I copied your post from before below the band definitions. My mom saw improvment when she was on IVIG. But It was a one time shot. It is very expencive and the insurance would not go for it. In other words it did not cure her overnight, so the treatment was taken off the table. Also, there was relief of pain during a steriod treatment. But steriods weaken you immune systme and allow the lyme and its co-inflections to multiple. If he is doing well maybe this is not for you. I wrote after looking at dec. of 2006 post. If you go to the site I mentioned before, there are some very good people that can be far more informative than I. "Ticker" Is one of the most informed.
Lyme is very tricky it can pose as other diseases. Most people do not remember a tick bite or the rash around it. It is believed to be sexually transmittable. It is a cousin of syphilis. It is not checked for in blood donations.

This may or may not help. I hope it does. This is the first help for my mother in 5 years. Good luck to you.

Missy

Below is the breakdown of the Western Blot. The IgM tests for a more recent infection and the IgG a longer standing one.

9 cross-reactive for Borrellia
12 specific for Bb
18 unknown
20 cross-reactive for Borrellia
21 unknown
22 specific for Bb, probably really the 23/25 band
23-25 outer surface protein C (OspC), specific for Bb
28 unknown
30 unknown; probably an outer surface protein; common in European and
one California strain
31 outer surface protein A (OspA), specific for Bb
34 outer surface protein B (OspB); specific for Bb
35 specific for Bb
37 specific for Bb
38 cross-reactive for Bb
39 is a major protein of Bb flagellin; specific for Bb
41 flagellin protein of all spirochetes; this is usually the first to appear after a Bb infection and is specific for all Borrellia
45 cross-reactive for all Borellia (sometimes people with Lyme who have
this band positive also have the co-infection Ehrlichiosis)
50 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
55 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
57 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
58 unknown but may be a heat-shock Bb protein
60 cross reactive for all Borrellia
66 cross-reactive for all Borrelia, common in all bacteria
83 specific antigen for the Lyme bacterium, probably a cytoplasmic membrane
93 unknown, probably the same protein in band 83, just migrates differently in some patients

Band 41 is often the first to show, and his are positive. Bands 31, 34, and 39are Lyme specific bands and his are either postive of IND


MelodyL12-27-2006, 09:26 PM
Hi.

Today we went to see Dr. Fred to discuss the blood test results.

FYI …. Dr. Fred determined from these tests that Alan does not have anything auto immune going on. He said “Alan, I have another patient similar to you, with PN and he has spinal stenosis JUST LIKE YOU HAVE SPINAL STENOSIS.” “This guy has been through everything you have been through and has had all the tests”. The guy lives on neurontin and lyrica.”

It is Dr. Fred’s official opinion from looking at the results of all these tests, that Alan’s spinal stenosis is the cause of his PN. He says he has a surgeon who can help him but we have to correlate all this with Dr. Goldfarb (Alan’s new neurologist from the PN Dept at Methodist). Dr. Fred says to show her all these tests and see what she says and then they will all get together to discuss this and see how we shall proceed. I told Dr. Fred that Dr. Goldfarb said to Alan “Alan, if we find that this is not auto-immune, I know a back specialist that will help you. So maybe there might be help for him yet!!!!

See why we love Dr. Fred??.

I am being very thorough and putting ALL THE TESTS RESULTS HERE. I don’t expect any miracles but if anybody has the time to take a look, please do.
Thanks everybody!!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Glucose Tolerance One Hour test - 137 Reference is 70-200

His regular blood test page (the one with CBC and TSH and T4. Free, T3, Total Ferritin, the whole page was fine. Nothing kicked out as abnormal.

His Cryoglobulen,QL W?Rx Cryoglobuin, QL - Negative

His COMP METAB PANEL W/EGFR GLUCOSE - 82

His TIBC was 221 Reference is 250 – 400


FOLATE, SERUM ……15.7 Reference Range >5 .4 ng/mL

PSA, TOTAL …….2.16


ANA SCREEN, EIA W/REFL IFA
ANTI-NUCLEAR AB ……………Negative

TISSUE TRANSGLUTAM AB IGA…..<3 Reference Range <5 U/mL
Interpretation : Negative (I gather this means no celiac disease)

ANCA VASCULITIDES
MYELOPEROXIDASE AB <6 Reference Range <6 U/mL
Interpretation: Negative

PROTEINASE – 3 AB <6 Reference Range <6 U/mL
Interpretation: Negative

SJOGRENS SSA
SS-A AB <or=1.00 Reference Range <or=1.00 INDEX
Interpretation Negative Negative
Antibodies to SSA (RO) and SSB (LA) are
Observed with the highest frequency in
Sjogren’s syndrome, although these
Antibodies are also found in a significant
Percentage of patients with SLE.





