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Lyme Antibodies

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Posted 4/14/2012 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Quick Question regarding antibodies:

How long (approximately) after being bitten do IgM and IgG antibodies remain active in ones body? In other words, how long until they become undetectable by testing? Specifically the Western Blot IgM and IgG.

I understand that everyone responds uniquely to the disease as well as testing, but if I was bitten last July, and Lyme was in fact transmitted to me through the tick bite, would I likely test positive still? Or have I waited too long?
Posted 4/14/2012 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
I have ask this question of my LLMD and never gotten a definite answer. Like many things with lyme, I don't think its known yet or like you said, it may be different for everyone. My dr. does not believe in retesting. It makes sense that once your body builds antibodies to a disease that they would always be detected. After all, isn't that what vaccines are - giving the body the disease so it can build antibodies and forever protect you from a disease?

As the testing is not accurate AT ALL for detecting lyme antibodies in the first place, it also makes sense that it wouldn't be accurate to detect whether or not the disease is still present or dormant.

Sorry I guess I wasn't much help to you. :)
Posted 4/15/2012 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
No worries. I appreciate the response though!

Does anyone else have any information on how long lyme antibodies stay active after a tick bite? I know that IgG titers usually remain active longer, but for how much longer?

What were your experiences with testing?
Posted 4/15/2012 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
I have a similar question. I had lymes was treated as soon as I showed a bullseye. Many years later trauma/stress has left me with lymes symptoms. If i dont show antibodies in my blood does that mean my treatment didnt work?

Sorry if this doesnt make sense I'm trying to understand and my brain is having a hard time.
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