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Help interpreting lyme test please.

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Posted 11/20/2016 8:18 PM (GMT -5)
My journey started in November 2015 after getting diagnosed with Bartonella due to a cat scratch. I have always had severe autoimmune issues so this immediately affected my thyroid, liver, heart, and kidneys. I was forwarded to an infectious disease internist who reviewed my medical file and believes my underlying issue is Lyme. I was an avid climber and scrambler in the thick of Lyme country. Had a few tick bites. My thyroid started failing in 2003 and many health symptoms were attributed to that. My doctor ordered Armin labs testing but as I'm unfamiliar with this test I'm having trouble interpreting the results. Anyone else get results like this?

Borrelia EliSpot
1 Borrelia b. Full Antigen 2 SI
1 Borrelia b. OSP-Mix 2 SI
1 Borrelia burgdorferi LFA-1 1 SI
0-1 = negative
2-3 = weak positive
> 3 = positive
The results of the Elispot-Tests are an indication for a
weak current cellular activity against Borrelia-burgdorferi.

Borr. plus VLsE IgG-AB (ELISA) 8,78 RE/ml
< 16 RE/ml = negative

16 bis 22 RE/ml = very weak
>= 22 RE/ml = positive
4 Borrelia IgM-antibodies(ELISA) negative
11,93 RE/ml
< 16 RE/ml = negative
16 bis 22 RE/ml = very weak
>= 22 RE/ml = positive

The specific Borrelia burgdorferi-IgG/IgM-antibodies are no
indication for a humoral immune response against Borrelia
burgdorferi. Please look at the Borrelia-EliSpot and the
CD57-positive NK-cells. Take into consideration the clinical
symptoms and the differential diagnosis (co-infections).
Posted 11/20/2016 8:24 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Babyfacedrey! Welcome to our community!

I'm more familiar with the Igenex testing...but it looks like you are positive (weak positive is STILL positive)

But, what's more important is your history (climbing in the thick of Lyme country, a few tick bites) along with your symptoms.
Lyme disease should be a clinical diagnosis..with testing used only as a back=up.

I urge you to seek out a LLMD and schedule an appointment.

We can help you find one: Just start a new thread titled: "Looking for LLMD in/near______" and fill in the blank with the nearest larger city and State"

We suggest that all new members take a look through the thread at the top of the page titled: "New to Lyme?..Start Here!" It's packed full of information - symptom lists, info on probiotics and a section on detoxing.

Hope you find this to be a knowledgeable and supportive group of people.
Posted 11/20/2016 8:26 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome Babyfacedrey, to the forum. Did your Dr. treat you for the Bart infection? I am gathering that your Dr. thinks you've been infected for a long time, then, or just since the cat scratch?

I'm not familiar with the Armin lab readings either, but others here are and will comment soon.

If you've not read over our top intro "New to Lyme?...start here", I highly recommend that you do, it will answer many of your questions, and introduce you to detoxing methods that help the body rid itself of toxins, including those created by bacterial die off.


Ha! you got a double welcome! smilewinkgrin
Posted 11/20/2016 8:57 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for the double welcome! I am fortunate that my specialist is lyme and co infection literate. I'm awaiting his triage decision on when I begin treatment. He believes Lyme is the underlying cause of my many autoimmune issues. My Bartonella was treated for three months with antibiotics. The stretch mark rash still makes a reappearance ever so often. I have a ton of joint pain and bulging tendons. My ANA is positive and my thyroid antibodies are eight times higher than normal levels. So needless to say all is not well inside my meat suit. :)
Posted 11/20/2016 9:11 PM (GMT -5)
So your ID Dr is Lyme Literate?

So, you will be treated until symptom free? ...and not following the IDSA guidelines of several weeks...and after that your symptoms are attributed to Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome?

After the three months of abx for bart - did you have some symptoms resolve?

Please keep us posted - once you have your protocol...okay?
Posted 11/20/2016 10:11 PM (GMT -5)
Ha meat suit ...welcome drey..consider dna connexions test. If you need a positive .
Posted 11/21/2016 12:02 AM (GMT -5)
I am still waiting for my treatment plan...hopefully I will hear back soon. My Bart treatment was based off of consultation with an infectious disease doc. I've had 5 specialists and a team consulting on my case. Further complicating my treatment is experiencing
Fluoroquinolone toxicity in 2013 (was on antibiotics for a chronic sinus infection). The current specialist on my case is elite in my area and he insists his patients are tested at Armin. I have no idea how to interpret those results though. Me and my meat suit aren't very patient at the moment.

My story is way longer with lots of me advocating for myself and being initially misdiagnosed after my cat scratch until a veterinarian noted my symptoms and my cat tested positive. It's been a long nightmare and now with Lyme on the radar...I'm like yay two diseases. Cool... now what?

