Confused Lyme?

Welcome!

Sorry for the reason you're here but, glad you found us.

According to this site:

lymetwistontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/01/western-blots-what-do-all-of-those-darn.html

Band 23 is specific for Bb (the bacteria that causes Lyme)

And, the site I'm linking below includes links to PubMed articles that back up the interpretation:

www.oocities.org/hotsprings/oasis/6455/western-blot.txt

Bottom line, it sounds like you've been dealing with Lyme and possibly one or more of the coinfections that can accompany it.

Now, based upon the symptoms you've reported, it sounds like your immune system has been keeping much of it under control.

Are you dealing with any other symptoms as listed in the "New to Lyme" thread at the top of the forum? If yes, perhaps you might consider an herbal protocol.

And, I think that "normal" thyroid warrants further investigation. All too many doctors look at in-range thyroid test results and declare the patient "normal" when that's the farthest thing from the truth. Hopefully, you've had more than pituitary hormone TSH tested and, instead, have measured the actual levels of thyroid hormone usable by the body: FreeT4 and FreeT3.

If you have a copy of your thyroid lab report and would like to share it here, I can show you how to interpret the results. You'd need to list the reference ranges for each result since they can vary from lab to lab and your results can only be properly interpreted within the context of your lab's ranges.

I'm not saying you don't have Lyme but, since Lyme is famous for causing hypothyroidism, you might also be dealing with that.....and it can impede your healing from Lyme.

Best wishes to you moving forward!

Sorry to tell you this but, your FreeT4 level indicates hypothyroidism...if your lab uses the most common reference range of .8 - 1.8.

Based upon this common range, a healthy person will have FreeT4 at least 1.5 and often higher (my 87 y/o mother doesn't have thyroid issues and her most recent FreeT4 test came back at 1.58...)

The infection process can skew TSH lower and that often confuses doctors. They are taught in medical school that TSH is the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment but it fails most of us.

Thyroid-savvy doctors know to look only at the FreeT4 and FreeT3 levels to judge thyroid status.

Most people have EBV antibodies....

I'm not sure where you got the information that EBV can cause a present 23 band IgG and IgM but, the links I provided show that the 23 band is specific (not cross-reactive) for Bb (Lyme).

I feel like your story and mine are exactly the same! I actually discovered my Lyme disease by seeing a LLMD, because they kept telling me that I was just fine, it was all anxiety, and "in my head". I would get chest pain, was always fatigued, and have tinnitus!! The tinnitus is what set me over the edge, and I did exactly what you did...got blood work done, MRI, and went to multiple doctors. It wasn't until I spoke with someone who said I needed to go to their LLMD, and sure enough I had blood tests taken and my C4a levels were 7 times higher than they should be, along with my TGFbeta levels. My doctor diagnosed me with Lyme due to these tests and my clinical symptoms (Lyme tests came back negative). I am seeing a TMJ doctor just to be safe, however I feel it has a lot to do with the Lyme.

How are you doing? How's your tinnitus? And how were your pregnancies? I'm just curious to hear if you think you felt worse because you may have been struggling with Lyme during them.

@ansay9 hi! I still have tinnitus, almost 6 years just have learned to cope with it so it doesn't bother me much now....however I'd rather not have it! My children are 8 and 11 years old, I didn't have any of these issues during pregnancy.

My oddball symptoms started in the beginning of 2010 and have been pretty chronic since....however I do want to mention, I never remember having a tick bite of rash....BUT I got stung horribly by a wasp this past ending of June, welter up to look like a bullseye rash and have felt even more "off" ever since....before wasp it was some fatigue, the tinnitus, a little vertigo (due to seasonal allergies, so I was told...) since the wasp sting, I've been very achy, my eyes are much more sensitive and feel a brain fog. I've read wasps DO transmit Lyme. So now I'm wondering if this is chronic or I got over the summer! I read the band 23 that I have positive is a C antigen indicating the shell of bacteria and could be an earlier band! @CD3764 what do you guys think my next step should be?

Hi @traveler .

I'm wondering what are the next steps? I don't have much money and I'm trying to figure out what makes the most sense. How did everything get healed? I wish I could find out if this is new or I've had it for a long time

Hi 'Ilovejesus007'!!!

I'd first like to say that I just love your user name & that I also love Jesus. It's so refreshing to see a believer on here. I believe that our spirituality must be priority in our healing process; however I also believe that healing is solely up to The Lord God, Jesus. With that said He's also given us each skills, abilities, and wisdom, such as what we see in biologists, doctors, and scientists. It can be challenging keeping the balance of God as the center while also using humankinds help. It helps me to remember that the people who help me are a gift from God. That's just my opinion based on personal experience...

I've found from mine own personal experience and my two sisters, 1 who had a def. Acute Lyme diagnosis(2005), and is still chronically ill, and the other who's health is quickly declining, that we must play detective and be proactive in our own health(or lack thereof). God gave us curious minds with imaginations. Some people who just plain don't care or are uneducated about Lyme and co-infections, like to accuse Lymies of having OVER-active imaginations. Please try not to let those types get to you-think of your imagination as a gift from God, bestowed upon you to be proactive!!!


