Looking for input on Igenex test.

Hi. I am 52 years old, live in NY state and have visited Block Island, RI many times over the years. I have had deer ticks on me, but never found one embedded, only a dog tick once. I have not felt great for many years, much of which I blamed on my hypothyroidism. A couple of years ago I found out I had Hashimoto's and also was very deficient in a lot of vitamins and minerals. I have worked on that and got to feeling quite a bit better. Then last fall I went through the death of my mother, bankruptcy, and a move. Right after this, my thyroid went very hyper and my adrenal function went nuts. All that eventually settled down, but over the winter and spring, I have felt worse and worse. My joints have gotten more painful, especially my left knee. My joints have popped and cracked for a long time, but they are worse. I have numbness and tingling in the right side of my face, which has gotten worse and now I have this in the middle of my back. I also have random ear pain and one ear whooshes off and on. Also word finding difficulties and problems with concentration. I have had pains like needle stabs at times. You get the picture. I paid to have the Igenex test done after a totally negative Western blot at Labcorp. These are my results:

IGM: 39 IND
41 ++
IGG: 23-25 IND
39 IND
41 +
58 +

I have started treatment based on symptoms and this test. I've been on Doxy and Plaquenil for 10 days. I honestly don't know if I'm herxing or not. I feel okay, a little better in some ways. I made the mistake of radically changing my diet right before starting treatment, so I don't know what is causing which. I have been waking up early with anxiety and horrible dreams and running a very slight fever in the mornings. I then feel better as the day goes on. I'm drinking lemon water first thing when I wake up and throughout the day.

I find myself wishing I had a more positive test or more definite symptoms of herxing, so I could be sure I'm on the right track. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Elsie, I hope you are seeing an LLMD who will guide you through treatment. I had the fever, anxiety, and horrible nightmares which left me shaken and exhausted. This all gets better with treatment. Many combinations of drugs may be used until you find what works for you. LLMD's treat you after a clinical diagnoses so I wouldn't worry about "not positive" enough test. But in the New To Lyme area I believe there is information on interpreting test results.

Stick with this forum and you will make your way through this crazy illness.

Elsie I hope you get a definitive diagnosis soon. The gluten free, low carb, sugar free diet is not easy but can be done because lots of us are doing it to get our health back. Try not to focus on what you cannot have/do and set your mind to getting well, feeding your body the best foods to eat for right now. I am used to being the "odd woman out" at any event or dinner.

People think I want to be skinny so I "watch" my diet. They disregard my illness and I don't dwell on it. But it does amaze me that people who saw me before and during this illness still say "come on have a drink" when they know it is not good for me. I am grateful to have gotten this far in my recovery with a great loss of symptoms and you will too once diagnosed and treated.