HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Anything to avoid before lyme and co tests?

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/26/2017 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I am clinically diagnosed but not treated yet. I will have tests for Lyme and co and might have some silly questions but thought it is better to ask. Is there anything that could have an impact on the results? Do I need to avoid any activity, supplements, food etc.? I guess not but please let me know what you think.

Thank you.
Posted 3/26/2017 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Sliver.light, if you haven't already, I would highly encourage you to read the New to Lyme section at the top of the forum page. It has tons of great information.

My LLMD started working on Candida before he started on the Lyme. You could start the Lyme Diet: No sugar, no dairy, no gluten and no alcohol. It will help with starving off those bugs.

I have read you should do a parasite cleanse before you start treatment as well. I'm not sure how effective it was but I purchased a parasite cleanse off of Amazon and froze Castor Oil capsules to take. I was told (so I'm not sure it's medically true) that if you freeze the capsules it will make it thru the digestion process and then kill the small worms at the top of the intestines. So I did all that.

I'm sure there are other things as well. So I'm interested in hearing from other members as well.
Posted 3/26/2017 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Laker,

I'm already on the Lyme diet just no specific treatment like abx, herbals etc.

My question was about testing like I wrote in my opening post. Do I need to avoid any activity, supplements, food before having the blood test?
Posted 3/26/2017 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
I know some say that the use of abx and some herbals should be avoided, but then I have also been told that other herbs that boost the immune system could help to stimulate the antibodies that they are testing for.

I am sure someone will be along to tell you which ones!

That said, and as I am sure you are aware the diagnosis is clinical and the blood tests are only confirmation (thus a negative result won't rule it out) plus the co infections are notorious for false positives, thus I wouldn't rely on them as an indication of which you may have.

Are you having the tests because they are required or just as a confirmation?
Posted 3/26/2017 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
I know that Dr K. (In Seattle) suggests patients get a massage before testing -- more often an accurate test.. I don't. Know if this is bunk or not ........ but it is a good excuse For a massage!
Posted 3/27/2017 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses!

@ silly sheep,

The tests are only for confirmation. I know diagnosis is clinical but to be honest it would be better to see it on paper as well. Not that I want to be positive lol… but positive results would make me accept, realise or don’t know how to put it. I already have a clinical diagnosis and diagnosis is clinical due to unreliable tests, yet somehow I just can’t sort of believe it…or has not sunk in yet. I know it doesn't make sense but that is how I feel.

@ AK, indeed it is a good excuse to get a massage! smile
Posted 3/27/2017 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Silver and good to see you again.

My question to you is how will you feel if you get a slightly less positive test result? What will you do then?

I had lyme symptoms and was very suspected of having lyme. I got a "weak" positive.

Even though it was weak it sure made me feel better having that paper. I started treatment before the lyme test.

There are many different opinions from doctors on what to do before a test.

Because my test was not CDC positive my LLMD recommended that I stop antibiotics and wait 3 weeks and take another test. This just wasn't what I thought was right for me.

So, my suggestion is just take the test, see the results and go from there.

It is all steps and none of us have the "right" way to do this.
Posted 3/27/2017 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi PeteZa,

First of all, I wish you all the success with your treatment!

Even a weak positive would make me feel better. Well, probably I should rather say sure instead of better because the whole thing freaks me out. I have a lot of symptoms and these have been making my life unpleasant and sometimes really painful but at least I am familiar with these. However, the unknown scares me. What if I suddenly get worse. That can happen with or without treatment. I know that one cannot get better without treatment but still I do not like the idea…the thought of herxing and for example the side effects of abx worry me. I know there are herbs too etc. but I am the sort of person who is scared of doing anything to my body. I have been taking a lot of supplements for years (NAC, ALA, vitamins, grape seed extract etc.) but when it comes to meds and powerful herbs suitable to treat Lyme….I am worried and I get terrible anxiety. Also I take enough meds already for my thyroid and adrenal insufficiency.

So probably it would take me a good few months to start treatment. Knowing myself, I would want to do so much more research on treatment options and I would need to get over my fear. Not something that happens quickly.
Posted 3/27/2017 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
I completely understand, silverlight! I felt the same but I just couldn't justify the cost. I can't explain why it was so important to me either, lol!

I eventually came to see it as 'my mother has asthma, she didn't have a blood test to confirm it but she accepts it and has to 'treat' it'. But that said if I had had the money I probably would have gone ahead.

There is nothing wrong with taking your time and 'looking before you leap', it is a sensible approach! I hope that people here can help you with answering any questions you have about your research and your options. Remember it is about what you think is right for you!!

Do know the the anxiety can be a big part of lyme and this can go with treatment. Plus lyme can really mess with your adrenals and thyroid so treating it could really help them - hmm, like treating lyme could be 'just' an extension of treating those?? It might be a less anxiety causing way of looking at it??
Posted 3/29/2017 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
Silly sheep, thanks for the kind words! Glad you understand why I’m taking my time. Sorry about my late response, I have had some rough time…Wish I could be more active on this forum! But when certain symptoms hit me, I just cannot read and think..

I know anxiety, thyroid and adrenal problems are part of Lyme. It would be great if treatment could help with anxiety! However, I have been taking replacement hormones for thyroid and adrenals for years so I don’t think those could ever regain normal function. Basically these are organs haven’t been doing anything for years and are already reduced in size. My TSH and ACTH are also zero.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply