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treatment during pregnancy?
Hi guys, am still waiting on test results but am thinking should I take antibiotics anyway just incase as the test can be unreliable?
If the westernblot comes back negative I was thinking to maybe ask for antibiotics incase?
I am nearing the end of my second trimester now so would treatment be too late if suspected tick bute was during first trimester?
also what is the best treatment option for me being pregnant?
Thank you
If the westernblot comes back negative I was thinking to maybe ask for antibiotics incase?
I am nearing the end of my second trimester now so would treatment be too late if suspected tick bute was during first trimester?
also what is the best treatment option for me being pregnant?
Thank you
I have never seen a reference to bands 14, 17, 21, or 43 in relation to b.burgdorferi. But it is very possible they are related to different species of Borrelia.
I am not familiar with the two antigen tests. If I were you and either of them were positive, I would ask the doctor to explain them to me, especially whether they can be positive without having Lyme.
I am not familiar with the two antigen tests. If I were you and either of them were positive, I would ask the doctor to explain them to me, especially whether they can be positive without having Lyme.
ps: there were a few bands reported on the results that I have never heard of or seen on the internet before. Just out of inetrest does anyoen know about bands: 14, 21, 17,43, borrelia DBPA antigen, borrelia V1sE antigen? Im thinking these may have significance to European strains but not too sure?
Thank you very much! My doc says ' i know these tests are not fully accurate and I one hundred percent support that but given the fact that both elisa and western blot was fully negative on each band' and you do not have any clear symptoms its safe to rule this out!'
he did say that if a band 41 would have shown positive he would have looked into it a bit more but because each band was negative he doesnt feel any further investigation is neccessary
xxxxx
he did say that if a band 41 would have shown positive he would have looked into it a bit more but because each band was negative he doesnt feel any further investigation is neccessary
xxxxx
Hi guys. Results are in and it's negative on each band ! Given my medical history I think it's time to let go of the Lyme thing! I'm hormonal and health anxiety has always plagued me so I think my answer is clear! Thanks all for your help. X
Part of the problem is not knowing when we were first bitten -- from various recountings I have heard, and from my own family's experience, it seems we were infected once (at least), but our immune systems kept things corralled. Then a re-infection, with a CO-infection, put me over the top -- I became very ill suddenly. But someone else in my family tested positive for both Lyme and my same co-infection and had few overt symptoms.
So picking the test by when one thinks one was bitten has pitfalls -- but there are limits in what makes sense to test for, based on symptoms. If treatment for X doesn't resolve all the symptoms, then maybe test for Y and Z. It's an art. Hence the need for a wise doc.
So picking the test by when one thinks one was bitten has pitfalls -- but there are limits in what makes sense to test for, based on symptoms. If treatment for X doesn't resolve all the symptoms, then maybe test for Y and Z. It's an art. Hence the need for a wise doc.
The PCR blood test is better earlier in the disease, before most of the bugs move out of the blood into tissues. The CD57 test, I believe, is indicated if you have been sick at least a year, or you have chronic Lyme, which means you were treated in the past but are still sick.
If your screening test (IFA or ELISA) is negative, that means they didn't even run the Western Blot. In that case, you will want to request the Western Blot be run, ideally at IGeneX. It is worth it to get a more meaningful result. (They do take samples from overseas. You contact them for a test kit and instructions.) If your lab did run the WB and it is negative, be sure to ask for the specific bands in the result, not just "negative."
If your screening test (IFA or ELISA) is negative, that means they didn't even run the Western Blot. In that case, you will want to request the Western Blot be run, ideally at IGeneX. It is worth it to get a more meaningful result. (They do take samples from overseas. You contact them for a test kit and instructions.) If your lab did run the WB and it is negative, be sure to ask for the specific bands in the result, not just "negative."
Was the CD57 test mentioned above? It can be a useful indirect indicator of Lyme, because the CD57 cells in your immune system may be suppressed by Lyme -- it's one of Lyme's little tricks to shut down your immune system, like bad guys locking the cops into the police station before going on a crime spree.
As to the Western blot/ELISA combination test (first one, then the other) that is commonly used: it is not very accurate, so there is a "PCR"test from IGeneX Labs that measures not your immune system response (which can be suppressed by Lyme, see preceding paragraph) but looks for Lyme bacteria DNA bits and pieces in your blood. That is direct evidence rather than indirect evidence of infection.
(Some MDs refuse to use the PCR test, and these are usually the docs who think Lyme = the sniffles, and that the very imperfect Wblot/ELISA combo are just fine, thank you.)
