Igenex Interpretation & Question on Transmission

Hello -

It’s been a while since I've posted on this site and now it’s about me versus my son. I recently was involved with a man who had Lyme Disease. He said he was in fine (recovered) when we first started dating but about a two months ago he said he relapsed. I don't think he was being treated by an LLMD and was not taking antibiotics when we were together. about 3 weeks ago I started experiencing sharp stabbing pain in my joints - pain like nothing I had ever felt before. I then started to get a burning sensation on my skin but only in one area on my arm. I now recently started to have pain near my heart - can't tell if muscle or my ribs. I went to my sons LLMD and requested a Western Blot test from Igenex. I got the results back but not sure what the LLMD will do.

My IgM was positive for band 41 and 58 but only Indeterminate for band 23-25. If the 23-25 was positive, my Western Blot would have been positive for Lyme but its negative due to the "I" for this band. My IgG results were negative with only band 41 coming back positive. Will my LLMD interpret this IgM as a positive? Also, can Lyme be sexually transmitted? I asked the LLMD and he said no but I disagree. Are there any studies/research on this? I don't think it’s a coincidence that he has it and then I become symptomatic. I'm not sure if I should let him know what’s going on with me as we are longer dating? I know there’s controversy surround this topic so I’m just not sure what the right thing to do is.

Last question, do people find antibiotics or natural remedies help more with their recovery of Lyme. I believe that I’m only dealing with Lyme and no co-infections.

Post Edited (LymeMomNYC) : 1/18/2017 1:12:08 PM (GMT-7)

LymeMom-Antibiotics or herbs is really a personal choice. There are some factors that go into that choice such as if you see an LLMD and they prescribe a specific protocol. If your insurance will cover an rx for antibiotics or not and the list goes on.

Both work which is the most important thing.

Each LLMD is different but with your test results being highly suspicious and your symptoms I'd assume an LLMD would treat.

Thank you for responding!

Healing98 do you believe you you still had an active infection when your wife got infected? Is your wife still being treated for Lyme? I'm just concerned of what to expect going forward for myself.

I've started Minocycline but I'm not sure thats the best abx for Lyme. My son was on Azithromycin and Rifampin but he was being treated for Lyme and Bartonella. I've been taking Grapeseed Extract as well.

Again - Thank you

Thanks Girlie -

Why two antibiotics? Its been a while since my son was on them and I can't remember. Is one targeted to cyst form and biofilms? Is there one that works better with Minocycline?

TY

Hi Girlie -

When the LLMD did the Igenex test, he did a Bartonella test as well. That came back negative. I'm not sure what other tests he ran. I'm trying to get all my results but they haven't posted them as of yet. I guess I'm assuming its only Lyme because I believe I got this from the man I was dating and truth be told I haven't heard of other infections being sexually transmitted. Can co-infections being sexually transmitted? My symptoms are really the joint pain and swelling which is pretty much constant then the pain in the left side of my chest. I have an appt on Monday with him/LLMD and we will go through everything. When they gave me the Igenex results, he said he didn't feel that he needed to change my medication - which made me question his thoughts on my IgM results.

With regards to the addressing biofilms, I think I bought Serrapeptase for my son years ago. Has anyone seen better results on one versus the other?

Well, a Lyme specific band like 23 - 25 that is IND should be treated like it's a positive. Remember, Lyme lowers the immune function, so it can't always produce enough antibodies for a 'fully positive' result. And (sorry) if you had been infected at the beginning of the relationship, your body has been infected for 3 months - more than enough time to lower the immune function, as there is a very small window of time that these tests actually work. Too soon and the body hasn't had enough time, wait a few weeks, and it's too late as the body has already been too compromised to be able to produce enough antibodies.

I wanted to agree with Girlie also that a negative co-infection test isn't reliable either. The co-infection testing never is - because Lyme lowers the immune function and they are looking for antibodies for those tests as well.

And, as Jrpsf said, the choice to use herbs or pharma abx is a very personal one. Go with what your heart/gut say to do for you. If that one doesn't seem to be working, you can always add in the other at a later date.

Thank you for all the help. I will add serrapetase to my protocol. I remember adding that to my sons list of meds/herbs when he first became ill years ago. I have an appt on Monday with the LLMD to go over my meds so I will see what he has to say. He said he wasn't looking to change anything (minocycline) based on the Igenex results which made me question his interpretation of the results. I honestly don't feel a difference since I started the Minocycline so we'll see what he'll change once we meet. I'm also not sure if the pain is a herx or just the pain.

multifaceted - did any co-infections come up positive for you? For my son, his Bartonella tests always came up positive but not his Babesia test.

Traveler - Whats the window for testing? I don't think i realized that there was a window. Yes - it has been more than 3 mos.

Again - thanks

Post Edited (LymeMomNYC) : 1/19/2017 9:36:14 AM (GMT-7)