but I think someone on here said it can be for years after the infection is controlled - it is hard to say if it is ever completely eradicated.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I would say when the IgM goes down it is getting
the numbers down based on what Lymetoo posted.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
| IP: Logged |
My daughter had a tick bite, followed by fevers muscles aches and then bell's palsy after 6 to 8 weeks. The ID doc we say months after want to say she never had lyme because her IGG western blot was never positive although she was IGM CDC positive. He said "I have never had a lyme patient with bells palsy that did not have a positive IGG western blot"
I really don;t think they know for sure
Posts: 207 | From NH | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I think the ID doc has it backwards!
I have IGM bands only, 41 and 23, and my LLMD says as I get better, more bands will show up. I think he means IGG bands.
He still treats according to symptoms and not test results. But test can be used to determine certain things. Not sure what it all means. I might ask more about this at my next appt.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
nefferdun, my LLMD told me yesterday that bart must be treated before lyme can be treated.
"Therefore, in a co-infected patient, treat the BLO before you address Babesia species." - Burrascano
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by sutherngrl: [QB] I think the ID doc has it backwards!
He does .. because most ID's don't know anything about Lyme.
Read what I posted above about the IgG and IgM... most drs get it backward because lyme is different from most infections.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Ditto to TuTu.
Major point to remember all throughout: "Lyme is different from most infections."
Second major point to remember: Lyme can affect every organ and function of the body. Seek medical care only from those who are truly educated in all aspects, facets and stages of lyme and other tick-borne infections.
Nothing in this area is typical to what most doctors have been taught in medical school. It can also take a well-meaning doctor, who wants to learn, a long time to get up to speed as there is so much literature to study - when they find the real research. Many past ILADS seminars are on DVD, too.
posted
well I had a poitive WB in oct bands 23, 39 and 41 IGm...no IGg......then it was just repeated and I only have band 41IGm......not sure wether the testing was not as good......(same lab).....or they go away......I guess its just as confusing as the disease.......
-------------------- Oct 09 Positive CDC Western Blot Jan 10 Positive Babesia Duncani Jan 10 Cd57 28 Mar 10 EBV, IgM, IgG HHV-6 IgG Posts: 739 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic