Lyme Results Are Here!Please look!

Ok As most of you know I was dx/d with MS last year.... Ive been having odd symptoms and decided to get one final lyme tests done out of pocket by Igenex due to the fact no one would look into it and it just dont feel like MS is all i got. So here are the results.... Any help would be great or suggestions Does this mean positve and should start antibitics... IM waiting for my ID to call back but im also calling a LLMD once things settle down a little bit.


Igenex Igm result: POSITIVE
CDC Result: POSITIVE

**23-25 kda ++
** 31 kda  IND
**34 kda IND
**39 kda IND
** 1 kda +

Igenex IGG result: Positive
CDC Result: Negative

** 31kda  +
** 34 kda IND
** 41 kda +
58 kda +

Genomic- B Burgdorferi: Negative
Plasmid- B Burgdorferi: Negative

[JackieCalifornia]

It's looking pretty much like Lyme to me, but I'm no doctor and not medically trained.  That said, however:

I use a handy list from a website www [dot] truthaboutlymedisease [com] that lists the Western Blot results and their meaning.  It says, among other things:

"There are nine known Borrelia burgdorferi [Bb, meaning Lyme] genus specie specific KDA Western Blot antibodies (bands): 18,23,30,31,34,37,39,83 and 93. ... Only one of these...bands is needed to confirm that there is serological [blood] evident of exposure to the [Lyme] spirochete and can confirm a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease."

Then it goes on to list these bands and their specific meaning.  I'll list just the ones you are positive on:

IgM
**23-25 kda ++ "outer surface protein C (Osp-C), specific for Bb"
** 31 kda  IND "Osp-A, specific for Bb"
**34 kda IND  "Osp-B, specific for Bb"
**39 kda IND "a major protein of Bb flagellin [its little whip tail]; specific for Bb"
** 1 kda + [did you mean "41"?] "flagellin of all spirochetes" but not specific to Lyme

IgG
** 31kda  +  [same as above]
** 34 kda IND [ditto]
** 41 kda + [ditto]
58 kda + "unknown" but may be Lyme related
======================================
So, girlfriend, you are CDC positive AND Igenex positive.  IgM results relate to a more recent infection; IgG results show an older infection, so yours seems more recent than old.  And that means, all the more treatable.

I would urge you to find an LLMD and get treated asap.  Don't wait.  The sooner you are treated, the more likely the cure.  Your ID doc may give you a couple of weeks of abx, but IMHO you need to see an LLMD or an ID or other doc who believes in treating longer.  The CDC/IDSA standard treatment is very short, and your ID doc may be in that camp.  At least see someone who believes in longer treatment so you can hear both sides of the story.

'Congratulations' isn't exactly the right word, but Lyme can be cured, and all things being equal, I'd rather have Lyme than MS.

Celebrate, but don't wait.  Good for you for insisting on getting tested.  It takes courage in the face of discouragement from MSM.  Good for you!  Let us know what you do and how it goes.  

[ErinZoe23]

Thanks for you quick reply Jackie! I honestly am tearing up right now! I don;t know what to feel anymore...I dont want to get my hopesup for i know i could still have both diseases but still if MS is half as bad as what i been going through i could definalty deal and accept it much better.

I wanna cry from joy scream from anger of going through this for a year and no doctors listening except you guys listening and reinforcing that something just aint right! Christ doctors need to google more lol  google gives us more proper info then a damn doc does!

I'm going to try not to get my hopes up until i hear from my LLMD or ID im definalty positive(even tho it states it on paper its just to good to be true) then ill proably breakdown crying. lol its been such a journy and it hasnt ended cause it still could be BOTH.

I just really dont know what to feel! If its just lyme i think i will breakdown crying from going to the mind set of being normal to no longer being able walk or talk or hear for a months, shaking and tiwching every wich way,  cant think have no memory unbalanced and numb and the pain omg and unbelievably so much more thinking ill be in a wheelchair one day cant work from all of the everyday symptoms...i will be ecstatic if this is a mis diagnosed thing . I just cant belive it ..its definalty overwhelming

Im going to show my mom your post and let her see what the bands mean...shes been looking  Thanks so much for all the information! Its seriously very helpful!

[renschwa]

So glad you finally got your results! I hope that you seek out an LLMD soon! It's a good thing to be CDC pos+ (well you know what I mean) b/c it could make life much easier for you as far as dealing w/ insurance, doctors, well some doctors etc.

I say some docotors b/c I'm also CDC pos+ for Lyme and my primary told me she'd prefer my test to be"more" pos+ LOL. I told my LLMD who cracked up and just said yeah, I'd love for all of my patients to be more pos+ but when you are dealing with sick lyme people they often do not come up really really pos+. It's rare.  LLMD said kids are most likely to get results w/ the ++++ across b/c their immune systems are much stronger... So just a warning that some docs may still be skeptical. My response to my primary was- OK- so what else is causing my symptoms then? You tell me all my other tests are normal, so what is it then? Her response was, well sometimes we don't know LOL. I left thinking time for a new primary. This is what I do not get.... The symptoms match, the test is pos+ ,what more does she want? Sorry- got off on a tangent.

One piece of advice.... You may want to ask the LLMD to do an antibiotic challenge, meaning they'd test you again after you're on Abx for awhile. Often you come up even more pos+ after that, this might help your doubts a little bit. I had just the western blot re-taken thru Igenex, cost $100, and found it worth it. My first test was not CDC pos+ but the one after Abx was CDC pos+.

Does anybody out there know if you can become more pos+ with Abx challenge without actually having lyme? I mean does having a more pos+ test really confirm the DX? I always wondered about that.... Sorry another side note LOL My attention span is not so good today LOL

But def. get yourself to an LLMD girl! Good Luck! Keep us posted on your progress, meds, herxing! We're here for ya!

[Hope75]

I know it may sound strange, but congratulations.  I'm not a doctor or LLMD, as Jackie says, but to be CDC positive is pretty convincing, as the CDC has such strict guidelines.  Get to an LLMD ASAP.  Lyme mimics MS.  I say congrats b/c I felt the same way as you, after 3 years of wondering about MS, I had an answer - lyme.  And, it's treatable.  I cried, I got mad, I got relieved.  Welcome dear.

If an LLMD diagnoses Lyme, It's a long road of meds, supplements, dietary changes, etc.  I do well on the meds, but tend to cheat on my diet;0).  I have seen mild improvement, but I just started meds with the LLMD in Dec. 09 - so I'm not far enough into this to say I feel great, but I do feel better.  (Except when herxing, ugh).

Take care and please keep us posted.  We would be glad to answer any questions or offer support.  

[wonko]

This is incredible news.  I hope you see a response to treatment and that you have recovery in your future.  Even if your situation is more complicated (like, you could have both Lyme and MS), hopefully treatment for Lyme at least improves your situation over time.  Thank you for sharing this here.