Originally Posted by Apollo

Hello Emily, and I am sorry for your suffering.

Coinfections are the rule with Lyme Disease now, rather than the exception, and the most common co-infections are "Bartonella" and "Babesia".

Bartonella is always to be expected whenever neurological symptoms are predominant, such as with small-fiber neuropathy.

One of the better Lyme doctors out there is Dr. Joseph Jemsek, who is located in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Jemsek has a great website with a wonderful write-up on Lyme and its most common co-infections. Click on the link below, and then select "Knowledge Base" for either the long or short version:


http://www.jemsekspecialty.com/drjemsek.php


Feel better!

David

Originally Posted by Neuroproblem

AS neuropathy, joint pains/issues is a symptom of lyme and other disease, its easier to point to lyme, because it is more treatable than an autoimmune(which requires lifetime vigilance on symptoms)
I requested the list, because i was considering, but now im not certain(though i have a small feeling it is lyme), furthermore, my situation made me "mentally" vulnerablly to chronic lyme people, who tries to convince me to take this tests regardless, Everytime i come across a new medicine,test, medical problem i was research it, i also was type "what if, and if this is reliable", thats how i found out that the whole controversy around lyme, is very questionable. No i did not get tested from igenex, i currently and on welfare(because i dont work, im a struggling student, shouldnt been an excuse though"), since on welfare, doctors technically work for a public hospital, and that is work for city government, and is most likely in contact with cdc. I GET THE feeling they are aware "chronic lyme beleivers out there", and they do call it disseminated lyme, instead of chronic.

I was already suspicious when people mentioned that i may have lyme, because alot of things dont fit, since Llmd, do no take insurance, neither that the tests they constantly profess as the gold standard of lyme testing.
I am also aware they will try to get you to get tested for coinfections associated with lyme(which is even more expensive than the lyme test through igenex).
LLMD can charge an absurd amount of money, as revealed by the OP, up to 1200/per visit, or some llmd can try to milk you, by x amount$/time can very high if you dont have that much income. Theres is a reason why there is insurance, so you dont get the bill for full cost of a medical procedure.

AS in my previous posted, i also noticed that people dont even get better even while under the care of thier llmd, some people got even sicker,(infections, convulsions, gastrintesnial problems) this is due to the antibiotics, and herbal supplements they are taking. But heres the catch, chronic lyme believers, say that if you are not "feelling any symptoms", it means you are still sick, once you feel symptoms, thats mean lyme is getting killed. I find this logic very twisted.

Clinical diagnosis is based off on textbook case symptoms, if fall under a certain amount symptoms, int his case lyme" bulleyes, joint pain, neurological disoder, this is excluding any blood test, imaging. lyme can be clinically diagnosied, if there was a bullseye, or if you fell ill after been in a tick area, or bitten by a tick.
Actually LLmd, ND are doctors, hence the MD in thier names. but these doctors chose a questionable path in thier career.
@healthgirl, low ferritan ca be a sign of iron -anemia deficiency, copper deficiency that needs to be addressed. Does the llmd want you to go back toto him? the llmd was considerate in thinking you may have problems unrelated to lyme

Originally Posted by Tunaboy

Did you get tested through Igenex?

I am in the middle of trying to set up appointments with some LLMD's. The basic Lyme test is around $200. I just want reassurance that I am negative for Lyme. Not sure how I will proceed if it comes back positive though. Last thing I want to do is take tons of abx and make myself sicker.

It just surprises me that lots of people still get clinically diagnosed even with negative results. Some get better, and some don't. The only reason I am doing this is because when I had onset of my pn, i had night sweats and swollen glands which usually signifiy some type of infection. Also, my test results through labcorp showed equivocal result, and positive 41 IGG. I basically just want to test again to reaffirm I am negative so I can check it off my list.