SJOGRENS SSB
SS-B AB … .<or=1.00 Reference Range <or=1.00 INDEX
Interpretation - negative Negative

Antibodies to SSA (RO) and SSB (LA) are
Observed with the highest frequency in
Sjogren’s syndrome, although these
Antibodies are also found in a significant
Percentage of patients with SLE.


RHEUMATOID FACTOR <7 Reference Range <14 IU/mL
(Dr said that he does not have Rheumatoid Arthritis)


C-REACTIVE PROTEIN 2.3 H Ref Range <0.8 mg/dL
SM, AB, EIA ……..…NEGATIVE

RPR W/TITER & CONF RFX
RPR SCREEN - Nonreactive

LYME DISEASE IGG, IGM, WB
LYME DISEASE IGG, WB
LYME DISEASE INTERP (IGG) …..NEGATIVE

18 KD (IGG) BAND Nonreactive
23 KD (IGG) BAND Nonreactive
28 KD (IGG) BAND Nonreactive
30 KD (IGG) BAND Nonreactive
39 KD (IGG) BAND Nonreactive
41 KD (IGG) BAND Reactive
45 KD (IGG) BAND Nonreactive
58 KD (IGG) BAND Nonreactive
66 KD (IGG) BAND Reactive
93 KD (IGG) BAND Nonreactive

IgG Western Blots which have 5 (or more) of the 10
Significant bands are considered positive for specific
Antibody to B. burgdorferi. (Proceedings of the 2nd Conf. On
Lyme Disease, Dearborn, MI 1994.)

LYME DISEASE (IGM). WB
LYME DISESE INTERP (IGM) Negative

23 KD (IGM) BAND Nonreactive
39 KD (IGM) BAND Nonreactive
41 KD (IGM) BAND Nonreactive

IgM Western Blots which have 2 (or more) of the 3
Significant bands re considered positive for specific
Antibody to B. burgdorferi. (Proceeding of the 2nd Conf. On
Lyme Disease, Dearborn MI. 1994.)

DNA (DS) ABS <30 Negative

ANGIOTENSIN CONV ENZYME 52
PM – SCL AB see note Negative
PRELIMINARY REPORT -
This test is delayed because reagents re unavailable from the manufacturer.
Results are expected by 12-28-06. This test was developed and its performance
Characteristics determined by Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute. It has not
Been cleared or approved by the U.S. FOOD AND DRUG Administration. The
FDA has determined that such clearance or approval is not necessary.
Performance characteristics refer to the analytical performance of the test.

Test performed by:
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
33608 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, California 92690

End of Report





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glenntaj12-28-2006, 06:06 AM
The only thing out of range was the c-reactive protein number--and that might be expected in someone like Alan who has had heart issues in the past. (CRP is a sensitive, though not very specific, marker of inflammatory processes). It might be a good idea to see if that could be reduced a bit through diet. (I'm sure Mrs. D will have some suggestions, as well as some info on possible med interactions.)

What I've always wondered about Alan--and I believe I wrote about this on the old BT before--is whether his neuropathic symptoms may not only involve spinal stenosis working on his spinal cord but whether he may have some nerve root issues in his lower spine (the lumbosacral plexus, where the spinal cord seperates into a number of nerve trunks). Lumbar spine/nerve root issues (the area is called the cuada equina--literally the "horse's tail", as that's what it looks like--Liza Jane can tell you a lot about this area) are VERY common in older people who have done considerable physical work in their lives. Am I correct in assuming he does not have symptoms in his hands, but only his lower body? And, forgive me if I've forgotten this, but has he had full spinal MRI's recently?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MelodyL12-28-2006, 07:48 AM
As far as Alan ever doing physical work in his life, let me put it this way. He sat on the couch during our marriage.

When he went to work, he carried a big bag full of supboenas. Now THAT migh have thrown his back out. But he rarely complained of back pain.

He did however break two or three seats in the cars he had at the time. The seats were always turned to a funny direction. He did this in all the car seats. Never could understand why, but that's how he drove.

Yesterday Dr. Fred did say (about the pn in his toes), Well, Alan might have some fibromyalgia going on".

And as far as the C-reactive protein thing, and his diet, This man eats only veggies, fiber, whey shakes, salads, nothing with sugar or salt.

So I have no idea what could be taken out of or added to his diet.

And his had a recent MRI last month right before we went to see Dr. Elowitz, the neurosurgeon who put his films on the wall and said "Oh, I see significant spinal stenosis but I cannot operate".

So how come some people CAN operate and others CAN'T.

Maybe it's in a place where they figure they might nick a nerve or something??

Melody