I'm not thoroughly educated in the diagnosis of Lyme. I do know that you can have a tick bite without ever having seen it, as they're tiny or could be in the hairline. I know that every individuals immune system is unique to their circumstances. For example, someone could get a trace amount of the bacteria from a tick and their immune system could eradicate it and it would later show on a Lyme test as a past infection. Not ALL tick bites result in borrelia, and each tick bite is unique to the type of OTHER bacterium, virals, and parasites known as Lyme co-infections.

I have a gene mutation that basically disables my immune system; therefore when I get exposed to ANY virus, bacterium, parasite etc etc my body doesn't respond quickly & efficiently by creating antibodies that fight infection. That means that the Lyme tests do not reveal an immune response of/by my body. Many people with chronic illness have the mthfr gene mutation(according to latest studies)!

I'm sorry this is so long, but I just really feel compelled to also tell you how my health declined over a long period of time.

It started w/being told I had allergies. I spent years off-n-on getting immunotherapy aka 'allergy shots' every week. I was told that was what caused my chronic sinus pain and headaches. The interesting thing was/is is that I DO have allergies/intolerance but why?

Then I also got diagnosed of having G.E.R.D. for TEN years, I saw several Dr' s who all said "Oh it's just acid reflux, take nexium or prilosec". So, I took those products daily and ended up with a syndrome called magnesium deficiency. I have to take magnesium supplements for the rest of my life. AND, as it turns out that my constant tummy pain and abnormal B.M. issues were caused by my food intolerance(allergies)!!! Between 2004-2014 I'd asked 3 different Dr' s why or what caused my allergies. The allergist just shrugged his shoulders.

Then I got diagnosed for Hypothyroidism in 2010. After treating me between 2010-2014 for hypothyroidism and still no change in fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, stiffness, migraines, sinus pain, stomach pain,mood swings, tinnitus, vertigo, heart Palps, chills, cold(when not having a hot flash), weird & bizarre skin sensations, sleep disorder, etc etc. etc.

I'd been told that I "just have allergies, hypothyroidism, and perimenopause"! My sister who was diagnosed for Lyme in 2005, had been bugging me to get tested and I did in 2010 @ my MD who prides herself in being 'Integrative' meaning she practices traditional medicine AND naturopathic. Anyhoo, that Lyme test revealed 'negative', by CDC standards. My MD still says that I don't have Lyme OR co-infections even tho I told her that I've had tests ordered by my Lyme literate ND, that reveal positives for Mycoplasma, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and reactivation of HHV6; HHV6 is the virus that causes the childhood illness known as rosieola.

So, with all this said, and since you mentioned having had Ebv, you really should see a LYME literate doctor and get tested for virals, Lyme co-infections, etc. Having had EBV, which is but one of many human herpes viruses, Ebv can become reactivated.

I'M SORRY this is so long-sometimes hearing others experiences can be of great help, but the biggest help is prayer asking Him for discernment!!!

He is with us, even in the midst of suffering!

IloveJesus007 said...
Does anyone have any natural cures? I've heard ACV, eating garlic and elderberry and do away with lyme

There are several herbal protocols out there (Buhner, Cowden, Jernigan, White and Chronic Tonic) that are shown to be effective.

The things you mentioned won't make a dent, I'm sorry. Lyme is quite the complex infection and can be worse if co-infections are involved (and they usually are).

Have you tried any herbal protocols? I tend to be sensitive to antibiotics. Is treating Lyme without antibiotics a feasible option that works? So far I've seen mixed answers in other forums

IloveJesus007 said...
Have you tried any herbal protocols? I tend to be sensitive to antibiotics. Is treating Lyme without antibiotics a feasible option that works? So far I've seen mixed answers in other forums

I have used Buhner's protocol (the link to his website is in a previous post -on this thread)...and tolerated them well. Much easier to tolerate than antibiotics (for me).

It is a feasible option - many people have healed using herbal protocols. Our own Moderator, Traveler has healed from a 40 year infection using herbals.

How does a person just start buhners protocol? Do we buy a book? How do we know what to take what to buy, how much to take, etc?

I have been dealing with chronic lyme for years. I also have hypothyroidism and hashi. It has been pretty much under control. All of a sudden my thyroid levels are way off and my dr has changed my meds.

My lyme disease is still there, somewhat at bay but not by any stretch is it cured. I have been functional though, compared to others.

I recently took a cruise to Europe and since I came home (1 week ago) i feel horrible. Thank goodness I was fine on vacation. I think the traveling threw me for a loop. Obviously my immune system is not strong enough to tolerate the commotion of travel. I can handle domestic travel for just a few days at a time.

I cant afford to go to a LLMD and besides, I have been there done that. I have spent fortunes of money on all kinds of treatments, drs, and supplements.

What now?

Maybe one of the protocols that are often talked about on this site might be my next stop but I dont know where to begin.

Any advice?

Leslie