lyme and children, by placenta or breast feeding

Hi I’ve had 3 kids with Lyme.   They are ages 5yrs to 9 months.   My first, I had him at the height of my symptoms while trying to diagnose.   Actually, trying to diagnose my condition was after since the symptoms began 3 weeks prior to pregnancy.. they told me it was pregnancy but I couldn’t figure out why since like I said began 3 weeks prior to conception.   This of course, delayed diagnosis.     My question, he’s 5 and healthy.   I never had him tested.   What should I watch for, what should I be aware of?   My 2 year old, she was conceieved while I was on Antibiotics and feeling great.   (except for the visual migraines and light sensitivity at last month and first few months after delivery)   She too is healthy and no symptoms of anything.   I was on antibiotics for about 1 st trimester then couldn’t find anyone who would treat me any longer since pregnant.   My 9 month old.   I felt similar during pregnancy to what I felt with 1 st , except bring it down about 10 notches because it was bearable.   I could and still can blow through my symptoms but they are there and worry me.   I too notice the   hormonal influence on symptoms, very strange.   Also recently my thryoid went low so taking prescption for it.   My point is I think she was also conceived with lyme disease somewhat active-and i am still nursing, i nursed all my kids. what to do about it?   test for it?   who will do it for me, especially since I never had conclusive diagnosis.     I only ever had one band present on test.   Thanks for your advice!

badticks,

Did you get tested for Lyme using the Wester Blot test? Igenex is the best lab to use to get tested. If you look in the thread titled, "New To Lyme?...Start Here!", you will find all the information you need regarding testing.

Usually, you have another band present if you have band 41 but it depends on where you were tested. If if was at a lab like labcorp. etc., they don't test for all the significant bands for Lyme. Band 41 could also mean that someone has gum disease. Here is a breakdown of what each band means.

Western Blot Bands description:

9 cross-reactive for Borrellia
12 specific for Bb
18 unknown
20 cross-reactive for Borrellia
21 unknown
22 specific for Bb, probably really the 23/25 band
23-25 outer surface protein C (OspC), specific for Bb
28 unknown
30 unknown; probably an outer surface protein; common in European and
one California strain
31 outer surface protein A (OspA), specific for Bb
34 outer surface protein B (OspB); specific for Bb
35 specific for Bb
37 specific for Bb
38 cross-reactive for Bb
39 is a major protein of Bb flagellin; specific for Bb
41 flagellin protein of all spirochetes; this is usually the first to appear after a Bb infection and is specific for all Borrellia
45 cross-reactive for all Borellia (sometimes people with Lyme who have
this band positive also have the co-infection Ehrlichiosis)
50 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
55 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
57 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
58 unknown but may be a heat-shock Bb protein
60 cross reactive for all Borrellia
66 cross-reactive for all Borrelia, common in all bacteria
83 specific antigen for the Lyme bacterium, probably a cytoplasmic membrane
93 unknown, probably the same protein in band 83, just migrates differently in some patients

Hi Badticks!

I was infected 22 yrs but was not diagnosed until 2007. I had three beautiful healthy daughters during that period of time.

In 2007 when I finally figured out what was wrong with me after several years of unexplained medical problems, I had my kids tested. They were all highly positive. They were at the time 11, 14 and 15. The 14 year old had been reinfected at age 11 we figured out later.

None of them were sick. The older and younger two had maybe 10% of the symptoms. We treated them with IV Rocephin and Zith I believe. My middle daughter who was infected both through placental transmission/breastfeeding and bit had problems that all added up when the LD dx was made. She was a colicky baby, at age 13 months she had 2 unexplained febrile seizures, as a teen, she had some mental issues and was dx as bipolar and adhd at age 11. After the LD dx, she had an echo which showed mitral valve prolapse. She had back pain and joint pain and sensitivities to many things.
VancoFlagyl was her LD tx and she also was treated for Babesia due to the MVP and other sx with the Mepron combo. She is in remission today with some lingering joint issues/pain during cold weather or low pressure. My other two girls are fine with no further symptoms.

There is a book...which I will have to give you the title to later (sorry) that breaks down age groups and discusses the different common symptoms for each age...they are different in many ways from adults.

I would have them tested based on my experience.

Hope this helps!

Anne

I’m just thinking out loud but let’s say my kids did get lyme disease while in womb or through breast milk… 2 of them had multiple ear infections, so many that the antibiotics were no longer working and both were on antibiotics every month for 10 day courses for almost 6 months before we had ear tubes put in.

My point is, we could have been treating the lyme disease, that is if the bacteria was there. Maybe ear infections were a blessing in disguise? We’d alternate between treatments of amoxicillin, amox.clav, zithromax and once even the shot of (sp?) rocethrin

I am trying to see some hope here because now I am very worried about my three children and diagnosing 3 healthy children I imagine will be quite a challenge since I was unhealthy and couldn’t even get diagnosis!