The bad news is: you test positive for Lyme.
The good news is: you test positive for Lyme
The first doctor I had spoken with about CD57 test results of 22 told me that I may have Lyme disease and that I should see a specialist.
The specialist went straight into treatment protocols and options. He determined that I had Lyme from my clinical presentation and the CD57 test.
For various reasons, I trusted and went with his plan. I am now 2 months into treatment with some symptoms already better, and some a little worse. So goes Lyme treatment. I did want some other confirmation that Lyme was the culprit. I asked for and he agreed to testing through IGeneX.
The CDC used to promote that Lyme should be a clinical diagnosis. Now, it seems, that it is more important to test positive according to its reporting or tracking specifications. Insurance companies and many doctors now make decisions based on the CDC positive tests.
The major, public labs are limited to only test for antibodies to certain parts of the B burgdorferi bacteria (Bb). IGeneX is a private lab that has certification but because of some technical things in how they operate, they are able to test for additional bands. Two of these additional bands are so specific for Lyme that they were used when trying to create a vaccine. Because the CDC did not want people testing positive because they had received the vaccine, they took those two bands off of the testing criteria.
Guess which two tested positive???
So according to the CDC, I tested negative. According to IGeneX, my doctor, and my common sense, I tested positive.
Of course, I do not want to have Lyme Disease. It is really nice to have confirmation. Lingering doubts floating around in my head have been kicked to the curb. I feel like I can actually tell people now. Before, I hedged how I would word things. “Um, they think I may have some bacterial infection thing, maybe.”
The specific IGeneX test results for those interested:
IgM: 31 ++, 34 +, 41 IND
IgG: 31 +, 34 IND, 39 IND, 41 ++
All of the rest were negative.
PCR testing was also negative.
Real Woman's Health 
Interesting information, thanks for sharing. I hope treatment goes well.
Thank you! Have a fabulous weekend. 8)
🙂
Glad you got the IGeneX, but glad you were treating anyway!
Thanks. Ya, no regrets. 8)
Hi Katie 😀
So where is the head office of this CDC mob ……. Sicily ?? 😉
Big hug. Ralph xox 😀
🙂
I could tell you, but then I would have to go into witness protection. 8)
Sorry. No witness protection ….. government shutdown !! Oh. They’ve started working again !! 😉
“Working” may be too strong a word. At least the poor shmoes that do the real work can get paid now. 8)
Maybe we can get the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” to picket the CDC? That would be a show! 😉
It’s never nice to have a disease of any kind but when you know something is wrong you ‘want’ to know what the heck it is…. It was like that with me and the M.S. I knew a lot sooner than my GP that something wasn’t right but he didn’t do the right tests and didn’t refer me to a specialist so I finally found out in a trip to Emergency one day… Diane
It is nice to find answers! Too bad our answers were not: take a vitamin with with chocolate every morning. 8)
Take care!
Hey! Is clicking “like” permissible here? I assume you do plan to take a vitamin with chocolate each morning, right?
LOL. Well, I think I that I should,,,,just to be safe you know. 8)
I just took three and I feel three times as good! Yay!!!
Just being able to put a name on something diminishes its power. I wish you great heart in overcoming it.
So true! Thanks. 8)
Reblogged this on Counting Fence Posts.
Good to follow that gut message to keep looking, Katie! Thanks for the reminder and the info! xoxoM
Thanks! With each year that passes, I trust my gut more. 8)
Me, too! 😉 xoM