Lyme Disease Support Group

Is there anyone out there that has had this scenario or do you know of someone that this has happened to?

**Meaning, appeared to be positive for Lyme when really they had an inflammatory disease and or an autoimmune disease?

I have read that Lyme can be misdiagnosed as an autoimmune disease.

Thanks!

~~~Lyme dis-ease can mock 300 dis-eases and exhibit hundreds of symptoms, in any number or combinations, timelines, intensities, coming and going, on and off, and to be repeated or not. This Complex is as different for each individual as no two fingerprints or snowflakes are alike.

~~~However it does remain important to carefully rule out other possible maladies.

~~~But, let a LLDr do this to save you many middle steps.

``` Mitchell ```

```

``` Mitchell ```

There is a post here somewhere that explains this.

It maybe under how to interpret Igenex results??

I do know it is normal to question your diagnosis. It's the nature of this ugly beast.

I guess I should at least feel fortunate that I had the butt ugly bulls eye rash.

It is highly likely that these autoimmune issues are really our bodies fighting off an unknown pathogen and becomeing less able to as we age. ALL of the autoimmune treatments (immune suppression) fail over time to releive the symptoms.

Currently, there is a small group of doctors treating RA with Minocycling and having great success at reducing symptoms with it. That alone tells me that it is cause by a bacterium. Lyme?

Do some research and make up your own mind as the treatments are the exact opposite for the two diseases.

~ "don't quote me on this, but i think i've read that some bands on the Western Blot testing can also turn positive if you have another type of bacterial infection (ie: syphillis, which is caused by another spirochete that's a close relative to the lyme spirochete.)"

~~~I believe that would be band 41. If you are positive for band 41, you are either positive for Lyme Complex or syphilis, or both.

``` Mitchell ```

ELISA is total garbage and can give TONS of false negatives, BUT can also give false positives.

That is why using Western Blot is more accurate...but only a bit (for reasons I could go into if you'd like).

According to research:

"ELISA consisted of ruptured spirochetes that had been coated on a plate.

Infected patients generated antibodies to the spirochete, the concept went, so when their blood washed over the plate, naturally it would stick.

An enzyme that made human blood change color was added to the plate, and the more intense the color, presumably the worse the Lyme.

'Presumably' was the operative word. Patients with other infections- syphilis, mononucleosis, even AIDS-could light up the Lyme ELISA, sending a false alarm.

But when it came to Lyme disease, ELISA tests on the market actually LACKED sensitivity."

As you can see, with ELISA, you can get a false positive. So yes, it is possible.

BUT, if you've had a Western blot, than certain bands correspond to specific antibodies made towards different proteins on the Lyme.

"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 (Lyme)

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 (Osp; 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"

What I want to know if bands 23-25 are specific to Lyme, but is there anything else in the WHOLE WORLD of bacteria that they could be similar to? I'm just not sure. Need to do more research. I too have been wondering this.

ONE positive ELISA IgG/IgM.....however, my concern started b/c I read that "other" diseases can cause a positive Elisa test for antibodies.

Such as "rheumatoid arthritis." In 2002, I was told that I "might" have the start of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Later, I was told that my history was suggestive of RA but that my physical exam did not pass the test.

My RF (rheumatoid factor) was 13 x higher than the highest normal. This all started after my last hepatitis vaccination (no 3 of 3).

I had mild flu-like s/s, joint swellings, fatigue...etc. The drs did not know why or what was happening, so they said come back to update us on how you're doing.

Two years later I was dx'd with Hashimotos Thyroiditis (own body is attacking the thyroid gland).

My antibodies had come way down but were still high, the dr stated "your elevated antibodies are insignificant!" And sent me home.

The next year I had a thyroid tumor! (( I recently found out that Lyme works on breaking down your immune system. And guess what gland it starts with?

Now - insert this interesting fact: I also found a tick in my navel, I "think" it was around the same time but just can't remember if I found this tic before the vaccine or after the vaccine!

I saw the Rheumatologist again in 2007 when I had a flare-up in jnt swelling and 2 rashes....but the drs NEVER tested me for Lyme OR mentioned this as a possibility.

I have gathered that my current doc is basing his clinical diagnosis on the following:

1. my medical history (including chronic pain in feet, at least 1 tick, + rashes, difficulty balancing hormones, thyroid disease)

2. one positive blood test - the ELISA IgG/IgM (antibodies)

3. CD57 KC count 36

4. C4a 4000 points over the highest normal

What a mess! lol Hey have you ever heard of Hulda Clark, PhD? She has an interesting book "The Cure for All Diseases." She believes the root of ALL disease is caused by bacteria, viruses and or parasites. Makes a lot of sense!

thanks for responding!

Post edited by: brooklyn13, at: 04/11/2012 06:42 AM