Interpreting Igenex with symptoms, fears of abx, I read through the stickied post

Hi there,

I was a very active kid growing up in Maine, often coming back from day-long hikes and bike rides through woods. Deer ticks were often picked off or found a day later and pulled out in the shower… We had moved from Florida when I was 11, so I think the whole family was niave. Never had a bull’s eye.

After 7 to 8 years of aching, numbness, crawling, rapid fatigue, and messed up proprioception on left side (esp face, neck, armpit, left side of abdomen, and leg) along with anxiety and concentration problems I just took my third Lyme test through Igenex instead of through my PCP as I had done in 2013 and 2015. A dozen doctors later and an empty bank account I’m 26 and I just received these results:

IFA, B BURGDORFERI
40 UNITS, EQUIVICAL (not positive or negative)

LYME IgM : POSITIVE
23-25: +
39: +
41: +

LYME IgG: NEGATIVE
39: IND
41: ++

If there were no long-term repercussions of heavy antibiotics I wouldn’t be posting here, I would just pull the trigger with my LL F-NP and get to injecting Abx. I’m just afraid of a wrong diagnosis and being on antibiotics for months and months without treating the actual problem-- meanwhile wrecking my mitochondria and microbiome. One thought is this could all be from the axillary brachial plexus block I received when I was 19 for minor wrist surgery. The NP I’m seeing is doubtful of this given my results. I’m really scared no matter what I do. Any thoughts on abx and/or my symptoms are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hi Ludic

First - you were smart to post these concerns. They are valid and believe it or not - common concerns among us

Positive WB
I'm sorry but the test is clearly positive for Lyme. You cannot have immune reactions to Borrelia specific bands without having some part of that DNA in your body. Just like you can't be sorta pregnant. There are some bands that can react from other factors (41) but 23 is OspC, for instance.

CDC surveillance case definition
The requirements for a min. number of band reactions is generated from the CDC using the tests as past of their TBD surveillance case definition - and the CDC has made it very clear the CDC interpretation of tests are NOT to be used for diagnosis - that a clinical evaluation should be used and tests serve only as backup. But in your case, your test is clearly positive, so there is really no debate.

IgG vs IgM
Typically IgM indicates early infection and IgG antibodies are created to "older" infections but this doesn't hold true for many conditions including some viruses and Lyme. The Bb can cause an irregular immune response that results in a Negative IgG response so this does not mean your infection is new, either.

Clinical diagnosis
Clinically, you also have a strong history with tick exposure and symptoms that match. Consider yourself lucky to present such clarity, in this regard. I would accept the tests at face value and your LL F-NP-s clinical dx and move forward.

Treatment
Treatment is complicated for those of us - like you - who did not get early diagnosis. So, you will llikely need at least a few months of treatment. Not what you wanted to hear but it's good to be prepared for that. However, that doesn't automatically mean you have to take abx for long periods. There are other herbal protocols. You need to figure out what fits for YOU.

Abx vs herbs
When abx are taken the right way, they are generally safe - even long term, for most people. They are more effective than herbals immediately after infection but herbals are usually easier on the gut and can sometimes be more comprehensive. Some people react negatively to some herbs. Some people need them in sequence due to their infection load or other health issue. There is a LOT of customization in most of our protocols and many of us employ a hybrid approach. Also, treatment evolves from one method to another as we respond to what our bodies need - treatment is a very dynamic process.

Full protocol
The other key components that are just as critical to effective treatment as the antimicrobials -- are treating the coinfections and other underlying causes of illness (viral load, yeast/fungus, other pathogens), detoxing appropriately, and supporting / repairing other body systems.

I hope this is helpful - one of the hardest pieces of this experience many of us share --going so long without diagnosis with so much confusion and wrong information for so long--is to embrace the diagnosis. But you'll get there and we're here to help!

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 7/26/2016 8:22:10 AM (GMT-6)

cd3764: thank you so much for the warm welcome and all of the helpful links, especially the detox links. Hearing you say you have no doubt based on my post that I have lyme is in a way a relief. Its been so long without knowing why this was happening to me. Thank you again, I’m going to get detox-literate now.


Pirouette: Further affirmation that I’m in the right place. Thank you so much for breaking everything down so clearly. You’ve all but dispelled my skepticism of the test results. A few months of treatment after nearly a decade of decline would feel like a gift. I’m very interested in a hybrid approach and will read up on the different herbal protocols. You’re right about accepting the diagnosis. It makes sense logically to me but it’s like my heart’s slow to warm up to it. Thank you again.

PeteZa: More reassurance that I chose the right forum. It seems like people are getting better here. I just bought Buhner’s book on amazon and downloaded a couple others. Stress has been off the charts these past few years. But cut down dramatically now that I have an answer. Thank you for your support and for making me feel welcome. Time to read up.