Hi Healthy Dude!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad that you have found it to be so wonderful! We think so too!
If you haven't already, it would be helpful for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled,"New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as it is packed full of important information, symptom lists, helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, information on probioitics and much more.
As for your test results, here is the site that I use to interpret them:
www.reocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/western-blot.txtAn IgM result means that you have an active infection. It once was thought to mean an 'early' infection, but has since been revised. The bands on IgM and IgG mean the same, it's just that the IgG is a response seen in later infections - so your band 31, although it's the only band 'lit up', it's specific to Lyme and there's only one way it could have gotten inside of you to create a positive band - a longer term infection.
The more +'s you have beside a number, the stronger the reaction.
IND means indeterminate - not negative, but not quite strong enough to be "fully positive". But it means that you reacted on those bands and should be considered, especially when they are Lyme specific bands.
A "Lyme specific band" means specific for Borrelia Burgdorferi, sensu stricto - Lyme disease in the strictest sense. There is only
one on the over 300 known strains of Lyme that is considered Bb, ss.
Bands 18 & 41 are indicative of the tail of the bacteria, which can cross react with other Spirochetal bacteria such as Relapsing Fever, Pintas and Yaws, and Syphilis.
Band 25 - is indicative of OspC - Outer Surface Protein "C" - and is specific for Lyme.
Band 31 - OspA - Outer Surface Proten "A" - specific for Lyme.
Band 34 - OspB - Outer Surface Protein "B" - specific to Lyme.
Band 39 - BmpA - Bacterial Membrane Protein "A" - Specific for Lyme.
Bands 83 - 93. Both bands 83 & 93 are specific to Lyme. Band 83 is a high molecular mass protein and band 93 is an immunodominant protoplasmic cylinder antigen.
Do you have a Lyme Literate doctor (LLMD) yet? For information on finding a LLMD in your area, you can start a new thread titled something like:"Looking for LLMD/LLND in the _______ area." Although you will need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.
You can send me an email by clicking on my screen name or the small blue envelop under my screen name. I may have contact information for some LLMD's in your area as well.
Please include your state and area that you would like to find a LLMD in and I will see how close I can get.
You can email Stephanie at:
[email protected] You can also go to:
www.turnthecorner.org/ if you want to learn a little bit more about
Lyme Disease.
You can also go to The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:
www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74 You can also now email TBDA (Tick Borne Disease Alliance) at
[email protected]
and ask for LLMD referrals also.
You will want to find an ILADS (International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society) trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. Go to the ILADS site to read the new (2014) Treatment guidelines to get you started on your Lyme journey.
www.ilads.org/lyme/ILADS_Guidelines.pdfBe sure to let us know how you are doing!