HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Question about Lyme testing...

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/21/2015 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was first tested for Lyme 3 yrs ago by my primary doc with the Western Blot. She said it was negative.

Then, back in August this past summer, my Houston hormone doctor tested me for Lyme with the IGenex. It came back CDC negative and IGenex indeterminate. My results are in my signature.

I have been on abx since September. I just went off abx 3 days ago. I never had any improvement.

My LLMD wants me to take another Lyme test, with Infectolab in Germany. It is going to cost around $600. I hope it is not a waste of money.

Do you think that since I was on abx for 4 months that maybe it will "push" some of those IND bands into positive??? I'm hoping that this new test will make me more comfortable with a Lyme diagnosis.

What are your thoughts?

...
Posted 1/21/2015 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Something isn't right here. Has your dr ever considered iv abx?
Posted 1/21/2015 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Utahgal you have some Lyme specific bands. I've been on ABX since September too, and I don't feel different yet either. I'm going to keep going though! I keep telling myself it's a marathon not a sprint.

It's hard for me to tell what's going on, I keep having ups and downs. Sometimes hourly.

Keep us posted on what's going on with you.
Posted 1/21/2015 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have any ups and downs. My symptoms are constant. They don't worsen or lessen. The only herx I had was on flagyl. I have had no improvement. Not even on the good drug combo of mino, rifampin, and tindamax.

Hmmmm....

I'm hoping the testing shows something.

I doubt the IV meds would even help. And they are so expensive. I figure if I don't react at all to orals, then the IV's are probably a waste of money.
Posted 1/21/2015 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
My llmd said some of her patients who have been infected for yrs did not respond at all to oral abx and needed iv. Its just a thought
Posted 1/21/2015 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Chapelle.....

I may consider IV if my Germany labs are positive. I also feel like maybe I have an underlying infection like babesia that might need to be treated first before I see any improvement.

I know Horowitz says its a real common problem where he lives and I live only 2 hrs away from him. So, if babesia is a problem there, it is most likely a problem here. Maybe I just need to clear babesia first. Of course, my labs came back negative for babesia. Lol.

Maybe I should start a new thread for babesia?

...
Posted 1/21/2015 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Utahgal - I totally understand how you're feeling! I had an Igenex positive and have had some herxes and a few symptoms improve AND I still question it.
I have been treating for 6 months now and I thought I'd be almost better by now.
But, I keep pushing on because I've been tested for so many other issues already - and they've been ruled out. Plus I have herxed several times.
I think Babesia sounds like a valid question for you to ask your Dr.

Tell your Dr your concerns - and maybe he will put you on a Babesia treatment trial. I see you were given 2 tabs of Malarone in Oct - why was that? Malarone is used for Babesia... But why just two tabs?
Posted 1/21/2015 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
I took malarone for 1 month. The bottle didn't have a mg dose, so I just noted that I took 2 tabs a day.

My llmd thinks I have ehrlichia. She dismissed my babesia inquiry. But after reading Horowitz, it seems babesia is actually a big problem that often goes undiagnosed.
Posted 1/21/2015 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
ahh, okay. So, you didn't have a response - good or bad during that month?

I know that mepron is another option for Babesia. It is a liquid.

Re: Enrlichia - I thought that was treated with Doxy? Maybe mino does the trick, too.
Posted 1/21/2015 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, no response to malarone.

Mino or doxy + rifampin should treat ehrlichia. Again, I had no response.
Posted 1/21/2015 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Utahgal - It looks to me like your Igenex results show lyme. IND does not mean negative it shows traces. Also several of those bands are specific to lyme.
I felt my worst 4 to 6 months into treatment. Like others have said hang in there it will get better!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply