posted
My little girl went to her first LLMD meeting today.
I was wondering if anyone else has an LLMD who wants and/or requires a panel of tests to include: H Pylori, allergen panels, stool samples and hair analysis (to name a few).
Is this really necessary to irradacate Lyme and the co-infections? This is like greek to me!Help!
More importantly he is testing for co-infections: Bartonella and HG E and CD-57 through Lab corp...does anyone have any feedback on this route?
And lastly, I wondered if it made sense to give an antibiotic (Zithromax) for 2 weeks as a challenge and then test with IGeneX for true antibody levels?
It made sense to me but I would really just like to know if anyone else has any thoughts or first hand experience about this.
Thank you,
Cassie
Posts: 166 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2010
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
I'm sure a lot of people here are going to ans. your questions. It looks like a good start to me.
1- Do you have ins.? 2- What are her symtoms? 3- how long has she been sick? 4- How old is she?
Roy
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
My child did go through those tests and the information was very useful in adjusting her meds to treat everything that is causing her symptoms. i regret not doing the hair analysis (it got lost in my paperwork for a long time and when I finally found it it was too late since you have to do it before you get on IV antibiotics)
When we first tested my child had 5 bands positive (Quest). after Zith, her igenex test showed 8 positive bands.
My LLMD had some of the test done through Quest, some through Labcorp and some through Igenex. I think they do this because Igenex does not take insurance and if you are going to test positive with the other labs why shell out your own money for the tests when insurance will cover the charge at Quest and Labcorp?
Good Luck.
Posts: 15 | From princeton, nj | Registered: Feb 2010
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
It makes sense to me.
-------------------- 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
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Makes sense to me, too. A lot of sense. - just talking about the other evaluations. I can't speak to the other questions.
The hair samples are to show levels of heavy metals coming out from the body. Either that or a DMSA challenge 24-hour urine collection. But heavy metals need to be checked as that is as serious as lyme and often goes hand in hand.
h. Pylori can cause the same symptoms as lyme and needs to be ruled out, or addressed if present.
Allergen tests are needed to help the immune system and design the best treatment - and diet & "personal environment" protocol.
Stool samples are to check for various parasites. Necessary. If there are other infections, they need to be addressed. Otherwise, lyme treatment will be ever so much harder and not even as effective.
Now, all that said, if budget considerations force a decision between testing and treatment - you and your doctor may have to make a few educated guesses about allergens, etc.
If it's between money for treatment and tests that are on the secondary list, I'd put the money to work with treatment. But, if possible, going in with as much information as possible can help treatment work much better because it helps rule out some things - to distinguish just what is what.
* Liver support before zith?
You might ask about liver support before zithromax (and during) as it can be hard on some people's ear and balance system. Liver support such a milk thistle can help prevent some ear problems but, if any ear issues pop up, be sure to notify the doctor so another drug could be used. -
[ 04-02-2010, 02:36 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- These may be of help: ===================
A Treatment Guide: Lyme and other Chronic Infections
by Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD
October 2009 - 87 pages -
[ 04-02-2010, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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massman
Unregistered
posted
It is not just kill lyme + we are done.
If other things, like heavy metals and parasites show, some sharp docs feel these need to be dealt with first before lyme can be effecticely dealt with.
Hair analysis shows what your body is excreting, not what is in your body.
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- yes, while the hair can show what has been in the body in the past so many months, it's not the full picture but just a hint. Even a 24-hour urine challenge can't give a full picture of the heavy metals (it won't show what's in bones). Still, it's important to determine as best possible, if heavy metals are elevated at all.
Actually, I think a 24-hour urine challenge tells more about what is going on today. Regular doctors more readily will look at that over hair analysis but regular doctors won't really address heavy metals much, anyway. But, if yours might, the urine test may be more convincing if insurance might pay anything for treatment.
Doctor's Data Lab is a good site for more on that.
Still, the hair analysis can also show many nutritional deficiencies or excesses beyond just the main heavy metals. And it can be a very valuable tool. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I had the same tests and more as part of my evaluation. A differential diagnosis requires testing things that can mimic lyme symptoms.
Heavy metals can mimic lyme symptoms. They can also make it harder to get rid of borrelia (the spirochete that causes lyme) according to a study that was done a few years ago.
Co-infection testing is a must because co-infections are another complication that can make it impossible to get rid of borrelia. If your child has co-infections, they must be treated. False negative lyme tests are common. If a co-infection test is positive, the liklihood of lyme is higher even if the lyme test is negative.
H. pylori is another infection that many lyme patients have. I had it as do all of my family members. It can cause cancer and ulcers if left untreated so it's a good idea to treat if one has it.
Parasites are also common in lyme patients and some can make a person very sick.
Sounds like you are starting out right.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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