TESTING FOR LYME DISEASE

TESTING FOR LYME DISEASE

[PLEASE NOTE HIGHLIGHTED MATERIALS ARE LINKS TO ANOTHER SITE.]

 Tests are the 'assessing of ' & 'evaluation for '-hopefully; "Bringing into darkness that which is hidden." This is another quite simple directive for new lyme patients and many others as you are trying to understand this entire process of how physicians and the patient learn they indeed have lyme. 


 I am learning along with you as I research and ask questions as I live with my amazing husband (Brad) who is suffering greatly from Chronic Lyme, plus the typical co disease's:  Borrelia. and Babesia.  

  Recall with me from my first blog that Lyme Disease is a clinical diagnosis. Clinical meaning: "the estimated identification of the disease underlying a patient's complaints based merely on signs, symptoms and medical history of..." [Clinical Diagnosis]

  The Borrelia Burgdorferi (the spirochete infection of Lyme),  can cause infections in many organs seen in a numerous amount of symptoms. 

When tested for Lyme it will be the protein manifestations that help identify the disease and sometimes any co-disease that may follow. 

  When to test for Lyme?

-First if a patient does demonstrate the typical 'bulls-eye' rash, this is clear enough that Lyme is present and medications are then prescribed. 

But, there are the; "FEWER THAN 50% OF PATIENTS WITH LYME DISEASE THAT RECALL A TICK BITE." 

  What are the test for this great number? 

Doctors typically will order an ELISA test. According to ILADS (International Lyme And Associated Disease Society); "This TEST MISSES 35% OF CULTURE PROVEN LYME DISEASE (ONLY 65% SENSITIVITY) AND IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE FIRST STEP OF A TWO-STEP SCREENING PROTOCOL. BY DEFINITION, A SCREENING TEST SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 95% SENSITIVITY."  

The ELISA & Western Blot tests (that are typically performed) measure the immune system's response to an infectious agent. They are strips containing the Lyme antigenic proteins.14 different proteins are allowed to diffuse on a specially prepared strip or Blot.  "Of 28 possible bands, the standard CDC test, which is not a diagnostic test, reports only 13 out of a possible 28 bands." [Lyme MD] 

  Yet, there are alternative labs that do otherwise. IGeneX Laboratories  report a test positive if a patient has 2 critical bands in the IgM or IgG subset." 

  Most lyme patients have already undergone a conglomeration of tests. My husband had scores of blood work, x-rays, CT's, MRI's. With this and all of his symptoms our Physician was able to make her diagnosis. 

 We would love to be able to still have the IGeneX test performed but the cost is quite grand. But, if anyone ask for my opinion this is where I would point them to. 

 By reading my last blog about the symptoms of Lyme Disease and the co-diseases that do accompany a great deal of the time; you can move to this step of testing. See a doctor, but don't be disheartened when the tests come back negative. 

 Find a Lyme Literate Doctor; http://www.lymeinfo.net/directory.html. You will have to travel, wait and pay more. But, it beats suffering and getting worse. We are richly blessed by our Doctor in the Indianapolis area. 

Up-Date on Brad:   Amazingly he is preaching on Sunday's with passionate fervor. Today he was only awake a few hours. I do see this Lyme depression getting to him. Quite different from his stable-like personality. The doctor finally prescribe a migraine prescription. Prayers are greatly appreciated. With him so ill he cannot work and we have been without an in-come for well over a year. 

MUST READ:

  * Understanding the Western Blot

  http://lymemd.blogspot.com/2009/02/understanding-western-blot.html 

  * WHAT TEST(S) TO ORDER

http://igenex.com/Website/

 * Basic Information About Lyme Disease

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/about_lyme1.html

 *DIAGNOSTIC HINTS AND TREATMENT GUIDELINES FOR LYME AND OTHER

TICK BORNE ILLNESSES http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

The Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The Symptoms of Lyme Disease

  When Brad became ill after living all of his life not just healthy but athletic, we were hit with one traumatic diagnosis after another. He was told he had lymphoma, a blood clot in his brain and his lungs. As well as heart issues. Yet, they all came back normal.  Still Brad was and still is feeling as if he is dying. So...what is it? This was the question when we were led to our Lyme Doctor.  Thus, we want to share with you the typical symptoms of Lyme Disease. 