While waiting for Dr. Elite pants king of medicine I just continue taking care of the meat suit and focus on keeping my body strong. I refuse to get taken down by some dumb bacteria. Grrr.
Posted 11/21/2016 10:02 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Babyfacedray!!!

Welcome to our community! I'm glad you found us!! And, I'm glad you have a good sense of humor still intact!!

I agree that your results seem to indicate a positive, albeit a weak one - but that's more than enough to show that you have Lyme, especially combined with your symptoms.

You've been given some good information by the others, but I did want to address something you said:
"My Bartonella was treated for three months with antibiotics. The stretch mark rash still makes a reappearance ever so often. "

This would mean that you still have Bartonella, no matter how long or what you were treated with. Just please be sure that "Dr. Elite pants king of medicine" is going to be addressing this as well.

Please do let us know how we can be of help to you!!
Posted 11/21/2016 12:02 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for your support everyone. I had been reading through these forums a lot before joining.

I agree I likely still have Bart, the rash is pretty unmistakable.

Hopefully this test will give the specialist some assistance. It's been such a long road.

:)
Posted 11/21/2016 2:02 PM (GMT -5)
Keep us posted...give us an update, okay?
Posted 11/21/2016 2:03 PM (GMT -5)
I definitely will!!

:)
Posted 12/8/2016 1:37 AM (GMT -5)
Update:
Me and my meat suit have been accepted to the Lyme treatment clinic. The wait is none months but medical professionals are acknowledging how sick I Am. That feels good. Now it's trying to take care of myself while awaiting treatment.
Posted 12/8/2016 1:45 AM (GMT -5)

Babyfacedrey said...
Update:
Me and my meat suit have been accepted to the Lyme treatment clinic. The wait is none months but medical professionals are acknowledging how sick I Am. That feels good. Now it's trying to take care of myself while awaiting treatment.

Is that nine months you are waiting?

If so, you might want to consider an herbal protocol while you wait.
Posted 12/8/2016 1:48 AM (GMT -5)
Yes, it's a nine month wait. I am sceptical of the efficacy of supplements but willing to research. What would you suggest?

Thank you. :)
Posted 12/8/2016 2:20 AM (GMT -5)
...forgot to mention - did you ask if you could be put on a cancellation list for something sooner?
People do cancel on occasion.


Personally, I like Buhner's protocols for lyme and co-infections.

here is the website -

buhnerhealinglyme.com

He has books you can purchase for more in-depth information.
Posted 12/8/2016 6:02 AM (GMT -5)
What clinic have you been accepted into?

Supplements and herbs are very necessary during Lyme treatments as it takes a well functioning body and body systems to heal from these infections. We know that your body is not doing very well simply because you have these infections, so supporting it only makes sense. It's those doctors that support the body well that have the most "Lyme success stories".
Posted 12/16/2016 1:36 AM (GMT -5)
Hi, Thanks for the info. As for cancellation lists my specialist does not have one.

The good news is the other ID doc who specializes in Bartonella and Lyme has an opening January 11th. This doc is in the USA so having to pay out of pocket is daunting but hopefully I'll end up in a direction of some sort.
Posted 12/16/2016 8:38 AM (GMT -5)
im familiar with german augsburg testing, ive done 5 rounds of similar tests in the last 2yrs. your test does not clearly show the presence of borrelia. of course the diagnostic takes into account the tests plus your symptoms, but im talking about the tests here... lymespot/elispot is highly sensitive, but if you are close to 0 or 1 then there is a high degree of uncertainty.

i had 30 times your values for elispot test (30+ 20+, 15+ or something like that), so there was no doubt i have lyme, but that was AFTER antibiotic treatment of several months.

I would do an antibiotic challenge of one month (for example you can take something very safe like amoxicillin which is a category B pregnancy drug and among the safest possible antibiotic) commonly prescribed for children. It is active against borrelia (of course it will not cure you but since you have symptoms starting 2003 you will need long time aggressive treatment anyway), this is just a challenge drug.

After this, repeating the test one month after stopping the antibiotics, will show a more clear result, this way your doubts will be cleared.

Of course, best is to listen to what the LLMD says first, this is just my advice.
Posted 12/17/2016 1:24 AM (GMT -5)
As a child I had Guillain Barre syndrome caused by the Epstein Barr virus. Unfortunately I also have apoptosis dysfunction causing issues with my T Lymphocytes. I can have severe infections and be very sick and still show a minimal T cell response.

I've been on antibiotics six of the last 12 months for the Bartonella. I'm prone to severe allergic reactions so I'm very cautious about medications.

My immune system and liver is shot. It's a pretty scary place to be.

I appreciate everyone's input. This has been such a rollercoaster.
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