HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

To test or not to test

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/7/2012 2:25 PM (GMT 0)

Hi -  I have been pondering this question for the past week. Should I test or just go ahead and treat this.  I really don't want to spend $450 for the Igenix test in case it comes back negative. I answered yes to about 80% on the Master Lyme Disease Symptom List. On the other hand a positive test would really keep me focused.

I'm quite sure my integrative doc would just go ahead and support me using the Bruhner protocol. He is very open minded when it comes to herbs. He is more inclined towards herbs than prescription meds.

Has anyone here just gone ahead and not worried about testing?

Posted 10/8/2012 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Onward,

A couple of months ago, before I got a LLMD, I spent $1100 on a test kit from Igenex to test for lyme and bartonella. It took over two weeks for the results and in the mean time had seen the new doc...she ended up running tests ofmher own through a different lab. Yes, igenex is for sure one of the best, but not the only good lab...I wish I had just waited...hind sight. Anyway, my igenex report showed positive on bands IGM 18 and 58, IGG 41...with some 'Indicated' as well....they graded it as negative. Even after all the reading I have done, I thought this was proof positive for lyme...not even the llmd considered it pos. however, all of the tests she did run on me came back positive on a couple of coinfections. So long story short...I say find yourself a LL doc and let them run the tests. Good luck!!

Tracy
Posted 10/8/2012 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
There are of course pros and cons of getting tested - at the end of the day all of your health decisions are entirely up to you. When I first started with treatment my doctor was very traditional, so I didn't even question whether testing was necessary, though now, I might.

Good luck with whatever you decide! And with your healing!
Posted 10/9/2012 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Both my son and I had just the western blot lyme tests--IgG and IgM. It was 200$ for the two tests and I think worth having done.

Some drs. are adept at diagnosing and treating co infections just based on symptoms. Not to mention, some treatments are the same as for lyme.
Posted 10/9/2012 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks very much for your replies. I really appreciate what each of you had to share.

I really feel like I am in the same place that I was in 3 years ago. I was eating lots of raw garlic and passed a round worm. I searched Curezone mainly and discovered that most tests for parasites come back negative. Even with the samples that contained a foot long roundworm. I decided to just go ahead and treat myself with herbs. It took both my hubby and I over 18 months to get rid of the roundworms, tapeworms and flukes. These were the ones we could see anyway. We both felt much, much better and continued with a parasite maintenance program ever since.

However the feeling much better only lasted for about 6 months and the fatigue was returning. I think we fixed the large parasite problem but never really addressed the lyme. I never really researched lyme despite my love for the great outdoors. After much reading I am quite convinced that this is what both my hubby and I have. He is functioning at a much higher level than I. We both seem to have good periods and bad as well. So I guess these bugs are cyclical just like the others.

 So since I will be treating with herbs I have decided to just go ahead and give it my best shot. The Bruhner protocol seems to be the one I will try first. I will stay at 2 tspns of the cat claw per day until the Japanese Knotweed arrives. I will start slow with that as I have no experience with it.

Thanks for being here. This can be such a long and heavy journey. I have been dealing with this for the last 20 years.

Posted 10/9/2012 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I still have mixed feelings about testing. There are so many flaws with the testing! Although I did finally test positive for both Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, the LLMD that I saw for 12 months when I first started treating said that we had to expect that I was infected with all of the tick-borne diseases -and I only test positive for two of them. I was on strong abx (Minocycline 900mgs a day) for a full 12 months before I tested positive on the Western Blot for the Lyme and RMSF.

So I feel like unless the doc insists on testing - which they are not supposed to be doing(!!) - then the testing offers very little in the way of information, since there are so many issues with it.
Posted 10/9/2012 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Onward,
Do you know about the site for those using Buhner's protocol? buhnerhealinglyme.com/

I go there and do some reading from time to time because of the amount of information available....and I'm not using his protocol!!! :-)
Posted 10/9/2012 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Traveler- Yes I am aware of his site. I am also waiting on his book to arrive. I think I have read everything on his site.

I have read so many lyme stories of folks not testing positive only to test positive later or on another test. Sounds very much like all parasite testing.

I will just keep reading and learning. Lots of brain fog these days since upping the dosage of cat claw. But I am happy to have found this forum.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply