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Lyme Disease Test results

I have had weird undiagnosed symptoms so I did a Lyme disease test through Igenex. My test results overall came back as negative, but my IgM 41 was positive and IgG was indecisive/soft positive, also my IFA was equivocal meaning not positive or negative. Could this be something worth investigating further? I have brain lesions which would be explained by Lyme disease and many symptoms that could be explained by Lyme. Thanks
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Avatar universal
You might also search online for something like:

      ILADS "north dakota"

to see if there is a Lyme-savvy MD there, if that's doable.  I just did some similar searches and there appear to be ILADS-member MDs in various places.  Lyme docs often keep a low profile, just to avoid hassles from the medical boards who often don't understand Lyme.

Sooner is usually better when it comes to an illness like Lyme, which likes to hide in places in the body where the immune system doesn't reach well, and also because the longer Lyme and its co-infections in residence, the harder it can be to evict them.  

Best wishes!  Keep us posted --
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Avatar universal
Thanks for all the info, i found a ND naturopathic lyme doc who lives about 4 hours away from me but she is on maternity leave till mid may. Im gonna try that other lyme dot blot assay test in the meantime.
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Avatar universal
There is an organization in Canada called CanLyme -- it has a website, I believe, and that is often a very good place to connect with people who understand what you are dealing with and can perhaps get referrals or suggestions to a good Lyme doc.  

Sometimes one has to travel a bit to get to a Lyme doc -- you'll see the term 'LLMD' -- it's patient slang for 'Lyme-literate MD' -- meaning an MD who really does understand Lyme and how to diagnose and treat it.   LLMDs will also often be the first to say that you do not have Lyme, if you don't.

There is however a split in the medical community about how serious and how widespread Lyme is and how to treat it for how low.  Due to those controversies, many MDs who treat Lyme patients aggressively like to stay under the radar, so it may seem that there are no Lyme specialists in your area, but it may instead be that they are just being discrete.  

About IGeneX Labs not giving you advice:  it's because they do not treat patients, but are only in the business of analyzing blood samples and other tests sent along to IGeneX by MDs whose patients may have Lyme and other infections the Lyme ticks often carry.  

You would need to find a practicing MD to get advice, and the ILADS website has a referral function that can help direct you to MDs who are ILADS member-MDs near you, even if you are in Canada.  Also look at the CanLyme site for leads to good MDs who understand Lyme, but they often don't advertise and like to keep a low profile.  

Generally speaking, you will notice that there are NO physicians' names given on this site, to shield the MDs from medical boards in some states who want to shut down the progressive approach that ILADS-type physicians usually take.  (Politics and medicine:  what a combination:  NOT.)

Sorry if this post is choppy -- I don't have time at the moment to edit, gotta run!  Let us know how you do and how we can help.  Take care -- and from my experience, it really is worth finding a good solid Lyme specialist.  Go for it!

((And one final thought ... the ILADS website has posted on it information originally written by a Dr Burrascano some years ago, about Lyme and its tricks.  Burrascano is one of the great Lyme docs.  You might want to take a look there, but don't be overwhelmed by it.  I found it comforting that some good people really were working hard to get us all well.))

All good wishes to you -- stay in touch!
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Avatar universal
PS -- I just noticed that you appear to be located in ... Ontario, Canada?

I'm not medically trained, but the IGeneX test may not take fully into account strains of Canadian Lyme bacteria that are not recognized by the test.  

I have understood in the past that the IGeneX lab (located in California) is helpful in discussing such issues, so that could be an approach for your MD to make, either now or after a second set of tests.  There may be a known inaccuracy in the test when it comes to Canadian bacteria.

It might save you having (and paying for) a second test.  Let us know what you find out!  Take care --
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Thanks for the response. I have not talked to a Lyme literate doctor about the results as they are hard to find so it is a long wait. Ive asked Igenex lab for advice they weren't very helpful, however on the test results it said it was of clinical significance and to try a diff test called the lyme dot blot assay test  So I guess I will try that.
Avatar universal
Good for you for getting tested and for thinking about the results as you have done --

IGeneX Labs has been well respected for many years, and it may be that the combination of your various IgeneX test aspects was just slightly low in some ways that resulted in a supposed negative result.

The important thing is looking at the big picture, as you have done, and to have a human look at the test results AND your history and symptoms.  

I would indeed do what you suggest:  have the test results reviewed by another Lyme doc as fail safe.  The doc who interpreted your test as negative may have made an error, or there may be a slight glitch as the test analysis is done by the computer -- but in any event, I too would seriously consider having a quiet consultation with another Lyme doc for a second opinion, as you suggest.  

Let us know what you find out -- it could be useful to someone else reading here too!  
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