Aa
can someone help me western blot bands
Last summer, I got really ill with a fever, sore throat, stiff neck, and swollen gland in armpit. I was in the hospital for about a week with these symptoms. I got I'll four weeks after an unprotected sex encounter..and a summer filled with chronic hiking. The Lyme test in the hospital was inconclusive..I was put on ceftin antibiotics. Never felt better. Four weeks later I was in the hospital again when I tested positive for lyme.
I was on doxcycline then amoxicillin. I never completely felt better. So I began to worry about hiv. The hospital also tested me for HIV four months after my exposure. It was a rapid blood test it was negative. I also got tested again for hiv 6 months after exposure and now recently a year. These test were all rapid by my doctor. But negative.
Just recently the neurologist tested me again for lyme. I have bands 23 igm and band 41 igm positive. I don't feel well at all. The neurologist said syphilis and hiv can make these bands reactive as well but I'm way too scares to test for hiv again. Do you guys feel like I should test again? Or believe that I have lyme disease?
Very confused girl :(
I was on doxcycline then amoxicillin. I never completely felt better. So I began to worry about hiv. The hospital also tested me for HIV four months after my exposure. It was a rapid blood test it was negative. I also got tested again for hiv 6 months after exposure and now recently a year. These test were all rapid by my doctor. But negative.
Just recently the neurologist tested me again for lyme. I have bands 23 igm and band 41 igm positive. I don't feel well at all. The neurologist said syphilis and hiv can make these bands reactive as well but I'm way too scares to test for hiv again. Do you guys feel like I should test again? Or believe that I have lyme disease?
Very confused girl :(
This is the height of Lyme season, so the docs are very busy. A test won't take longer if it's positive -- it's just that the labs are busy during summer.
If the ELISA test comes back negative, you may want to see a Lyme specialist who will test you through IGeneX laboratories. The IGeneX test is structured differently from the older ELISA and Western blot tests, and if ELISA/W.blot are negative, then getting an IGeneX test would be my next step. Keep us posted.
If the ELISA test comes back negative, you may want to see a Lyme specialist who will test you through IGeneX laboratories. The IGeneX test is structured differently from the older ELISA and Western blot tests, and if ELISA/W.blot are negative, then getting an IGeneX test would be my next step. Keep us posted.
I have severe anxiety that the doctor hasn't called back with my results. I've taken about 6 hiv test after my exposure..some blood and some oraquick. All about 4 months and after. I'm scared the rapids missed the infection..and the regular Elisa is taking so long cause it's positive. Does this happen with rapids ?
Thank you so much for these helpful post. I just can't stand feeling sick every single day..the joint and muscle pain is the worst. It makes me feel like I have the flu and I'm horribly scared :( I'm looking for an llmd but they are so expensive. I hope doctors start taking Lyme serious soon :(
When I hear swollen glands in the arm pit, that is a classic sign for Bartonella a co-infection of Lyme. Make sure your doc treats you for co-infections because those need different abx.
Some doctors will give you a clinical diagnosis, others will insist on tests which are not very accurate even at igenex.
Good luck.
Some doctors will give you a clinical diagnosis, others will insist on tests which are not very accurate even at igenex.
Good luck.
There's one more piece of information that's important here --
The Lyme tests mentioned above are not the latest and greatest tests -- they are still useful to an MD in diagnosing (or ruling out) Lyme, but the fact that your neurologist is relying on the tests you refer to sounds to me like he is out of date on this aspect of Lyme diagnosis as well.
Until a few years ago, the only tests docs had to check a patient for Lyme were the ones it sounds like your doc is using: Western blot and ELISA. Those older tests are not as accurate as the newer tests (called PCR), and it is very possible that the W.blot/ELISA tests you had could have entirely missed a Lyme infection.
I won't go into the details of why the W.blot/ELISA tests can be inaccurate, but as stated above, I would find a Lyme specialist (such as an ILADS member) for a second opinion before proceeding.
If you do not know of a Lyme MD or Lyme organization near you, then I would go to the -- ILADS [dot] org -- website and ask for the name of an ILADS-member doc near you. You do not need to tell your current doc you are doing this -- you may need him for something at some point, so no need to aggravate him.
