How were you diagnosed?
clinically dx only- (labs were all negative) ? - 12.0% - 3 votes
Labs positive w/clinical dx ? - 56.0% - 14 votes
clinical dx w/labs unequivocal ? - 12.0% - 3 votes
clinical dx with neg lab(s) but later labs resulted +? - 8.0% - 2 votes
not yet diagnosed, and neg labs ? - 8.0% - 2 votes
other positive testing? (spinal tap or mri for example? - 4.0% - 1 votes
badticks
New Member
Joined : Apr 2010
Posts : 19
Posted 4/19/2010 9:37 AM (GMT -5)
I am curious how everyone was diagnosed?
Razzle
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 4415
Posted 4/19/2010 9:53 AM (GMT -5)
Three Lyme tests were done, and 2 coinfection tests were done.
Fall 2007 - IGeneX positive/CDC negative, but the doctor who ordered the test agreed that my clinical picture fit with Lyme and thus he diagnosed me with Lyme.
Winter 2008 - Quest labs negative (but a few bands were positive).
Summer 2008 - CDC positive (Mayo Clinic labs did the tests, though I was not a patient there at the time)...and the ID doctor who ordered the test blew it off as impossible to be Lyme/must be cross-reacting with something else (with what? he couldn't come up with an answer when I asked)...
All coinfection tests, first from Fry Labs ('08 or '09, I can't remember) & later from IGeneX (2010), were all negative, though I do have clinical diagnosis of Bartonella, and I personally suspect I've had an Anaplasma infection for a long, long time (based on unexplained blood test anomalies, mostly)...
Posted 4/19/2010 1:55 PM (GMT -5)
The initial test was negative and six weeks later I tested strong positive on the Western Blot. I believe the six week delay in diagnosis and treatment has resulted in chronic neuroligical lyme for me. Still trying to get better ten months later.
Posted 4/19/2010 3:10 PM (GMT -5)
Igenix testing 5 bands on one 6 on the other. CP infection as well as babesia
JELAINEP
Veteran Member
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 2017
Posted 4/19/2010 3:55 PM (GMT -5)
Went to an orthopedic doctor because my knee was swollen and asked him to test me for LD. The EIA was positive but the WB was completely negative. Then, one of the first Infectious Disease doctors ordered all of the necessary and corrrect tests... I was overly positive for LD. I was IGM+ and I had 6 IGG+ bands.
I have since been re-tested (by a different lab) for everything under the sun and came up positive for almost everything "tick" related.
springsjean
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2009
Posts : 2198
Posted 4/19/2010 9:00 PM (GMT -5)
I ended up in ER with numerous symptoms including stabbing pains in heart area in June 2006. This following extremely stiff neck in June 2005 and then difficulty using stairs with legs that fall. Followed up with primary care dr. in June 2006 who ran lyme test and told me everything was negative. Stupid me never asked for copies of labs. I tested positive on three bands including band 39. Went four more years undiagnosed from dr to dr until a woman endocrinologist kept going back to lyme. I then called original dr.'s office and got original labs which showed the 3 significant bands. Have never tested positive other than for erlicholisis high titer of 1:320. Am now awaiting Igenex tests to try and get positive as insurance company is refusing me IV for neuro lyme. Have MRI with white matter/lesions and neuro symptoms. Keep your fingers crossed Igenex comes back positive.
stutterbug
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 478
Posted 4/19/2010 11:28 PM (GMT -5)
Bit by a tick in 1986, diagnosed with JRA, and clinically diagnosed with Chronic Lyme in 2007. Only tests I have that show anything is my CD57 in which I scored a 28.
springsjean
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2009
Posts : 2198
Posted 4/20/2010 7:12 AM (GMT -5)
Patti B, mind if I ask what band you test positive on?
Posted 4/20/2010 8:18 AM (GMT -5)
First infected 1984. Tests negative in 1990 and 91 when symptoms were getting unmanageable. Doc didn't believe it was Lyme but gave 2 week course of abx each year.
Bitten again 2007. Not tested until 2008 when went to the doctor for insomnia and mental disturbance. Positive labs. However, only Igenex able to identify Ehrlichia co-infection.
Nicky D
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2009
Posts : 361
Posted 4/20/2010 7:20 PM (GMT -5)
I got a clinical diagnosis from a Naturopathic doctor, and then confirmed with with an LLMD. The naturopath ordered tests from Igenix. The test was a while ago, but I remember I had IgM band 41 ++ and Band 39 IND and IgG Band 41 +. Not anywhere near to CDC positive, but my LLMD said if the band 39 had been positive he would have considered it a positive test (because it was a starred band)...or maybe if I'd had another band positive. I can't remember exactly. He had me do a month of antibiotics and re-test, and, of course, it came back even more negative.
Although my test was not positive, I had a really, really strong reaction to treatment. I felt like crap for close to six months after starting antibiotics, but after that a felt a lot of improvement. So I feel comfortable with the clinical diagnosis even though the tests don't confirm it.
Deejavu
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2005
Posts : 4771
Posted 4/20/2010 7:34 PM (GMT -5)
I clinically diagnosed myself and later on found a doctor who sent my blood to IgeneX which confirmed my clinical diagnosis from researching.
Denise
Posted 4/24/2010 2:56 PM (GMT -5)
I have been sick for five or six years. I don't recall being bitten, but I think it must have been in 2000-2001. I have been very sick since mid 2004. I have had what seems like every test my MD could order, with no luck. My naturopathic physician sent my blood to Igenex late December for the Western Blot, which came back IND for band 39, + for band 41 and IND for band 83-93. She then consulted with a LLMD? (could have been a naturopathic doctor) who gave me a very positive clinical diagnosis of Lyme and Babesia.
Kodak
Regular Member
Joined : May 2010
Posts : 74
Posted 5/16/2010 11:08 AM (GMT -5)
My August 2009 Igenix IGM Western Blot test showed a weak positive for band 34.
Had double positive for band 41.
CDC was negative
Igenix was just positive.
My August 2009 Igenix IGG Western Blot test showed IND for band 31 and IND for band 34, positive for band 41 only. Results - negative.
Local lab showed Western Blot (IGG) positive for band 41 as well.
Back in 1/19/09 - Igenix IGM showed IND for band 39 and positive for band 41 only. Doctor said Lyme was negative. But very high EBV.
8/08 per local lab, tested negative for everything. But this is when my symptoms began.
Does anyone actually know what these bands mean. For instance what is band 31 , 34 & 41?? Anyone??
Traveler
Elite Member
Joined : May 2007
Posts : 36573
Posted 5/16/2010 12:00 PM (GMT -5)
I was clinically dxed a several years ago. I didn't test positive(by W. B.) until I had spent a full year on Minocycline.
Lovelabs
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2009
Posts : 367
Posted 5/16/2010 4:59 PM (GMT -5)
Clinically diagnosed by my Lyme doc. I tested CDC negative and igenex negative. First quest test by my incompetant former PCP I tested pos on bands 66 & 41, and pos 41 on the other one.
Then my Lyme doc tested me through igenex (my request he already diagnosed me clinically).I was pos for band 66,58,41 and IND on 2 others(can't remember) and pos 41 on the other.
A year and a half until proper treatment. 1 year and a half of treatment and still not better. (had some bumps along the way) still hopeful, thankful for my wonderful doctor.