Sometimes a doc will give a few weeks antibiotics to see if it stirs your immune system to react against the dying Lyme, and thus more likely to give a positive test on Wblot/ELISA tests -- but even if that works, the labs are not in the habit of sending back complete results, so that some of the most telling 'bands' on the test are simply left out (for historical reasons that are no longer valid).
Lyme remains a clinical diagnosis, meaning one based on the doc's assessment of your history and symptoms, aided by test results -- but 'modern' medicine gets that backwards and relies almost wholly on the imperfect Wblot/ELISA test.
I was 'lucky' -- my Wblot/ELISA test was fairly positive, but my doc also used the CD57 test, as well as separate tests for co-infections.
As to the Western blot/ELISA combination test (first one, then the other) that is commonly used: it is not very accurate, so there is a "PCR"test from IGeneX Labs that measures not your immune system response (which can be suppressed by Lyme, see preceding paragraph) but looks for Lyme bacteria DNA bits and pieces in your blood. That is direct evidence rather than indirect evidence of infection.
(Some MDs refuse to use the PCR test, and these are usually the docs who think Lyme = the sniffles, and that the very imperfect Wblot/ELISA combo are just fine, thank you.)
Sometimes a doc will give a few weeks antibiotics to see if it stirs your immune system to react against the dying Lyme, and thus more likely to give a positive test on Wblot/ELISA tests -- but even if that works, the labs are not in the habit of sending back complete results, so that some of the most telling 'bands' on the test are simply left out (for historical reasons that are no longer valid).
Lyme remains a clinical diagnosis, meaning one based on the doc's assessment of your history and symptoms, aided by test results -- but 'modern' medicine gets that backwards and relies almost wholly on the imperfect Wblot/ELISA test.
I was 'lucky' -- my Wblot/ELISA test was fairly positive, but my doc also used the CD57 test, as well as separate tests for co-infections.
Hi,
As ricobord said, you could get all neg except 41, or absolutely all neg, and still have lyme. Some people need a few weeks of antibiotics before they get a positive.
And as Rico said, post your results when you get them and we'll all pitch in with what we know!!!
Good luck.
As ricobord said, you could get all neg except 41, or absolutely all neg, and still have lyme. Some people need a few weeks of antibiotics before they get a positive.
And as Rico said, post your results when you get them and we'll all pitch in with what we know!!!
Good luck.
A negative western blot doesn't exclude Lyme. Many people without Lyme do show band 41, as it is not Lyme specific. The problem is that many labs don't report all relevant Lyme specific bands. For example, I was positive on IgM band 18, which is highly indicative of Lyme, but is not part of the CDC criteria, and so many labs ignore it.
A Western Blot from IGeneX is better than most other labs as it shows relevant bands on both IgM and IgG.
Definitely let us know what your results are!
A Western Blot from IGeneX is better than most other labs as it shows relevant bands on both IgM and IgG.
Definitely let us know what your results are!
hi thanks for your reply!
so basically if my test comes back with only band 41 its negative?
would a healthy person have no bands come back at all..... this is all a bit confusing!
I am worried but I also have to be realistic as I myself am not sure I have lymes I am just worried sick as I am pregnant and hormones etc so want to see if I have .....
I had a negative Elisa so once I get the w blot back I will then take things from there
so basically if my test comes back with only band 41 its negative?
would a healthy person have no bands come back at all..... this is all a bit confusing!
I am worried but I also have to be realistic as I myself am not sure I have lymes I am just worried sick as I am pregnant and hormones etc so want to see if I have .....
I had a negative Elisa so once I get the w blot back I will then take things from there
Hi,
Various viruses will make band 41 comes back negative, to count as positive there are certain other bands that would need to be positive too (i.e. one of them, in addition to the 41 positive).
I'm afraid you cannot take doxy, it's dangerous for fetuses and kids up to 8 years old. But in your place I would raise heaven adn earth to get on something.It may already be too late, on the other hand it may not.
As Stargazer said, Charles Jones is your man.
He cannot be the only guy who knows what to do, though. If you cannot get an urgent phone consultation with him (try explaining to his receptionist yo are pregnant), I'd fire off an email to ILADS explaining the situation and saying you need urgent advice.
I'm one of the unlucky people who has a kid with congenital lyme. He's 6 and has been on abx for 2 years, he may be on them till he is 12 or older. He sometimes falls asleep in class as he gets so tired. He was autistic (badly so, non verbal and self abusive) till we got him diagnosed and on treatment.
