Could it be Lyme?

[ehbeedub]

Hi all,

I have been having strange symptoms for quite some time now, and I'm wondering if it could be Lyme-related.

I'm unsure if they are related at all, but I have been getting strange skin rashes for about 3 years now. They usually flare up once or twice a year and subside in about 10 days. They're always diagnosed as allergies, but I recently had allergy testing and was only reactive with typical outdoor things (pollen, grass, etc).

In February, I started experiencing intense lower back pain and pain in the left leg, which eventually spread to my left arm and right leg, but it is still worst in the left leg. It feels like nerve pains, though recently my left knee has been achey and sore, and my shoulders have also been getting in on that action, though less frequently. I occasionally have nerve pain on the left side of my face, as well. I experience strange parasthesias -- hot/cold sensations, feeling like water is running down my leg.

I had a nerve conduction test that showed nerve damage in the left leg and left arm, and an MRI that was normal excerpt for a single lesion. I was worked up for MS, but given that there was only the single lesion, the doctor recommended I wait to be treated and come back in a few months.

I had a Lyme test done back in March, but I'm not really familiar with the tests for this. This is what the results looked like:

Lyme Disease, EIA W/RFL WB = .77 (negative)
Lyme Disease AB (IGG), WB = Negative, only band 41 was reactive.

Any thoughts?

[shadow3680]

ny state doctors can not use igenex test its banned there by state law
u have to go out of state for blood draw and treatment if you use the test for treatment and fyi the pcr whole blood is a waste of money just do the western blot igg igm its 200 bucks I did it a few months ago

[cave76]

And here's some great reading from a power point presentation from him:
http://www.ilads.org/lyme_research/chronic_lyme.html

[cave76]

YIPPEE! And good for you for following up. At least now you''ll know you'll be getting the best of care.

[ehbeedub]

Just as an update -- I have an appointment with the doctor you recommended in Connecticut in a couple of months!

[cave76]

When you get information back about the doctors-- please Private Message me. Or post them here, for what good is information if it's just passed between 2 people? It's up to you.

I can pretty much guarantee that a (good) llmd would only use Igenex. There's none comparable in the US. now that MDL has 'gone to the dark side".

[ehbeedub]

I reached out to ILADS re: LLMDs in my area, and I also called the CT doc you recommended. We'll see what happens.

I assume that most of the (good) docs are versed in the testing, and would recommend IgeneX to do further testing?