Let us know if you have any questions -- no one here is medically trained as far as I know, but having been through Lyme and the clueless docs myself, I would definitely see a Lyme specialist without delay.
The Lyme tests mentioned above are not the latest and greatest tests -- they are still useful to an MD in diagnosing (or ruling out) Lyme, but the fact that your neurologist is relying on the tests you refer to sounds to me like he is out of date on this aspect of Lyme diagnosis as well.
Until a few years ago, the only tests docs had to check a patient for Lyme were the ones it sounds like your doc is using: Western blot and ELISA. Those older tests are not as accurate as the newer tests (called PCR), and it is very possible that the W.blot/ELISA tests you had could have entirely missed a Lyme infection.
I won't go into the details of why the W.blot/ELISA tests can be inaccurate, but as stated above, I would find a Lyme specialist (such as an ILADS member) for a second opinion before proceeding.
If you do not know of a Lyme MD or Lyme organization near you, then I would go to the -- ILADS [dot] org -- website and ask for the name of an ILADS-member doc near you. You do not need to tell your current doc you are doing this -- you may need him for something at some point, so no need to aggravate him.
Let us know if you have any questions -- no one here is medically trained as far as I know, but having been through Lyme and the clueless docs myself, I would definitely see a Lyme specialist without delay.
Don't give up just yet. Here are some thoughts:
You say, "I was on doxcycline then amoxicillin. I never completely felt better." Doxycycline (also called just 'doxy') can be useful and even successful against Lyme disease, BUT only if the treatment starts right away after the infection begins. Also, doxy may not work against other infections that the 'Lyme' ticks often bring. This is something a wise Lyme specialist should determine.
It's very good news that you are negative on HIV tests!
You say, "Just recently the neurologist tested me again for lyme." Neurologists as a group are known not to take Lyme very seriously. They have several points of view that they hide behind. For example:
-- I have read that band 23 is specific to Lyme disease, meaning that ONLY Lyme will cause you to show positive on the testing, and
-- Band 41 can mean Lyme bacteria are present, but it can also mean other non-Lyme bacteria are present -- so that one is a 'maybe.'
The neurologist seems to be going out of his way to deny that you could have Lyme. I do not understand MDs who react that way.
And if you do have Lyme, it can be treated quite successfully with the right diagnoses and medication for the right length of time.
--->>> In your situation, I would find a Lyme specialist for testing and a work up. The neurologist does not seem to understand Lyme and is confusing the issue.
No one here can diagnose you, but in your situation, I would find a Lyme specialist for another opinion as soon as you can. If you do have Lyme, you have probably had it for a while, based on your timeline, but it is still very treatable -- as long as the right medications are used for the right length of time.
If you let us know what country and area you are located in, we might have some ideas to help you find a good Lyme MD. Take care, and be brave!
You say, "I was on doxcycline then amoxicillin. I never completely felt better." Doxycycline (also called just 'doxy') can be useful and even successful against Lyme disease, BUT only if the treatment starts right away after the infection begins. Also, doxy may not work against other infections that the 'Lyme' ticks often bring. This is something a wise Lyme specialist should determine.
It's very good news that you are negative on HIV tests!
You say, "Just recently the neurologist tested me again for lyme." Neurologists as a group are known not to take Lyme very seriously. They have several points of view that they hide behind. For example:
-- I have read that band 23 is specific to Lyme disease, meaning that ONLY Lyme will cause you to show positive on the testing, and
-- Band 41 can mean Lyme bacteria are present, but it can also mean other non-Lyme bacteria are present -- so that one is a 'maybe.'
The neurologist seems to be going out of his way to deny that you could have Lyme. I do not understand MDs who react that way.
And if you do have Lyme, it can be treated quite successfully with the right diagnoses and medication for the right length of time.
--->>> In your situation, I would find a Lyme specialist for testing and a work up. The neurologist does not seem to understand Lyme and is confusing the issue.
No one here can diagnose you, but in your situation, I would find a Lyme specialist for another opinion as soon as you can. If you do have Lyme, you have probably had it for a while, based on your timeline, but it is still very treatable -- as long as the right medications are used for the right length of time.
If you let us know what country and area you are located in, we might have some ideas to help you find a good Lyme MD. Take care, and be brave!
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