UrbanBaby

07.03.08, 09:51 AM General Topics
9 replies

Does anyone know how they figure out the results for Lyme Disease testing? My test results show several of the categories as "positive" but the lab notes that I am one short of the threshold for being considered to have Lyme Disease. So why would any of it be positive, then? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 07.03.08, 09:51 AM Flag

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email us at urbanbaby-support@cbsinteractive.com.

Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

Lyme disease dx is process of elimination. You can test + on the lyme titer, that means you have been exposed to lyme, built up antibodies, but may not have active lyme. You should rerun the test with both the titer and something called the Western Blot, much more telling test combo. Ideally run these tests at the same lab that just ran last test so they can compare lyme titer numbers - are they gooing up or down. How do you feel? If you still feel rotten you should have these tests run and consider runnign other tests for other things that look like lyme, as I said, good dx of Lyme involves eliminating other things such as arthritis, lupus, ms, and all sorts of other things if you are really feeling "off". Don't mean to scare you. Just had a REALLY bad case myself. [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:04 AM Flag

Thank you. I did get the Western Blot, combined with the titer. The titer was positive, but I only had 2 categories positive on the Blot - so the lab says the CDC considers it negative. I am feeling worse every day, don't know what to do. Am in a new town, the doctor I went to says I probably just have a virus (it's been almost 6 weeks). [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:07 AM Flag

What symptoms do you have? I was literally temp paralyzed (had nerve damage), but also had the persistent horrible headaches, lock jaw, stiff neck, and exhaustion. [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:09 AM Flag

^^^Also have you had ANY antibiotics? [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:09 AM Flag

No antibiotics. Terrible joint pain (typing with two fingers here, cannot open a door with my right hand, can only go down the stairs a half-step at a time), running fevers every night, headaches, just so very tired. [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:11 AM Flag

OK, you need to try antibiotics. so stupid they did not even put you on a trial dose. I saw a lot of doctors during this process and the 3 who were most helpful include: John Cahill - SLR - he is a travel medicine doctor, but know a lot about LYme, he accepts insurance, his office staff are horrible, but he nice - 212-492-5500. Carolyn Barley Britton is up at Columbia - a neurologist that knows a lot about the neurological impact of Lyme 212-305-5220 and Steven Phillips - he is an internist up in CT who really only deals with Lyme. He is a self-admitted pessimist, but knows his stuff, he does not take insurance - 203-544-0005. I am so sorry he feel this way. I know it is scary and frustrating not knowing what is going on. GL [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:16 AM Flag

TY. Sounds like you went through hell, hope you recovered well. [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:21 AM Flag

what about testing form something simple, like mono? [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:28 AM Flag

They tested for everything, inc. RA and lupus. I came back positive for parvovirus, but that is supposed to last only 2-3 weeks. When I called the doctor, he said I probably just caught another virus. [ Reply | More

]
General Topics 07.03.08, 10:34 AM Flag