Symptom 1

 http://biddybytes.com/?p=6727     Kelly Mellor  

If caught early and you know with out a doubt you were bit by a deer tick then you will witness a small red spot at the site of the  bite. [Known as a  known as erythema migrans (EM).] At times this is called a 'bulls-eye' rash; which has a red ring surrounding a clear area with a red center. It stays for 3 to 5 weeks. It may be warm to the touch but not itchy. Flue like  symptoms such as stiff neck, fever,body ache, Swollen lymph nodes,headaches and fatigue also occur. {Symptoms of Lyme Disease} 

Symptom 2  

Arthritis is a common link to the majority to most all Lyme patients. The knee is the most common joint to be affected. If left untreated, 10 to 20% will continue on to chronic arthritis (this will lead to erosion to cartilage and bone) {Arthritis Disease Center/Signs of Lyme Disease}. Fibromyalgia is a typical diagnosis when an infected patient is left untreated in the beginning. Yet, it doesn't stop there either; osteoarthritis and even rheumatoid arthritis are typical diagnosis. 

Brad had knee surgery 1 year and 9 months ago. His knee was hurting him badly it was also swollen and weak. After the surgery he developed a clot that was quite severe. He spent close to two weeks in the hospital. 

Symptom 3

An annoying headache to migraine begins to occur. When Brad started getting this, he would take all types of over-the-counter medicines and nothing took the pain away. 

Symptom 4

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: After Brad's first catheterization the sweet doctor researched and came up with this conclusion. Yet, even with the CFS it does not cover the entire scale of all the symptoms he was revealing. In another post we will share how the CDC does not give much attention to this. 

Symptom 5

Heart Problems; as stated earlier Brad has constant heart pain. His local cardiologist twice now was convinced he had: 1- A blockage and 2- Hardening of the Pericardium. Less than 1 out of 10 lyme patients develop heart problems. This surfaces generally after several weeks prior to the bite. "There may be an irregular heart beat, dizziness and shortness of breath." {http://www.healingwell.com/library/lymedisease/info1.asp } 

Symptom 6

Neurological signs are quite significant with the Lyme and the co-disease that usually accompany. This of course is affecting the nervous system. This occurs weeks, months and sometimes years after the incident. With Brad we noticed his taste buds were no longer working (and now after 1 yr. still are not). He has a headache 24/7 and increases in degree one week per month (herxes). He also has insomnia, breathlessness (which in the lyme world is called 'breath-hunger'), hard time concentrating and even mood swings. 

Also other unique things such as eye twitching and many more. 

Now, there are symptoms that people have that others do not. With the Co-diseases, one can experience a bounty of issues on top of this. This is a general list. I do plan on narrowing in on the co-diseases, their symptoms and treatments. 

I do feel soon that the topic of testing for lyme must be viewed here to help the reader better understand why a negative result can come back from your doctor. Yet, you could still have this disease. 

Deer Tick

ESSENTIAL LINKS TO CHECK OUT

TICK ENCOURNTER

Is It Possible You Have Lyme or Another Tick-borne Disease? Some doctors say that Lyme (also known as Lymes) Disease is all in your head. By Trisha Torrey

HEALING WELL/INTRO TO LYME DISEASE

Up-Date on Brad: His doctor put him back on the doxycycline and off the zithro for now. This week, his chest is hurting and his head. Prayers are greatly appreciated. We also have been denied any disability. God is our provider. I know He will guide us to what road to take now. Meanwhile...we lean on Him.