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Blood test and antibiotics?

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Posted 9/22/2013 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
A few weeks ago, the lymph nodes under my chin (particularly the right one) swelled up and I developed canker sores by my mouth. Both the swelling and the canker sores went away, only to be replaced with throat pain. However, the throat pain was not like a normal sore throat, and felt similar to the lymph node pain under my chin. Though nothing swelled up, I know that there are lymph nodes in your neck. I went to the doctor and she prescribed me a 5 day treatment of a z-pack (Azithromycin). 4 days into the treatment, my neck still hurts and seems to have moved to my chest. I have tried to look up online what could be the cause of swollen lymph nodes and throat pain, with varying results. A friend suggested that I look into the symptoms of Lyme disease because I do live in an area that it is known to be prevalent in and I was in the woods over the summer about 2 -2 and a half months ago(though I never found any ticks on myself) . I looked into the symptoms of Lyme Disease and find that I am tired more of late and that I have experienced some joint pain in my back and neck as well as some jaw pain. Tomorrow I am going back to the doctor and I think, just to be on the safe side and ease my mind, I am going to request a blood test for Lyme Disease. I have read varying things on the accuracy of the tests, however, the CDC website says that the test are fairly accurate, but that

"It is possible for someone who was infected with Lyme disease to test negative because:
1.Some people who receive antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) early in disease (within the first few weeks after tick bite) may not develop antibodies or may only develop them at levels too low to be detected by the test. "

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/#accurate

So, I looked up how long Azithromycin would remain in my system, and the average answer that I got was about 2 weeks.

So, my question is, since I have taken the z-pack (though it has been more than 6 weeks since I could have been infected with Lyme Disease), is it possible that if I ask for a Lyme Disease test from my doctor tomorrow that the test could be a false negative? Or should I wait two weeks before I am tested?

Thank you for any information.

Posted 9/22/2013 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lecj and welcome to our little community!
I'm so sorry to hear of all that you have been through so far, but I'm sure glad that you do your own research!!

Actually, you will need to wait 6 weeks (I believe) after the use of abx before the body can mount up the attack on Lyme once again, thus producing antibodies to the disease, which is what the tests are actually looking for.

Many insects have the ability to pass on these diseases. All they have to do is draw blood and survive to bite and draw blood again. So this includes insects like spiders, mosquitoes, mites, deer flies, horse flies, sand flies, bed bugs and more.

Unfortunately, the CDC isn't up to speed with their information on these diseases. There is a huge political fight going on over this. To learn more, see this link:
www.clinicaladvisor.com/controversy-continues-to-fuel-the-lyme-war/article/117160/

The first thing I would suggest that you do is to read through our "New to Lyme? Start here!" thread that sits at the top of the forum. It's packed full of very important information, symptom lists, and more. The most knowledgeable Lyme doctors will diagnose on symptoms and possible exposure, hoping the tests will back up the diagnosis, but understanding that the tests are not very accurate.

The current tests only look for the immune response to the bacteria, not the bacteria, which is why it takes so long after abx are stopped before you should test. Even under the best circumstances, only 50% of those with Lyme will get a positive test result. This doesn't take into consideration that there could be co-infections that can keep the immune response from happening, that there are more than the 4 or 5 strains of Lyme that are tested for, and many other issues.

For information on finding a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, you can start a new thread titled something like:"Looking for LLMD
/LLND
​​
in the _______ area." Although you will need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.

You can also email our long time member, Dan's Mother at:[email protected]

You can also email Stephanie at: [email protected] You can also go to: www.turnthecorner.org/ if you want to learn a little bit more about Lyme Disease.

You can also go to The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74

You will want to find an ILADS (International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society) trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. The ILADS site is another great place to read to get you started on your Lyme journey. www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_clearing_ilads.html
Posted 9/23/2013 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you very much for all of the information. I will change the settings on my profile and look into some LLMDs in the area. Is there a way that I can find out whether or not I have Lyme disease without testing for the antibodies and waiting another six weeks? Since the LDA and PCR test for bacteria, would that be my best bet?  I am afraid that treating it will be more difficult if I wait for another 6 weeks. As much as I dislike taking medicine and especially without cause, would it be wise to continue taking antibiotics for another 4-6 weeks now that I have been on the z-pack?

Post Edited (lecj90) : 9/22/2013 9:40:05 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/23/2013 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't wait just for the test. If I was in your shoes, I would keep treating and get into an LLMD ASAP. You want to keep killing those spirochetes before they continue to grow and divide and drill into different areas of your body.

You have a great opportunity to eradicate the Borrelia and co-infections by treating early- that is great news for you!

If your local doctor won't help you, find another one. Right now in CT, the doctors are allowed to treat longer - I hope you can get in with an LLMD ASAP! You are doing great work getting informed!
Posted 9/23/2013 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, don't wait for the test. The best thing you can do is to have a look at the symptom lists and if you "see yourself" in those lists, then get in to see a doctor that will treat you for these infections. You also have the option of using natural or alternative medicine to treat these infections. Many have found that even if they choose to use abx to treat, that the addition of certain herbs really helps their healing.

We are here to help you with support and information along the way too!! :-)
Posted 9/24/2013 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much for all of the information. My doctor today did not seem particularly concerned when I mentioned that I thought that there was a possibility of me being exposed to Lyme disease within the past three months because she said that my joints would swell. I called a few doctors who were booked until early November and December, but was finally able to make an appointment with a doctor who said that they could test me despite my recent antibiotic use on Thursday for a minimal fee. I did not find out for sure if the doctor was an LLMD, but I found them on this website ---> http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php/doctors/about

so I believe that they are.



What herbs do you suggest if that is something that I am going to look into? (I am guessing the ones that are in your signature are the ones that you most highly recommend, but are there others that I should look into as well?)

Post Edited (lecj90) : 9/23/2013 8:29:10 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/24/2013 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
lecj90......Your Doctor actually said you don't have Lyme because "your joints would swell" ? That's sad right there.....Good Luck
Posted 9/24/2013 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lecj,
Actually, the ones in my signature line aren't the ones I recommend the most, as very few have experience in dealing with those herbs, but it's what I used and I was being asked so much for the information that I just got lazy! LOL! :-)

There are actually several good herbal protocols out there. The one that I hear about the most is Buhner's and there are several members here that are using it too. (buhnerhealinglyme.com/)

There is Cowdens protocol, but that is best done by those who have high Vitamin D levels.
(www.nutramedix.ec/ns/lyme-protocol

Zhang's Protocol, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
(www.sinomedresearch.org/drz.htm)

Although Dr. Klinghardt's protocol isn't really "herbal", it is considered 'natural' by most.
(www.klinghardtacademy.com/Lyme-Disease/)

And of course, what I used, which can be found through the link at the bottom of my posts. Although I used all the herbs in the Chronic Tonic, my practitioner had me make the medicinal tea differently, so that is the only one I have experience with. I'm happy to answer as many questions as I can about this one.

Of course you can also see what I used to treat my Bartonella infection as well.

For my Babesia infection, we did many things, which I have not gotten a list of yet from my practitioner, but will soon. The other infections that I had were treated with the herbs I was using to treat the other infections as they are not as stubborn as Lyme, Bartonella or Babesia - at least not for me.

The body needs a lot of support during this healing process, so be sure that things like your thyroid, adrenals, bowels and more are all functioning well, and you have to help your body remove those toxins -so detoxing is essential.

As I said before, there is a ton of information in our "New to Lyme?" thread, so please be sure to read through that if you haven't yet. There is information about detoxing, symptom lists and more.
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