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Chronic Lyme testing?

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Posted 8/18/2023 1:51 PM (GMT -5)
Are any of the lyme blood tests able to detect Lyme disease that has been going on for more than 5 years? If not, what is the best way to get officially diagnosed?

Right now i am dealing with tight abdominal muscles that make it hard to eat anything without painful symptoms, and I also have a few mental things such as visual snow and tiredness, but I’m like 90% sure it’s all going back to the gut.

I want to confirm that lyme isn’t causing these gut issues and that it just might be issues with chronic stress/anxiety, but I’m not sure if there’s a good way to figure that out as they probably go hand and hand

Thank you for your help!
Posted 8/18/2023 1:55 PM (GMT -5)
Testing can be very hard on that field. For some Antibody and Immunoblot Test have been helpful. Others have been using IgeneX and ELIspot to detect an infection. In Germany LTT is widly used by LLMDs, they seem to love it.

The problem is no negative test can rule out an infection. I understand its frustrating but I would morely rely on symptoms and try to get tested in the process. Maybe go for an antibody test first, then for an immunoblot, and then decide if its worth going for ELIspot or LTT.

hope i could help you a little.
best wishes!
Posted 8/18/2023 2:18 PM (GMT -5)
yep that about sums it up

no guaranteed test is yet avalable that can definitively rule it out

i spent 2-3 years trying to address gut problems before finding i had lyme and bartonella

gut problems like dysbiosis and sibo are linked with lyme and lyme is known to cause them to be difficult to treat and relapse after treatment - so its is v tricky to tease them apart

a therapeutic trial is one option - ie take lyme targeted antibiotics - perhaps together with a known biofilm agent like xylitol - if that causes you to feel much worse - with aches, pains, headache, fever, maybe sleep problems - then that's an indication of herxhiemer reaction and an indication that you have a systemic infection - lyme being on of the common ones
Posted 8/18/2023 2:33 PM (GMT -5)
I have had a few conditions as a result of chronic tick-borne disease that caused tight abdominal muscles and sharply restricted my ability to eat, including gastroparesis and the ridiculously-named "MS hug." I also had what I believe was biliary tract sludge blocking my gallbladder for six weeks or so. Mast cell issues also cause me bouts of severe diarrhea and cramping, and I also have had to treat gut dysbiosis.

All of that is to say that what you describe isn't uncommon in the tick-borne disease world! Stress is not a separate issue, as an underlying infection or even a history of an underlying infection can make the microbiome and nerves of the gut much more reactive to stress and imbalances. If you suspect that an infection is involved, then it might be best to keep treating that while you manage symptoms and address the gut problems from other angles.

I looked back through your past posts and found bloating from probiotics and GERD, but I didn't see many other details about what sort of gut problems are going on for you. Are they constant? Are there triggers or patterns? What kind of pain is there? Constipation, diarrhea, bleeding, nausea, gas? Stool abnormalities?
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