Mycoplasma Pneumonia

[RKF55]

Hello,
I was going thru my latest blood test again and found that it shows the mycoplasma pnemonia anitbody IGG was 2.55. I have looked on the web at what this is so I understand the infection part of it. I was just wondering if anybody could help me understand if it is another indicator of Lyme or a co-infection of Lyme?
I am still trying to get a final diagnosis for having or not having Lyme, but it seems that all I get is clues. Like this mycoplasma being high, my CD57 being 20, having 4 reactive bands on the western blot / elisa. Put together they all point to Lyme but my LLMD still cant say for sure.
I have to tell her next week if I want to go ahead with the Igenex test.

Thanks

[mojogal]

The flagyl is a cyst buster but you take that more than a week. She should have told you this.

Igenex, even though my bartonella was positive, usually doesn't come back positive for do-infections.

I agree with Jackie, get copies of your tests and see someone else. I made the mistake of going with an LLMD for 2 years because she was close to me. I am sicker as it's now in my heart.

[JackieCalifornia]

You say:  "She said that based on the test results from all the testing they did she could not say for sure that it is Lyme."  It may be that she is not using IGeneX PCR test, which is more reliable than the older Western blot and ELISA tests.  Some docs seem to be scared of using the IGeneX test, because the Lyme-deniers are particular cranky toward IGeneX.  Politics.

You also say:  "Thus my confusion when I see these things that  point that way. They are treating me based on my symptons although not very aggresivly I think."  I would think the same things you are thinking.

You say that the doc "stated we would try the antibiotics to see if I had a 'flare or response'."  I'm not medically trained, but this would concern me because Lyme bacteria are expert at *suppressing* your immune system, so to my understanding, it would not be a surprise if there was no reaction from your immune system as your doc wants.

You say, "They have me taking Doxcy for a month which everybody on this site says only works early in the infection. And if I do have Lyme I have had it for at least 2 years now."  I would think the same way you are thinking.

You say, "They had me take Flagyl for a week that I assume was for the mycoplasma but she never talked about that."  Not sure what the idea was with that.  

"She asked me if I wanted to take the Igenx bartonella test for confirmation of negative infection?"  It sounds like she's trying whatever she can think of, which is nice, *but* it may indicate she is dancing in the dark and is not sure of which way to go.

In your situation, I would be sure I had copies of ALL the test results (you paid for them; you deserve full copies) and then I would book an appointment with a different Lyme doc to review the existing tests and get a new view on the situation.  Lyme is a very tricky customer, and it sounds like your current doc is trying hard, but sometimes it's time to move along for another view.  You do not have to tell the current doc that you are doing so, to avoid irritating her in case you need her later.

You can keep the appointment next week, just to see what the doc has to say now, but I would not wait to make an appointment with a different doc -- the wait for a first appointment can take a little while.

I would do what you are doing -- and your analytic skills will help a great deal as you progress.  Keep us posted, okay?  Best wishes --

[RKF55]

Thanks,

She said that based on the test results from all the testing they did she could not say for sure that it is Lyme. Thus my confusion when I see these things that  point that way. They are treating me based on my symptons although not very aggresivly I think. She stated we would try the anitbiotics to see if I had a "flare or response".

They have me taking Doxcy for a month which everybody on this site says only works early in the infection. And if I do have Lyme I have had it for at least 2 years now.

They had me take Flagyl for a week that I assume was for the mycoplasma but she never talked about that. She asked me if I wanted to take the Igenx bartonella test for confirmation of negative infection?  

So I am doing what they asked and taking the antibiotics and vitamine supplements. I go back to them next week and plan to ask a bunch more questions.

[mojogal]

Hi, I have mycoplasma Pneumonia and it is considered to be another co-infection of Lyme.

I am honestly surprised that your LLMD is not willing to say for sure it is Lyme.

Are you willing to get another opinion? Most LLMD will treat based on symptoms especially when it comes to co-infections but if your LLMD won't even concede that you have Lyme, it worries me.

Does she want you to have the igenex tests before treating? I started treating based on symptoms months before my igenex tests came back. Many people do.

Good luck!