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Posted 6/15/2017 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have read the "new here" section. I have the Igenex kit, I just don't know which test to choose. I don't have a diagnosis, just strange systems and want to rule out Lyme disease. I understand I can do the WB from Igenex but I could test negative and have co-infections. So I am overwhelmed and broke and want to choose the right test. Any info on what test to choose would be appreciated.

Christine
Posted 6/15/2017 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Christine!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

Thanks for letting us know that you have already read the "new to Lyme" thread!

Seems to me that Igenex is the best place for Borrelia (Lyme) testing. I went to their site and see that you can order just the Western Blot for Lyme, which will show which bands you respond to. This can be very helpful as you can have a negative test on "Serology" tests and still have Lyme specific bands, which means you have Lyme disease.

Other labs are better for testing for the co-infections.

The other thing to consider is if you don't need this testing for insurance purposes, a good LLMD will diagnose you clinically (provided you have the symptoms), and you can get started on treatments that way.

I don't put a lot of trust in the testing as they are not that sensitive and miss a lot of Lyme infections, so I don't know a lot about them. Others will be along soon to give you more information on the different labs, which ones are better to use for which infections and so on.
Posted 6/15/2017 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Christine the Igenex website has changed since I went there.

What you want is the Lyme Western Blot IgM - $105 - Test 188, Cpt Cpde 86617

and the Lyme Western Blot IgG - $105 - Test 189, Cpt Code 86617 also.

On their website it on their View Price List, page 5.
Posted 6/16/2017 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you. I am going to do the Igenex 188 and 189. My friend tested positive for Babesiosis on the co infection panel on Igenex. I understand from speaking with Igenex on the phone that I could be negative for lyme but positive for co infections. Any recommendations on co infection test? These test are expensive. lol. I have the same symptoms as my friend that has Babesiosis, I just got sick in August and new symptoms keep developing. I went from heatlhy to now tingling, numbness, hot flashes, cheek, eyelids, neck and head on fire, night sweats, muscle spasms, muscle aches, joint pain, crawling feeling on face, muscle tightness around mouth, extreme reflux, dizziness, brain fog, waves of crashing fatigue, insomina and extreme anxiety/depression. The symptoms are unpredictable. I did a stool test in December and had c. diff (no diarrhea ever), rotavirus, fungus, and overgrowth of one bacteria. I did 90 day antimicrobial for my gut and am about to do another stool test to make sure gut is clear, but I still am constipated if I stop the magnesium citrate and have bad reflux. Since I got sick I am gluten free and dairy free. I didn't have any of this last summer or at least I didn't have any symptoms last summer. I've spent a fortunate in holistic and medical doctors. All test are normal, neurologist and Chiro both did ANA and it is negative, and no thyroid antibodies. I have another MRI this Wednesday of brain and cervical spine. My EMG was normal and nerve conduction study was normal. Right now everything is being chalked up to hormonal imbalance (perimenopause) and stress/ anxiety. I spend about $600 a month on supplements and that is why I am asking for a lyme test because something is just not right with me. I live in the Houston area. Please PM me any doctor recommendations and what test to do for co infections. Thanks a million for just responding. It means alot.

Christine
Posted 6/16/2017 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Christine, the co infection testing is not very reliable. Heck, as you know now, neither is the lyme testing.

On the bottom of my lyme test from Igenex (188 and 189) it states:

Diagnosis should not be based on laboratory tests alone. Results should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical symptoms and patient history.

See, even the testing facility says that testing is not reliable.

I used my testing as a tool. If I saw ONE band positive, that was enough for me. And that concluded my testing. So many of the symptoms of lyme are the same as the symptoms of the co infections. If you treat lyme and see results but something is still there, then it is time to go for the co infections, in my opinion. I am not a doctor though. Just how I did it.

Finding a doctor -- I used this site: /www.lymediseaseassociation.org/ Go to Doctor Referral tab. You can do 3 searches per email address and use your zip code. If you have any trouble, shoot me an email (refresh my memory of who you are and your zip code) and I will search for you. I have a lot of throw away email addresses. I shop a lot online.. LOL

Also here is this site: https://sites.google.com/site/lymedoctors/texas.

On both sites you will not have personal recommendations and those are definitely the best. However, we are all different and one doctor was recommended to me and we clashed. So there is that.

Post Edited (PeteZa) : 6/16/2017 10:18:48 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/16/2017 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Christine, you have to enable your email before anyone can send you recommendations - and you would be better to start a new thread for this.

To enable your email, go to "my profile" --->edit my profile. Then put in your email and click show my email, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on submit to save your preferences.

Other ways to find a LLMD:
​You ​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​can send me an email by clicking on my screen name or the small blue envelope under my screen name. I may have contact information for some LLMD's in your area as well.​ ​Please include your state and area that you would like to find a LLMD in and I will see how close I can get to your location.​

​​​​
​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Y​​ou can go to ​​The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:
​​​​​​​​www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74​​

​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Y​​ou can email ​​​​the​​ ​​​​Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at​: [email protected]​
​​

​​ ​​​​​​​​ILADS has their own referral system as well:
​​​​​​​​​​​​http://ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/


​ ​
And www.LymeDoc.org
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