Lyme Disease Support Group

Hey All. I am brand new to this group. In fact I have never participated in an online support group in all the years I have had Lyme ( since 1993 ). Reading so many of the messages, I feel right at home, and not alone anymore with this awful and confusing illness.

I am finally realizing that I probably have at least one coinfection ( Babesia and/or Bartonella.)I never got a positive test for Lyme, and gave up on testing for it a long time ago. But now I am wondering where I go to test for Babs and Bart. I know there are different types to test for too. I was bit and infected in Maryland in 1993. My new doctor here in New Mexico where I live now, seems to be willing to work with me on this ( finally!)Up until now, I have been fighting this thing alone with natural treatments, as not having any positive test results has resulted in doctors only blaming my symptoms on mental illness ( which I do have, but mostly as a result of the infection!)

Any suggestions about testing would be greatly appreciated!Thanks!

Vicki

Hi Vicki - I too have not tested positive for Lyme. I have all the symptoms though. MS, RA and Lupus have been ruled out. I did a short stint of abx which helped, but now I'm getting the achy stuff back. I am going to do the Igenex test. I contacted them by email yesterday to order the test, but I think they must be closed on weekends. They mail you the test kit for free,but you have to have a dr. draw your blood, and insurance does not cover it. I understand that the test is about $200 - $250, but sounds to me like it is well worth it. A woman that I know tried to convince doctors for years that she had Lyme. All testing negative until Igenex. Unfortunately it was too late for her - she died a month after that due to lung/heart involvement. You may want to go on the Igenex website and check it out.

Thankyou Heidi,

I think I have heard about Igenex before, and it sounds like the place to test. I am pretty sure that my insurance won't cover it, but will need to do this.

Will check out their website. I am sorry that some of your symptoms have returned. I know that feeling all too well! I find things that only seem to work temporarily. I would be interested to hear how your testing with Igenex goes. Assume you are also testing for coinfections. And is the $250 the cost for each infection tested or all of them together?

Thankyou for taking the time to respond!