I won't tell my whole tragic story but, all I can say is, if I could go back knowing what I know now, I would literally STOP AT NOTHING to get the right antibiotics down me to prevent infecting him.
Another thing, do not even think about breastfeeding. Breat milk if full of lyme disease too.
And one more, give your baby probiotics from the day he/she is born until at least 9 months old. If you have lyme, then anything they get from the birth canal will not create healthy intestinal flora and the lack of that will weaken their immune system immensely.
Various viruses will make band 41 comes back negative, to count as positive there are certain other bands that would need to be positive too (i.e. one of them, in addition to the 41 positive).
I'm afraid you cannot take doxy, it's dangerous for fetuses and kids up to 8 years old. But in your place I would raise heaven adn earth to get on something.It may already be too late, on the other hand it may not.
As Stargazer said, Charles Jones is your man.
He cannot be the only guy who knows what to do, though. If you cannot get an urgent phone consultation with him (try explaining to his receptionist yo are pregnant), I'd fire off an email to ILADS explaining the situation and saying you need urgent advice.
I'm one of the unlucky people who has a kid with congenital lyme. He's 6 and has been on abx for 2 years, he may be on them till he is 12 or older. He sometimes falls asleep in class as he gets so tired. He was autistic (badly so, non verbal and self abusive) till we got him diagnosed and on treatment.
I won't tell my whole tragic story but, all I can say is, if I could go back knowing what I know now, I would literally STOP AT NOTHING to get the right antibiotics down me to prevent infecting him.
Another thing, do not even think about breastfeeding. Breat milk if full of lyme disease too.
And one more, give your baby probiotics from the day he/she is born until at least 9 months old. If you have lyme, then anything they get from the birth canal will not create healthy intestinal flora and the lack of that will weaken their immune system immensely.
hi guys! thank you all so much for your help!
doctors seem to think Im being irrational! grr
Also I am expecting results back from a western blot and I really am confused by online information! .....
Can someone explain what my results may show.. my doctor says 'even people without lyme will have some reaction on a few bands as a healthy immune system will try and attack any new bacteria regardless of exposure' :s
if my results come back with say 41 as reactive what would this tell me ? my doc says dentalissues could cause a reaction here? is this the case? as I have always suffered with dental issues such as gum disease etc
XXXXX
doctors seem to think Im being irrational! grr
Also I am expecting results back from a western blot and I really am confused by online information! .....
Can someone explain what my results may show.. my doctor says 'even people without lyme will have some reaction on a few bands as a healthy immune system will try and attack any new bacteria regardless of exposure' :s
if my results come back with say 41 as reactive what would this tell me ? my doc says dentalissues could cause a reaction here? is this the case? as I have always suffered with dental issues such as gum disease etc
XXXXX
I would definitely want antibiotics for the remainder of the pregnancy if I were in your place. Even if you didn't get Lyme, there are some other nasty diseases that could adversely affect your pregnancy.
And just in case....if you see any developmental delays in our child in the future, do not delay in seeking treatment. Don't let them put you off hoping the child will outgrow any problems.
And just in case....if you see any developmental delays in our child in the future, do not delay in seeking treatment. Don't let them put you off hoping the child will outgrow any problems.
Didnt realize you are from UK. This is website of Dr. Jones, for contact information.
http://www.drjoneskids.com/
http://www.drjoneskids.com/
You really need to consult with Dr. Charles Jone of Conn. He deals with gestational lyme and pedatics. Your GYN/OB can consult with him.
My understanding is you need both cell wall inhibitor and marcolide antibiotics throughout the pregnancy-this is what Dr. Jones recommended.
My understanding is you need both cell wall inhibitor and marcolide antibiotics throughout the pregnancy-this is what Dr. Jones recommended.
I am not persuaded that doxycycline is the best option, except perhaps immediately after infection. Doxy was the original and only med used for Lyme, but that dates back to the early days of discovery, so its use is less widespread now and is not always the med of choice.
Not being a medical professional, I don't know what to tell you about abx while pregnant. I do know several people who gave Lyme to their newborns in utero. Unless your tests were done at IgenX I don't believe in western blot since it said I was negative when I was positive.
You may want to get on doxy when the doc says ok but you need to stay on it for longer than what most docs say because it won't cure the illness. 6 months at least for a newly bitten person would help.
You may want to get on doxy when the doc says ok but you need to stay on it for longer than what most docs say because it won't cure the illness. 6 months at least for a newly bitten person would help.
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