Can I do a co-infection test first (before borrelia)?

Hi all!
I live in Australia and recently went to an LLMD who said it's a possibility I have Lyme. All my symptoms fit under Lyme and I had a bullseye mark but I don't remember being bitten, nor was I out near grass or bushes.

He wrote forms to send me off for testing but the main one costs $1000 AUD and I'm a student who can't really afford to shell out that money for a test.. He also wrote tests for co-infections as well (which are cheaper) and said with Lyme, there are usually co-infections present...

Do you guys think it's possible for me to do the co-infection tests first and wait for results, or should I go ahead and do the main test?

Main tests ($1000):
Borrelia Immuno Blot + Elispot
Borrelia PCR (blood + urine)
Mycoplasma PCR (Blood)

Co-infections tests:
Rickisettia + Erlichia
Serology: Bartonella, Chlamydia, mycoplasma
CD57

(I missed out a few things due to not being about to decode doctor's handwriting)

Thanks all!
x

AML94 said...
Whee is babesia? That's an important one.

The Lyme western blot at Igenex is $200. Shipping to the US would add to that, but it would still be cheaper.

Most of us just had western blots, not PCRs, for Lyme

Babesia is not on any of the forms. Hmm I don't know why he's telling me to do PCR then..He said the results are quite accurate, but it's just so expensive

Im glad to see you found an llmd in Australia, most stories I've heard says it is hard to find llmd there and even more political there. Your llmd seems to be spot on in thetesting requested.

Roxie60 said...
You can do the coinfections first. If any come back positive an llmd will highly suspect lyme anc thd treatmdnt you get sometimes is overlapping(addresses both lyme and coinfections)

Have you been outside Australia? If not I have not seen anyone report having babesia that is from Australia, doesnt mean its not there but so dar seems north american strain. I really question how is it this appears to be a global illness and still the attention is not there.

understand uour finance isdues ad student so if I were yiu I would have no problem testing for voinfections first. How long have you been sick? If you have been sick forawhile you might ck to see if CD57 test is aavailable there, it can sometimes be considered a screen for lyme also.

Thanks for your reply :)

Yes I have been to Asia but I don't recall getting any tick bites. And I haven't been around any grass and bushes for about 3 years. I just woke up one day and had the bite on my ankle. Hmm yeah that's the only reason I can think of why he didn't test me for babesia.

As soon as I mentioned Lyme to my GP, he said: NO! You don't have Lyme. Now go get an ultrasound for this this and this...

I've been sick since February this year.. Yes CD57 is available here :) I will go get co-infections done first then! Thank you <3