Another Miserable LLMD experience

So I get my bloodwork back from my LLMD he did the western blot test. Here is everything out of normal range.

Globulin - 1.9L
Albumin/Globulin Ratio - 2.4H
Red Blood Count - 3.80L
Hematocrit - 38.0 L
MCV - 100.2
MCH - 34.9

He again says I definitely don't have lymes. I say aren't you supposed to treat me based on symptoms not only the test. He says yes he would be more than willing to start lymes treatment but it would probable be a waste.


I am out of money spent my last bucks on a copay to see him. I cant go to another LLMD i'm tapped out and probably can't even afford treatment. I feel like I will just waste away in pain.

What would you do?

These blood tests say nothing about whether you have Lyme or not.

From these results, you have anemia and need to be supplementing Vitamin B12, Folic Acid and possibly Iron.

Also, low Globulin may indicate an immune deficiency (deficiency of immune-globulins increases one's risk of infection) - which can cause a lot of issues with recovery from any infection, including Lyme.

If I were you, I'd persue an herbal protocol for Lyme and see where that leads me.

Take care,

Yes, the test can be that badly flawed. There are more than a hundred different strains of the bacteria that cause Lyme in the US alone. The test is not sensitive enough to pick up all these variations. And the test is designed to detect anti-bodies to the disease, the disease itself suppresses your ability to produce those very anti-bodies, particularly if there is a co-infection.

I'm a little confused. Are you seeing an Infectious Disease Doctor or a Lyme Literate Doctor? They are not the same thing.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be to get your anemia and other issues sorted out and build up your immune system. If you are still feeling the Lyme symptoms, then retest or start treatment. If you try to start treatment for Lyme now while everything is so out of balance, you could make yourself very ill.

Did you get thorough treatment for your Lyme in 2006? If not, you shouldn't doubt that it is Lyme causing your symptoms. In the case of a long-held infection, you are very unlikely to get a clear result on your tests. Treatment would quickly let you know whether you have it or not.

Hi randompains,

As Razzle mentioned, the high MCV and MCH levels strongly suggest that you have vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies. I think you should really fix that issue (regardless of Lyme).

Here's a similar thread on the CFS forums:

http://forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?threads/high-mcv-and-mch.14723/

CFS researcher Rich van Konynenburg (richvank) writes that this ties in to the methylation cycle block, which could be responsible for the majority of symptoms and a failure to fully recover from Lyme.

Karina

PS: I haven't posted on this board before but am on Lymenet and Phoenix Rising as 'vitamink'.

Hi all great advice and I have been upping my b12 and iron intake. I understand it takes almost 4 months to rebuild my supply. My question is the blood test says my b12 is 870 so if this is the case how can it be low?

Yes I am confused seeing an Infectious Disease Doctor in Woodbury/Cherry Hill, NJ. I can't get out to Jackson just yet. My job called today they can't hold my job any longer. It's almost relief even though I loose my medical my disability lawyer says I can go on UI and I'll actually have money to pay an out of network Doctor.

So I will focus on B12 and then see whats left.

Was your MCHC low borderline? Could be babesia?