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Bart test negative but still have symptoms

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Posted 10/21/2023 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
So back in March I got a positive test for Bartonella and have been treating it ever since, this week I got retested and it shows negative.. but I still have symptoms, cognitive issues, prickly crawling feeling in the scalp, vision issues come and go, bottom of my feet hurt, ringing in the ears 24/7, mood fluctuates throughout the day, my question is how accurate are test?
Do I keep treating as long as symptoms are there? Or when do you back off on treatment and focus on rebuilding and repairing the damage?
Posted 10/21/2023 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
None of these tests are very accurate.

Do you still herx when treating specifically for Bart?

And maybe your symptoms are from something else since we really have only one tick infection.
Posted 10/21/2023 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
if I increase my dose I’m good for about a week then I herx, seems it’s better to maintain a dose that I can handle and leave good enough alone, grr don’t seem to be any shortcuts in this game
Posted 10/21/2023 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
tests for bartonella are generally less reliable than those for lyme - which is saying something

there are published studies showing people who are proven to be infected with bartonella by gold standard methods of culture - are negative when tested by serologic tests ( test looking for antibodies to bartonella ) at least 50% of the time

there are also studies that show negative correlation between PCR test results and serologic test results - and almost no cases where both are positive - this is the opposite of what one would normally expect - ie if PCR detects bartonella one would expect serology to be positive also
the fact that it is not the case here signals that bartonella is doing something v. unusual to the immune response - that is as yet not fully understood

the fact that people with chronic bartonella rarely if ever have fevers - despite fevers being a known hallmark symptom of just about every other bacteria in the blood is further evidence that its interfering with the immune system of the host

PCR based tests for bartonella have their own problems -

so, unfortunately, there really isn't any testing available that can confidently tell you when its gone

the best commercial test for bart combines PCR and culture and 3 separate blood draws and is still not fool proof - galaxy diagnostics triple draw DD ePCR with culture - its not cheap though

bottom lie is that even in the same host over time - tests can be positive then negative and then positive again - or any variation of that

i would treat until symptoms are gone and i no longer get any herx from abx
Posted 10/21/2023 10:32 PM (GMT 0)

Powermax said...
So back in March I got a positive test for Bartonella and have been treating it ever since, this week I got retested and it shows negative.. but I still have symptoms, cognitive issues, prickly crawling feeling in the scalp, vision issues come and go, bottom of my feet hurt, ringing in the ears 24/7, mood fluctuates throughout the day, my question is how accurate are test?
Do I keep treating as long as symptoms are there? Or when do you back off on treatment and focus on rebuilding and repairing the damage?

Unfortunately you can’t rely on testing to gauge if you’re in remission….or if you still need to continue to treat.

“ i would treat until symptoms are gone and i no longer get any herx from abx”

Yup
Posted 10/23/2023 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
Did you test with Galaxy Diagnostics or T-Lab?

Dr M, the bartonella specialist, does do repeated testing. Keep in mind that he tests through these specialty labs and not Labcorp or other commercial labs. I don’t know all the reasons why he does repeated testing, but he is highly respected and his patients that have posted here found him very knowledgeable and helpful.

Post Edited (WalkingbyFaith) : 10/23/2023 5:42:31 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 10/24/2023 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
In backing what Garzie mentioned about the unreliability of Bart testing, I've had many tests for Bart. Dr. Marty Ross believes the Igenex Immunoblot is the best because it looks for reactions to more strains of each infection. Chances aof catching Bart or other infections with PCR are not real good, but positives seem to be true. Sereology testing can often be misleading because of cross reactivity. I've had all three with different, conflicting results.

But from my experience,. the Igenex Immunblot has shown consistently positive, which makes it the one I most believe in. Others may disagree. Also, I've never had a blood smear, and I have not had the galaxy diagnostics triple draw DD ePCR with culture, referred to by Garzie.
Posted 10/24/2023 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for your replies, I will ask my Dr. about having the Galaxy or Igenex done,
I think i still have bart, my brain feels like its heavy and on fire, symptoms of alzheimers & Dementia (i'm to young for that) ringing ears 24/7
nutritionally i'm well supported and should be feeling like a million bucks, but i'm not!
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