Please Help - Igenex results and general opinions

I haven't been reading these tests for as long as others, so I will let them chime in and this will push your post to the top of the list.

I do have a comment your husband seeing a neurologist - listen, but don't do anything drastic or expensive until you talk to an LLMD. I was sent to a neurologist and he wanted thousand of dollars of tests. I am so glad I did not do those. And, my neurologist did not believe that I had lyme based on my symptoms and not my lyme test..... Just be cautious.

And one more thing -- B. microti, IgM: 40 (indicates active infection) -- I think this says it all.

Hi Gene Parmesan!
Welcome to our community!! I'm so glad you found us.

It's very easy to get overwhelmed with everything - the learning curve is incredibly steep with these infections!! Come here and ask question though, as we have already learned much of what you will need to - and we like to share!!

If you haven't ​yet​, it would be helpful for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled,"New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as it is packed full of important information, symptom lists, helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, information on probiotics and much more. And this is another good list of possible detoxing routines: www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html

As for your concerns about it being MS, I would encourage you to read through this thread - don't worry, it's not very long and it's an active thread, so there could be more posts added to it still: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3589710

Now the kicker is that these tests are not that reliable. Even the Western Blot, which in some ways is the most revealing test because it breaks it down instead of just giving us an yes or no answer, is not that accurate. False negatives happen all the time. This is partly due to the test and partly due to the infection. Lyme inhibits the immune system, so it can't produce those all important antibodies that the tests are all looking for - also, if a person has more than just Lyme, the other infections can make this action even stronger. With that being said though, the tests can still be useful.

For your husband's test results, here is the site that I use to help interpret them:www.oocities.org/hotsprings/oasis/6455/western-blot.txt You can go there to find supporting Pubmed articles showing what these bands represent.

An IgM result means that you have an active infection. It once was thought to mean an 'early' infection, but has since been revised. IgG means that the infection is at a later stage.

IND means indeterminate - not negative, but not quite strong enough to be "fully positive". But it means that you reacted on those bands and should be considered, especially when they are Lyme specific bands.

A "Lyme specific band" means specific for Borrelia Burgdorferi, sensu stricto - Lyme disease in the strictest sense. There are only two on the over 300 known strains of Lyme that is considered Bb, ss. Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii. Nothing else will turn a Lyme specific band positive other than Lyme disease - - even though there are over 100 different strains of Borrelia in the US that cause human illness.

Bands 18 & 41 (whether in IgM or IgG) are indicative of the tail of the bacteria, which can cross react with other Spirochetal bacteria such as Relapsing Fever, Pintas and Yaws, and Syphilis.

Here are the bands that your husband had some kind of reaction to (other than band 41) and what they are:

Band 45 indicates HGE - Ehrlichia

Band 39 indicates BmpA (Bacterial Membrane Protein "A") and is Lyme specific (see above for Lyme specific).

Band 58 is possibly from Borrelia Afzelii - a European strain of Lyme, but a strain of Lyme none the less.

So even though your husband only has one Lyme specific band, that's all he needs for it to confirm Lyme disease, since there is no chance of a cross reaction. In other words, according to this test, he has Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Babesia.

We have several members (including myself) that have recovered from Lyme-related peripheral neuropathy or demyelinating lesions/CNS issues. I'm sure you will meet us all!!

As PeteZa has cautioned, any doctor that has not had any training from ILADS won't see Lyme most likely, but will see a whole array of other things. So while you may want to go in order to rule out other things, I too would caution you on taking action on anything that the Neurologist may say. Neuro Lyme can do a LOT to the nervous system, believe me!!

If you look at the original post, they posted this:

B. microti, IgM: 40 (indicates active infection)
B. microti, IgG: 80 (may or may not suggest active infection)

(Presence of both IgM and IgG together also indicates active infection)”


An IgM result means that you have an active infection. It once was thought to mean an 'early' infection, but has since been revised. IgG means that the infection is at a later stage. So if a person has both, it could mean one of two things:
1) that they have a late stage Lyme infection that the body is actively doing what it can to fight it, or

2) that they are infected with a new strain and that's what the body is actively fighting, AND they have a late stage infection as well.

This does not mean that the person is any more ill really, or that treatment will taker longer or anything along those lines - only that the body is trying it's best to deal with the infection(s).

I hope I've been of some help!!

Kathie on the test it says B. microti, IgM: 40 (indicates active infection). B microti is Babesia.

gene parmesan said...
Traveler, it's a huge relief to hear that you had and recovered from peripheral neuropathy and lesions. While I'm thankful every day that he's not experiencing much pain, we are both very unnerved by his symptoms and I know he's scared wondering if he'll ever regain his sense of touch.

We had our water heater set at about 170 degrees due to having dairy goats then and needing to be able to sanitize our equipment. I used to do dishes under the running hot (only) water, without feeling it. Since healing we have had to turn down that hot water!!LOL! It's too hot for people!!

I also used to quilt quite a bit as it was something that I could do to entertain me while sitting down (very necessary!!), and I used to regularly sew my fingers to the back of my work. I quickly learned to use material that wouldn't stain from blood easily because I couldn't feel the needle or the thread going through my skin. Now - I still have a tendency to mindlessly run my fingers across different textures, simply because I missed being able to feel them and it's an amazing thing to regain!

Tell your husband that if he follows the protocol, detoxes, and heals well, he will almost certainly get the feeling back in his fingers.