Question about Western Blot Results

I have been having numbness/tingling in extremities as well as difficulty concentrating, brain fog for the past 4 months. As part of a MS work-up I had a Lyme test performed. The only thing that came up abnormal was IgG P41 ab...everything else was normal. The results seem to say that you should have 5 positive bands for a positive Lyme test. Can anyone explain the results to me? So, does this mean I've been exposed to Lyme at some point or not? Should this be pursued or does it mean I don't have Lyme?

Thank you!

I'm in San Antonio, TX...any recommendations?

That's about 5 hours away...that would be great if you could give me the info.

Hi emmas1, welcome to the board!

There is no completely reliable test for Lyme, and results can vary by lab.  On the Western Blot, the CDC requires several bands to be positive for the test to be positive; however, many people who have Lyme do not have this many bands.  Which lab did your test?  Labs such as Quest and LabCorp do not list all the Lyme-specific bands that IgeneX Lab lists.

Below is a Lyme symptom list.  You can have any combination of symptoms. 

Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing

Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol

When Lyme disease is a possibility, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor.  Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols.  Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma.  Many people who have Lyme are co-infected.  It may affect treatment choice and progress.  It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.  Have you been tested for these? 

If you need a doctor recommendation, you can email me at [email protected]  

It is also important to learn as much as possible.  I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2008 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf  He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols.   I also recommend the books "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner and "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singleton M.D.

I hope you can get answers soon.

Emmas1, From what I've read on this board, the doctors in TX don't think you have LD in Texas.  It would be best if you saw a LLMD if you have alot of the symptoms from Ticker's list to be sure you are tested properly.  Take Care, KO

Killer, as I said on your other post about 39, it sure does appear you have lyme for sure if you have bands 41 and 39. But I'm no LLMD. This is based on all the research I could find on the WB and the bands.