Negative Lyme EIA Positive Western Blot IgM?

I have been sick with fatigue, brain fog, numbness in my face that comes and goes, dizzyness, lightheadedness, etc. for around 9 months now. Some days I can get through and others are terrible. I have tried countless supplements and nothing seems to be helping or making me feel better.

I spent thousands on tons of different doctors and medicinces and all tests were coming back negative. Finally I asked my doctor to order a Lyme test. To my shock the western blot came back positive for IgG bands: P66, P41 and P18 which resulted in IgG NEGATIVE.

The IgM was POSITIVE with bands: P41 and P23.

Strange to me that IgM was positive even though I have been sick for 9ish months and IgG was negative.

Anyway.. my doctor put me on doxycycline and had me tested for Lyme EIA the next week which came back NEGATIVE.

Does anyone have any input on these results? My doctor referred me to an LLMD but I cant be seen until the end of May.

I am just confused and hope that there isn't something else that I could have besides Lyme.

Thanks so much!!

Hi NicHostetler,
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

As Girlie has explained, TgM antibodies are produced any time that the immune system is trying to fight the Lyme infection - not only when it's an early infection.

Since you have a little over two months before your appt, I would encourage you to start detoxing and getting your diet into a very healthy place. Once you do that, if you are doing well, you can actually start an herbal or other alternative protocol if you wish.

I too would greatly encourage you to read through our "New to Lyme?" thread, as it's packed with all kinds of helpful information.

Please do let us know how we can be of help!

You guys are awesome. I am so happy to find such an inviting fourm with quick and informational responses.

No one thinks I should worry about any other medical conditions? My lab results mention that a positive western blot could also mean I have some other auto immune disease so this kind of worries me. Plus I never noticed a tick on me or a rash and I honestly dont spend a whole lot of time out in the woods or hiking.

Also, currently I am on doxycycline 200mg twice daily and also taking Samento, and Pinella. Any luck with any of these? Considering adding Banderol as well.

Girlie - Thank you for pointing me to the pinned thread, I will be sure to check that out!

Traveler - I have actually been eating a pretty healthy diet, although I probably need to get back to being more strict. What do you recommend? No gluten, sugar, and carbs? Thanks so much for your info!!

PeteZa - A journal is an excellent idea! I will definitely start doing that today. Sometimes my brain fog just feels like a silent headache and sometimes its so severe I cant even focus on what people are saying to me. I just feel like I am in a daze. I really appreciate the helpful advice!

Once again, thank you everyone for all the amazing advice! Its great to know I am not in this alone and I have new friends to help me along my journey on my way to recovery!

No, I don't think you should worry about any other medical conditions.

auto-immune diseases are common misdiagnoses for lyme disease.

Even though doxycycline at 200 mg twice daily is often used to treat a new infection, unfortunately it is not adequate for a chronic infection. 9 months is still fairly recent (compared to having it for years), but not what I'd consider an 'acute' infection.

The good news is you have an upcoming appointment and the LLMD will either change your doxy to another antibiotic...or add something to it.
If not...then you need to change your LLMD.

When dealing with chronic lyme - mono therapy isn't recommended...should always be two or more antibiotics.

I urge you to be proactive...and start detoxing to help flush out the toxins that will accumulate from the die-off of the bacteria. This will help minimize the herxing that can occur. A herxheimer reaction happens when the body is overwhelmed with toxins from the die-off.

I cried tears of relief when I finally (15 months later) got my Lyme diagnosis.
ALS , MS and Parkinson's disease had been ruled out...but I was reading a lot of really scary diagnoses on the internet...

Re: charcoal pills. You do know that they need to be taken a couple hours away from anything else? i.e. food, antibiotics, and anything that you want absorbed. The charcoal will flush everything out of the stomach.

So, the herx will be a worsening of your present symptoms...or the addition of new symptoms.

Not everyone's symptoms are the same. I have never had the fatigue that a lot of people talk about.
My joint pain came on around 7 months into my symptoms.

So in addition to drinking lots of water and taking the charcoal - here are a few more ideas for detox:

- add some fresh squeezed lemon juice into some glasses of water. Drinking with a straw helps to bypass the teeth. Don't brush your teeth right after drinking - the acidic nature of lemon juice can damage the enamel.

- Warm epsom salt baths.

- dry brush your skin before the baths (or showers)

- Take Nutramedix Pinella and Burbur. (they can be ordered on Amazon)

- light exercise - stretching, walking...etc. to keep the blood flowing

Here's a link to a website with more ideas:

www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html

Girlie said...

NicHostetler said...
Girlie - yes I take my charcoal pills long after i take any of my supplements. And thats interesting to know you never had the fatigue. Just curious, are you feeling better now and when were you diagnosed?

My symptoms started April, 2013 (with a pinched nerve set of symptoms - upper left side of back/shoulder blade/left arm) - that never really got better...and then every few weeks, a new symptom arrived.
I tested positive in July, 2014.

Started seeing my LLND end of August, 2014.

I have 'lost' a lot of symptoms. I have had over 30 symptoms...and I'm down to under 10 now.
Unfortunately, I still feel pretty bad for periods of time on most days due to the nerve pain from my original symptom...plus a couple more stubborn ones that are nervous system related.

That's very interesting that you mention the pinched nerve symptom because that is actually what kind of started it all for me too. I had terrible brain fog and lightheadedness and I noticed around my left shoulder blade it kind of felt like a pinched nerve that sent this vibration feeling down through my underarm.

How long does it typically take to start feeling better? A month of taking all the supplements?