I tested positive!!!

[jarla]

My Rheumy insisted I couldn't possibly have Lyme because I tested negative in his private lab. Well eat this Rheumy!

Tested at Quest:

ELISA: Ref. range < or =.90 negative
.91-1.09 equivocal
> = 1.10 positive

Me! ....... 2.72 Hah!

I reacted only on band 30 for the IGG so that's supposedly negative

But I reacted on bands 39 and 41 for the IGM, so that makes a positive!

[itsybitsyone]

I had a very high elisa like that too. My doc said, "False positives don't come THAT high, that's Lyme". I still make IgM's for OSP C (23, etc) after all these years. Go figure.

I don't want to say congrats cause this disease SUCKS...

However, I am very glad you have an answer and can get help (I hope) now.

[LymeEnigma]

I would doubt such a high positive could be from a cross-reaction (such as from relapsing fever) or false-positive. I only tested at 1.19 through Quest, and I'm pretty certain that I'm a Lymie, despite the mixed WB results ... although who knows how many different strains and variations are out there and how they react to the various blood tests?

Just the same: confirmation is a beautiful thing, isn't it?

I really wish most doctors were not so dismissive ... especially the rheumies and the ID specialists; it really does make getting a timely diagnosis and adequate treatment nearly impossible for far too many people.

Do you have a treatment plan?

[jarla]

Confirmation is beautiful. Vindication feels even better!

I have been on treatment for about 6 weeks now. My PCP put me on despite not having positive results before... bless him! We retested because I'm seeing Dr. Cameron soon.

I am currently taking:

200 mg doxy twice per day
750 mg flagyl er twice per day
500 mg erythromycin twice per day

We started on the Erythromycin because I was having serious enough gastroparesis that I couldn't keep the other two down.

With all of this, I am feeling sooo much better, even though far from cured. We hope Dr. C. will give us good advice on how to proceed from here and for how long.

[LymeEnigma]

I have read some very promising things about Dr. Cameron. Good luck with your treatment ... and thank goodness you listened to your body!!!

Have you found that the erythromycin helps with your gastroparesis?

[jarla]

Have you found that the erythromycin helps with your gastroparesis?

Yeah, I really feel like it's made a difference. I was having so much trouble taking the doxy. It is so potent and it would just burn away in my stomach until I puked it up. If I time my meds and meals right, the erythromycin seems to get my stomach going long enough that I can process everything else. I'm not sure it's a longterm fix though. I think the effect wears off pretty quickly. The main disadvantage to it is that I can't take diflucan because they interact and cause heart problems.

[cobweb2]

I cried with relief when I was retested by an LLMD and still came up positive. I ws scared shirtless but so happy.

[nyxie63]

Vindication is a great thing, isn't it? I'm very glad you finally have an answer, although not necessarily thrilled to welcome you to the lyme club.

I had a lot of problems on doxy too. They even had me on Doryx, which is supposed to be a gentler version of doxy on the stomach. Uh-uh. It takes a little time and experimentation to figure out what meds you can tolerate.

Glad you're feeling better!

[enochroot]

I saw Dr Cameron for a while - he is a good guy. His rate are reasonable in
perspective of LLMD scene.

[enochroot]

Bump!

Jarla - did you see Dr Cameron?
I am very interested in how he works out with you and how his treatment of you compares to what he offered me.