western blot

[BeanBandit]

Does anyone know how accurate the western blot test will be if I haven't been on antibiotics since december? I only have been taking natural medicines to try to cure it, such as olive leaf and grapefruit seed extract (natural antibiotic).

[wonko]

You may be able to ask your question about interference between natural remedies and the western blot to the Igenex lab, they have a "contact us" place on their website and while I've never corresponded with them I've heard through others that they are helpful and responsive.

My LLMD also doesn't rely on the tests, but does like to conduct them to guide treatment and to confirm the dx when possible.  I travel out of state to see my LLMD, as I moved since I stared treatment and there are very few where I currently live.  It's a pain, but worth it to me.

[BeanBandit]

I am seeing a llmd but he seems to also rely on that test as well as symptoms and have a feeling that he might outrule lyme if the test comes back negative..... should I try to find another llmd? I think there are only 2 in this state.

[BeanBandit]

Yes I certaintly have =)  except for the last week.... the day after mothers day I ended up in the hospital after going to bed the night before and everything was fine, then when I woke up it felt like it was 150 degrees and I had severe vertigo with a lot of panic.... the vertigo was so bad that no matter what I did I almost couldnt see enough to hold onto something. It was literally like the disneyland teacup ride and I couldn't get off..... I had vomiting sessions about 5 times too and have been having migraines and severe non stop headaches like my brain is being squeezed for 2 or 3 weeks now so don't really know...... I'm scared right now, but trying to not let it get ahold of me =)

[JackieCalifornia]

The tests are all we've got, which is why a careful consideration of symptoms and history by an experienced doc is so important.  There is no way to measure in a single individual how accurate the tests will be due to variations in the tests, in your body's immune reaction, perhaps in the strain of Lyme bacteria you have, etc.  If we could measure how accurate the tests are, then that would mean we have another more accurate test -- and would use that for diagnosis.

A good doc will not ignore your symptoms and history regardless of what the tests say.  I'd just get the tests done, see what they say, hear the doc out, get copies of the tests for your own files, and if the doc blows you off, get a second opinion if there is no other reasonable diagnosis offered.

Having the right doc is more important than hanging everything on the right test result.  I had one doc run the standard Lyme test on me, which came back positive, but the doc said I couldn't possible have Lyme because the doc had other patients with Lyme and they were 'all near death.'  Therefore I could not possibly have Lyme.  Well, I sure felt like death warmed over, so I took those test results to an LLMD and got diagnosed and treated.  Sadly I don't think my experience is out of the ordinary because of the very restrictve way nonLLMDs read the tests and ignore the symptoms.

[Gaucho25]

Hi, I dont know the anwser to that question because all tests are not really reliable, Lyme is a clinical diagnosis and LLMD do know about it, even though sometimes these tests help. I wanted to ask you if  you have seen any type of improvements since taking those natural medicines..?