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Ever had negative Igenex results?

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 10/3/2014 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've had so many tests come back negative through all of this. I know Lyme is supposed to be a clinical diagnosis. My llnd is having me take abx for a month and then do igenex testing and I'm worried they too will return negative. If they are, does it mean I really am crazy? Is it possible for igenex to not pick it up either?
Posted 10/3/2014 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
It's more than possible for Igenex to not pick up a Lyme infection. It all depends on which strains you are infected with. Igenex - one of the best- still only tests for about 4 or 5 of the over 300 that are on this earth. With International travel and birds carrying ticks from one area to another, it's no wonder so many strains are being found everywhere.

Also, it all depends on how well your body is attacking the infection. Lyme can actually inhibit the immune system so that it won't respond to the bacteria being present - a self preservation technique that this bacteria has. If there are little to no antibodies being produced, then a test that looks for those antibodies will be negative.

As you said, it doesn't mean that you don't have a Lyme infection though. What your LLND is doing can be helpful - it gives the body the extra umph it may need to actually start to attack the bacteria, causing antibodies to be produced.

But - be prepared for herxing and start detoxing now.
Posted 10/3/2014 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I am detoxing as much as I know how so far and learning more everyday. My c3 and c4 were low and that's something to do with my immune system. If those are low will I produce antibodies?
Posted 10/3/2014 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
And thank you so much traveler, you have answered so many of my questions in a way that I can actually understand. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I love this place!
Posted 10/3/2014 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
blush aww, thank you!!! *kicks dirt with toe of boot*
I'm just glad that I can be of help when things are so confusing and overwhelming so much of the time!

In the "New to Lyme?" thread you can find many ways to detox -incorporate as many as you can into your routines. One that I think may not be listed is oil pulling - which I have just started myself. Look into them all.

That's the problem with current testing - at least the more common testing, the ELISA and Western Blot. They only look for the immune response. The PCR tests look for the actual DNA of the Lyme bacteria though - but your body must have the bacteria in the blood or urine at the time of testing in order for this to work too - so abx use just before testing is still suggested. And, this is why Lyme is supposed to be a clinical diagnosis.
Posted 10/3/2014 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I do oil pulling anyway I never knew it was good for anything else but your teeth haha so I'm ahead of the game on that note. Epsom salt makes my skin itch and burn but I can handle it I just wish it felt good like it used to. I can't believe how fast my body had changed since I've been on all these meds. It's pretty incredible. Do you know what the deal is with the c3 and c4? Is it somehow correlated to cd57?
Posted 10/4/2014 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Here is what I've found on the C3: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003539.htm

And here is for C4: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003354.htm

Both of them can be lowered in a bacterial infection, so I wouldn't worry much about it - Lyme & Bartonella are both bacterial infections.

You may need to lower the amount of Epsom Salt you use until your skin gets a little better.
Posted 10/4/2014 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
How negative was your Igenex western blot? Did you have positive or IND bands?
Posted 10/4/2014 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't actually done it yet I'm just already worrying they will negative haha. I'm taking antibiotics for a while first to try and stir stuff up I guess. I was just wondering how common it is or isnt. Do people usually get negative results at first until they start making antibodies or....?
Posted 10/5/2014 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again traveler you're the best!
Posted 10/5/2014 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
I know a few people that tested negative using Igenex but were still treated by an LLMD.
Posted 10/5/2014 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
"Thanks again traveler you're the best!"
Aww!! blush thank you!! I'm just glad I could be of help!!


Yes, the tests are based on an antibody response - so if the body isn't making antibodies (to an infection that inhibits this response), then the Western Blot and the ELISA will be negative. There are quite a few LLMD's that will put a patient on abx for a few weeks before running a test now for this reason. The abx will kill off some more bacteria, and hopefully the body will be able to respond by making antibodies - although it doesn't work for everyone, it does help a lot of people.
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