Still need help interpreting Igenex results

A friend was tested, and was negative by Igenex and CDC criteria.

IGM:

31 IND
39 IND
41 ++

IGG

41 +
58 +

This is sooo confusing! I think this means she could have Lyme (because 31 is IND and 41 is ++)...maybe she should be retested in 4-6 weeks??

Thank you for your patience with this and with me.

Thanks, Girlie!

my goodness - I didn't even see you mentioned 'she' in your first post...and I did the "he/she" thing through my entire post....

Thank you both for your care and kindness.

I'm a health care practitioner (although my practice is small and has been limited to mostly healthy home birth clients for the past 7 years.) I knew a little about Lyme (gave my MIL IV Ceftriaxone for a month in 2004) and saw "Under Our Skin" when it first came out. I live in Upstate NY where Lyme has been endemic for many years. I know many people who have been diagnosed with it. Still, I was as unaware of the various signs and symptoms as any of the doctors I've seen or read about in recent months. My consciousness has been raised and I see Lyme everywhere!!! I want to help others...there's a desperate need for more providers who know about appropriate testing, symptoms, etc. I believe my work may be heading in a different direction in the future!

My mom died in 2009. I've realized recently that she probably had Lyme. She had chronic diseases (arthritis, Atrial Fib, pulmonary issues). Her health really deteriorated the year before she died. She was in pain and was checking out emotionally...and she had several pets and many tick exposures. She lived just north of Columbia County. Columbia County has the highest rates of Lyme disease per capita in the country.

I'm doing pretty well. I'm up to 4 JKW a day and have been taking 1 Cat's Claw/day. I'm increasing to 2 tomorrow. No more bad herxing since I started the JKW. I hope to up the Cat's Claw to 3X daily and then I'll start Eleuthero next week.

Lyme has kicked my butt for a couple of years. I was really going downhill physically and emotionally. I didn't realize how much until recently...I did Physical Therapy before and after my knee surgery...I discovered that my stamina is horrible. I've always been a strong woman but I've lost a lot of that strength. It's been an insidious thing...I felt so tired and weak with this and I gave into it. I stopped doing a lot of the social things I used to do and spent a lot more time at home...in bed. The more bed, the more weak and tired, depressed and discouraged. It's been a vicious cycle. Now that I know I have Lyme, I know what I'm up against. I'm not going to let it beat me.

I caught a baby last Friday night (my first since November.) I'm waiting on another right now...
I went to a drumming circle Wednesday. I went to a knitting circle with some women last evening. Tonight I had dinner and knit with a friend. I have to make a concerted effort to do these things. It is definitely easier to give in to the fatigue. Sometimes it's necessary.

I am very grateful to have found this group. There's such good information and support...I'm learning a lot. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. :)

Thanks for sharing more of your story, Kathie! And, sorry about your Mom :(

I'm glad things are moving along fairly well for you with Buhner's protocol and I wish you continued success.

And, I'm glad you found us and we've been able to help. We're all in this together.

Count me in on the vote for more practitioners like you! We need more practitioners with open eyes, minds and hearts like yours. Thanks for being here.

Thanks, Echo...very helpful!

Thanks, Traveler...you'd think I had no experience interpreting lab results...this has been a process for me, but I think I'm getting it. The IND/+/++ was confusing. In a nutshell, any non-negative result on a lyme specific WB band and symptoms could lead to a clinical diagnosis of Lyme with a LLMD...correct?

I sent two more tests off this morning to Igenex. I know of more women that are thinking about getting tested...women with long term worsening health issues...we'll see!

I'm a midwife who has probably seen her own fair share of Lyme sufferers and didn't recognize it. (No MD, nor the EGO that goes with it...my apologies to those few egoless MD's among us)

I understand IGG and IGM...we test for many diseases using IGG and IGM...herpes and varicella, for example.

I didn't get that it only took ONE of those specific bands for one with symptoms to be considered to have Lyme. And that even IND is considered weak positive.

I've got it now. Thank you, Traveler.

That must have been a horrible time, Traveler. It's a blessing for us that you made it through and are here today...I'm suddenly hearing about so many suffering people and there's such a need for information.

The information about testing newborns and ticks is essential...thank you.