Blood test confusion

I'm happy to have found this site and have been reading and reading all of your information and wisdom, but remain confused. I've decided to attempt to gather all the blood tests that I've been able to locate on myself and what I have found is the following...Back in 2001 IgM 23 present...I have no idea why I even found this blood work from so far back but it did. I see no other testing for Lyme until 2008 and all bands are negative and just see "Lyme AB, IGM positive". Then no other testing until 2012 and I have "#23 reactive" and all else negative as far as lyme testing. Jump to 2015 I found a test that indicates "IgG 58 present" and "IgM 23 present". Present time had blood sent to Stony Brook and the results are "Igm 41 and nonspecific band 83 detected. Igg 41 and 58 with nonspecific bands 62 and 64". I know I need to have an llmd sort through this, but just was wondering if anyone understood any of this. Btw, from 2001 to present date my bilirubin has been high and my platelets also have been high. Also, all my ANA titers are positive/high/homogeneous/speckled and my vegf,elisa is 260 (31-86 range). There's other stuff but this post is long and annoying enough. Thank you in advance for any direction or guidance.

It is not uncommon for ANA to be positive when dealing with lyme.
Lyme can create an autoimmune response in the body.

Since you are new here, it would be helpful for you to read through the "New to Lyme?..Start Here!" thread - that sits at the top of the page. Lots of useful information there.

We can help you find a LLMD - just start a new thread titled: "Looking for LLMD in/near______" and fill in the blank.

You can also email me by clicking on the envelope below my screen name on the left. I will check my lists and see if I have any LLMD's listed for your area.

In addition, you can contact ILADS:

ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/

Hi Dayverde!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.
I see that our wonderful Girlie has provided you with a lot of really good information already!

It's common to see misdiagnoses like MS, Lupus, RA and others with people that have these infections. Unfortunately, there are too many uneducated doctors out there that don't know what Lyme disease - or Bartonella, or Babesia, or any number of other infections like these - actually "look like" in a clinical setting. So many people have misdiagnoses. I've been diagnosed with MS (but never accepted it, so I never took the drugs), Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and others - and I was Lyme and company all along.

Congratulations on your appt coming up soon!! Do be sure to be prepared to take notes during the appt! There should be a ton of information passed to you during that appt! If someone can go with you and be in the room as well, it helps to have a second set of ears too.

I have has issues with my legs such that made walking very difficult at times as well. Fortunately for me, it was only periodic. We do have some members that also have experienced this as well too though.

Most doctors like to do a lot of testing, so be sure to take any very recent test results with you - no need to repeat tests that may have been done in the last month or two.

There may be an extensive list of supplements and several abx (antibiotics) that you will be told to use. I suggest that you ask us about starting them, as we have found that starting off with low doses and building up slowly is what most of us need to do - particularly if we have a long standing infection that has been largely untreated.

And, keep asking questions!! Of the doctor, of us and of anyone trying to give you information. There is so much information because Lyme has a very steep learning curve, but we are here to help you along!

Wow, ty again for all the advice and support. Oh, and for not making me feel like an idiot re all my lack of knowledge. I will be bringing someone to help me get down anything the dr had to say and wants to do. They told me to plan on being there three hours. Still going thru my records bc there is soooo much. I'm a 2 x cancer survivor as well so you can imaging how much blood work there is. I came across a mthfr test, I think it was called, so apparently I have two of these bad genes too, but didn't really get to read to much about it just yet. Thank you again for all the amazing help.

Well, overwhelmed is a serious understatement. This is my short version. I'm positive for babesia and bartonella, but one thing ths is mentally killing me is that my blood shows lyme as far back as 2001. It was right there in my history. Doc was horrified that no one either picked up on this or knew enough to address. 16 years? 16 years! Yes I'm freaking out. Started meds today and went for a vitamin iv. Thanks, everyone.

Well - you are on the right path now...you've got a Dr. and you've started treatment.

Are you treating lyme first...or one of the co-infections?

I'm so sorry to hear that you have this to now contend with after surviving cancer twice now! As Girlie said, you are on the right track now though, and I want to wish you the best of luck with your treatments!

Keep asking all the questions you need to!! There are NO dumb questions here - we would rather you ask than to not understand.

Rifampin is best on empty stomach. I found it easy to tolerate.

I wast first on 300 mg twice daily.

I would take it about half hour to hour before my meals. (I think one hour is advised when empty stomach is important)

Yes, you can take it at night...but are you not going to be on twice daily dosing when you increase...or will you be taking 600 mg once daily?

I would get 'settled' on the Rifampin before you add the doxy.

Are you getting monthly liver/kidney function and CBC tests?