Lyme Disease Support Group

Hi all. First post here. I'll introduce myself later, but first have a question.

I strongly suspect Lyme, I have a year of debilitating symptoms that point to it. I recently got the IGeneX Western Blot test, waiting two weeks for the results, at which time the doc said he would take further tests and probably perscribe antibitics "Zithromax" and "Alinia".

Anyhow, in the meantime, I'm pretty desperate, my symptoms are pretty bad. So I called the nurse last night (doc is away from office), who called the doc, and I was able to get my antibiotics (Zithromax at least) early today, so that I can get started on trying this treatment.

My question: If I take these antibiotics, and I later want or need further testing (PCR, antigen, and the eventual co-infection tests I'll have for sure if western blot is positive), could it screw up any of those tests?

THANKS!

I believe that is yet just another one of Lyme's big unknowns.

I've heard people say both ways.

The theory that made sense to me though, was that taking antibiotics can or will help your immune system, depending on how much of one you have, to make the antibodies that the tests are looking for.

I don't really have an answer here but I'm sure more people will be by soon enough with some more thoughts on the matter.

One suggestion if your doc didn't tell you...

Make sure you take a probiotic with the antibiotic!

Especially with Zithro as it may help the possible side effect of stomach distress.

Welcome here! Sorry to hear you are sufferring so much.

Please take some time to look around and get acquainted with the site. There is a ton of great info and some really awesome people for members with decades and decades worth of experience with Lyme and Co.

Keep us posted with your progress...and PM me if I can help!

I have been on abx for 3 month. I just had co-infection tests done. Doctor didnt seem to feel I had any but I came back positive for Barts x2. Two different strains.

I have not had co-infection tests done but ummm my LLMD says I have at least Babs and Bart.

I have been on antibiotics since Jan. I have been on Zithromax, Malarone, Bicillian injections, Flagyl. I stopped the Malarone and Zithromax last month and started on Levaquin. I have also been on Rocephin IVs since the end of March.

I'm not sure if he will do testing or not for the co-infections. I guess it depends on how I do with treatments. He said the are not always correct and he used my symptoms to diagnose me. My Western Blot IGG IGM were both positive.

I'm not really sure if there's a definite answer but I know my experience was that I had a positive western blot in January and was put on doxy for a month, but after a couple weeks i went to an ID doc who randomly tested for bartonella (i dont know why he tested me for a co-infection when he didnt believe it was lyme in the first place) and the bart came back positive even after i had been on doxy for a few weeks..so hopefully your tests should be fine! Good luck with everything and welcome!! This group has been a lifesaver for me!!