Lyme and COVID-19

I know there is a separate COVID thread but it is getting quite long and harder to follow. I have a more simple question here: do we know of fellow lymies here or on the internet that have had contracted COVID ? I am curious how does it affect people with lyme, chronic lyme, etc...

It would be good to include only people that were tested positive for COVID, i know of several friends (not lymies) that had some bad colds in march, they did not go to hospital nor were PCR tested..... They thought it might have been COVID but they recently took the antibody test and it was negative. So it is easy to be mislead and think you had it when you actually have not.

If the insurance companies get any say, I bet it will be like 55% sensitive like our Lyme IGG's. Oh yeah the government is also supposed to cover the cost of positive tests also. Maybe they don't want positives.

I have also read a couple stories of people saying their doctor would not "let" them get a covid test unless they had a negative flu, strep, and maybe one other. Of course, those tests are full charge and may or may not be covered by insurance... Not sure how prevalent that is

Not saying that is the case. Just thinking out loud and wondering. I haven't looked into it much, but I havent been dazzled by the quality of any infectious disease tests I have taken or investigated throughout my life:

strep - had two negative rapid tests that were send to the lab for culture and came back positive. Those were me personally. I also had a child with a neg rapid test that came back culture positive.

Lyme- don't even need to go here

co-infections - many doctors acknowledge the accuracy of these tests can be so bad, maybe best not to waste the money.

flu- Interesting I have never heard of anybody with a positive test when this infection supposedly kills tens of thousands of Americans anually. My kids and many frieds/family have had all negative flu tests. I guess small sample size, and not very scientific to look at it this way but I am skeptical of the whole entire flu industry.

Covid - 19 PCR I glanced at some research papers about this and saw sensitivity ranging from 45%-65%. Not good.

Covid - 19 antibody - Who knows if this one is sensitive. The track record of other ID tests do not seem reliable. I also wonder what corners were cut to get it to market so quickly. Maybe it is good. I hope it is. I will remain unconvinced until it is demonstrated to be a good effective test.

HIV test - has a reputation for being 99% accurate. Is this the only good Infectious disease test out there?

Malaria testing - pretty good sensitivity but not so great specificity.

Post Edited (Missouri) : 5/19/2020 11:50:43 AM (GMT-6)

DCD- It was just reported that the Abbott test, touted by and used by Trump and the White House staff was said to only be 50% reliable. His response was, well if we think its wrong we will just take another one.

I requested an Antibody test by my PCP and he refused because he said there is no reliability. I had one anyway, paid out of pocket, and it was negative. So I can guess the accuracy or just continue practicing all the safety guidelines so I don't get it. I would rather not have had a positive test and assumed I was immune, to then hear it was only 50% reliable.

DCD- Yes, the rapid test.

Here’s what we’re using in BC,Canada:

“Nucleic acid-based testing (also called PCR or Molecular testing) is the gold standard used in Canada and abroad for the diagnosis of active COVID-19 infection in patients with symptoms.”

Our provincial health officer is confident it’s reliable.
And so far the methods used here are working - testing is part of that - as well as social distancing, shutting down non essential services, closing schools, public parks, the border, etc.
Our daily new cases has been down to less than 25 per day -for awhile now.

But - will it continue - now that we are opening up again. I think it’s too soon...