Igenex results! Interpretations please :)

So, got my Igenex results today from an Infectious Disease doc:

IGM: 31+
41 IND

IGG: 31 IND
41++

I know someone posted about the diff between IGG and IGM, maybe astroman (I think he's the science guy?). One is current activation and one is past?

Anyone know, and any thoughts?

The ID doc said that since Igenex said I'm negative that I don't have Lyme and that I probably had it at one point and also "you have a lot of symptoms" (reeeeeeeeallly.......I know!), to make sure I get tested for lupus, MS, etc.....

In most infections, IgM is indicative of newer infections, and IgG is indicative of older infections.
This doesn't seem to be the case for Lyme however, for reasons I don't understand.

Just know that lots of people who have had Lyme a long time have positive IgM bands.

Now as for what the bands mean, 41kDa is the spirochete tail, of which there are several besides Borrelia (Lyme). Dental infections, leptospirosis, and some others.

Up until a few years ago, 31kDa was considered Lyme specific. Now Igenex admits that it can cross react with 41kDa, as well as with some viruses.

I would treat these results as something worth looking into further. Remember that you can have Lyme and completely show up negative. It's why LLMD's treat by symptoms/exposure risk/history rather than tests.

I'd be skeptical of completely writing it off after this test.

You're an example of how so many people end up going down a terrible path from one doctor to the next, not sure what's wrong with them for so many years, because some infectious disease doctor who knows next to nothing about Lyme is reading straight off the test and telling them they don't have it.

If you want serious treatment, fire you infectious disease doctor, and find an LLMD.
Alternatively, there's a whole bunch of natural herbs you can take yourself, just by doing some research around this site. You can treat yourself and see if you notice any changes.

Regarding band 31. Horowitz says that it is rare that its' not borellia. Small chance it's EBV. And, he doesn't agree with the vaccine argument. He says the vaccine is so long ago..that it's not likely to cause a positive band 31.

Band 31 is significant.


A LLMD is a good idea.

dacarte - I disagree that the IFA test probably would have been positive.


Both the ELISA and IFA have high false negatives...

It is part of our two-tiered testing...and mine came back negative. So, WB was not done.

I tested with Igenex a couple months later...and I was Igenex positive.

This is what the BetterHealthGuy says about the IFA:
"IGeneX offers the IFA (immunofluorescence assay) for Borrelia. It has shown many people that have had consistently equivocal or negative results that, in fact, they do have results consistent with Lyme disease. "

www.betterhealthguy.com/lyme/testing

And this is from the ILADS Lyme Disease Treatment Guidelines (Burrascano)

"The ELISA is not sensitive enough to serve as an adequate screen, and there are many patients with Lyme who test negative by ELISA yet have fully diagnostic western blots. I therefore recommend against using the ELISA. Order IgM and IgG western blots- but be aware that in late disease there may be repeatedly peaking IgM's and therefore a reactive IgM may not differentiate early from late disease, but it does suggest an active infection. "

And here's what Dr. J. says about it:

jemsekspecialty.com/laboratory-testing-for-lyme-disease/

dacarte -We all know there are tons of false negative WB's, too...but at least with them...there is often a significant band showing something - either a + or an IND that can be enough when the person presents with history, exposure, and symptoms consistent with lyme disease. So, even if WB is negative, I think there is more opportunity to show 'something'...if that makes sense.

The Lyme bacteria are amazing at hiding from our immune systems.

There's also so many strains, and Igenex is testing for... 1? or 2? I don't know.

Plus all the coinfections that obviously require their own tests, yet present with symptoms that look like Lyme.

Holy moly, thanks everyone!!! Okay, (knuckle cracking, hehehehe) so:

I saw an LLMD back in May, he said based on my symptoms, all the boxes I checked off, etc that he is "80% sure" I have Lyme Disease and positive I have Bartonella, food allergies and chemial sensitivities. He gave me an Immunoscience test kit, which when I researched it, I didn't feel that for the money it was the best to use (although with all my research it doesnt seem like ANY of them are). I also know that the Igenex kit is reimbursable by my insurance company as long as a "contracted" doctor orders it....enter the Infectious Disease doctor.

I will post a separate thing on why my supporters, as well as myself, feel that I do in fact have Lyme and/or coinfections. I also was muscle tested in April and on Monday for Lyme and coinfections and tested "positive", more for the coinfections, and when the supplements were added in the Lyme was knocked down to weak. I know this isn't an exact science, just gathering everything I can, since the mainstream docs think it's all in my head......

Dcarte: The ID doc ordered Serum, Whole Blood and IFA (those were negative). Though I believe I was infected back in 2008, when following a tick bite by a tiny poppy seed sized tick in my leg I became extremely ill. Vomitting, diarrhea, muscle aches (couldn't even walk up the stairs to get to the bathroom!), onset of food allergies (gluten dairy and soy), anxiety and depression, occipital neuritis, night sweats, extremely poor sleep, TMJ, Restless Leg Syndrome, myalgia symptoms (now diagnosed as fibromyalgia), night terrors. It was super fun to hear the doctors say "we couldn't find anything, eat more potassium".

Girlie: history, exposure and symptoms. Check, check and check

So if I was infected 8 years ago, I'm not sure how accurate the test is, which is why I went with the one insurance will pay for.....

I have an appointment with an allergist, a naturopath and another LLMD all before July 15th. I've heard great things about this LLMD center in MA from people who are actually being treated by them, so I have high hopes. Though I'm not entirely sure I want to treat with antibiotics as my body HATES drugs and I'm struggling with GI issues, hence the naturopath.

I know, I should have known. I never got a rash, and I never knew it could manifest like that. My father has had 2 rashes from bites and it was discovered the first time when his lower back hurt and they found the rash after he had that problem. I didn't know and thought it was all GI related.

When the GI specialists couldn't figure it out, and my GP told me that I needed to eat more bananas and potaoes, I felt.....like I was crazy I guess? I was brought up to "not be a hypochondriac " , don't complain, etc, and when the GP just dismissed my symptoms as everyday living, it just perpetuated that thinking. And even know, my new GP is telling me this is all caused by my brain somehow, and that I'm making myself sick......that it's all stress

After the foot incidence and now keeping track of symptoms and doing all this research, my family and husband are on board and we all truly believe it's Lyme. My father and I have started swapping stories, and he never talks about ANYTHING, so that's amazing, and we have similar symptoms (he was raised hardcover farm, where women are meant to go to school and men are for laboring, and to never EVER talk about your problems).

Once in awhile, because my tests arent positive enough, or the interpretation could be that it's not Lyme, I doubt myself. Today is one of those days, I feel like giving up before I've even started. But then I remember how long this has been going on, all of my symtpoms, all my diagnoses as syndromes with no cause, it has to be Lyme. I just wish I could find the right treatment place for me.

I want someone else to do this for me, at least today. I don't want to do this anymore.

Sorry, apparently I'm having a bad day mentally after having a few days straight of feeling really good. I just want to bawl my eyes out.

Questing - Pantsface also had band 31 show up - not just 41.

And was bit by a tick with symptoms following.

IMO it's lyme disease..

But, having said that...it certainly wouldn't hurt to start burner's herbs.