Why IGeNeX is better & how ART testing works...

[EmersonAilidh]

Hello hello hello, new Lyme family. After the positive test on August 20th I got my diagnosis today. Thank you all for helping me get to this point!!

 

I did wanna ask two things. As you've all probably noticed, I'm far too curious for my own good. But oh well. I was just wondering why exactly IGeNeX is seen as preferable. I mean, I know Western Blots are a joke but I'm just confused as to what exactly separates the IGeNeX tests from the others. Why is it used by so many on here, but so few doctors out there? & also, how does ART muscle testing work? I had it done for the first time today & when he told me I had Lyme Disease at the end I just kind of sat there for a second like "Wait. What??". I don't doubt it, I've seen the statistics & heard stories from people who have had the same tests done, I just don't get what they're doing. What is in the little things that they put on you while they're doing the test? & what exactly does it do?? Sorry, just full of questions tonight.

[momofgirls]

Emerson,

I am so happy you are getting somewhere with all of this! Good for you. Not happy to hear you have lyme disease but at least now you can begin to heal your little body. I will try to answer what your question about what seperates Igenex western blot form the western blot run by other labs like quest and lab corp. You can read up on this as well and I am sure others will chime in if I get this wrong.

 

At some point a lyme vaccine was developed and lyme specific bands were removed from the western blot. The CDC knew that if these specific bands remained on the test that all of those vaccinated would test postitive. If you run lyme testing through Igenex, they check for all lyme specific bands. Unfortunately most physicians are unaware of this and many lyme patients go undiagnosed for this reason. Igenex also offers some confirmatory tests for lyme and co-infection panels. I cant speak to much on ART but KeithandElizabeth may add to this discussion. Her physician performs this and her children have had amazing success with treatment bases on the ART results. Good luck!

Kim

[EmersonAilidh]

Oh! Okay! I've read about LYMErix & the DearBorn Criteria & all that. So IgeNeX is really just a broader test, but doesn't test differently than the Western Blots run by LabCorp., etc..? Thank you so much!

 

& believe me, I am not at all disheartened by the dx. If anything it's nothing but a relief. I feel vindicated. Now, time for healing, knowing that I've been right all along. It's a wonderful feeling! I've been sick for years. There's no reason to be sad about the fact that it has a name now.

[PacificMama]

Hi Emerson,

 

Welcome to the lyme family! I know you'll find lots of support here.

 

I don't have much time to post tonight, but wondered if you ever read the article that was posted under "Evaluating your child for lyme disease". Here:

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10421

 

I know you are hardly a child! But it does talk about teens too. I wondered how much of it you felt rings true for you.

 

Were you prescribed abx?

 

Mary

[EmersonAilidh]

Hi Emerson,

 

Welcome to the lyme family! I know you'll find lots of support here.

 

I don't have much time to post tonight, but wondered if you ever read the article that was posted under "Evaluating your child for lyme disease". Here:

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10421

 

I know you are hardly a child! But it does talk about teens too. I wondered how much of it you felt rings true for you.

 

Were you prescribed abx?

 

Mary

 

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

 

& I haven't read it but I will tomorrow! It is bedtime for now. Thanks for the link!

 

& no, I was not. Good luck getting abx in Texas, hahah. I was referred to two doctors but I'm not too entirely sure where we go from here. First thing, tests for secondary/co-infections. Already positive for IGG MycoP. No IGM run. Still have Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, & everything else left, hah. Testing positive on those would make abx SO easier to obtain.

[philamom]

Igenex also adds the 83-93 bands to the criteria due to their importance in the recurrent and/or persistent disease period.

[Suzan]

Igenex also adds the 83-93 bands to the criteria due to their importance in the recurrent and/or persistent disease period.

 

Do you know why some of the bands like this are lumped together and what does it mean if you are positive to them? That just counts as one band positive right?

 

Susan

[philamom]

Igenex also adds the 83-93 bands to the criteria due to their importance in the recurrent and/or persistent disease period.

 

Do you know why some of the bands like this are lumped together and what does it mean if you are positive to them? That just counts as one band positive right?

 

Susan

Yes, it counts as one band. I think it's the same protein, just migrates differently in some people. It's specific for lyme bacterium.

[PacificMama]

Emerson,

It would be great if you could get to one of the lyme docs in a nearby state. But I know that's easier said than done for you. You probably know by now that different regions have different strains of tick borne diseases, that are unique. Texas has what has been known as STARI, but I think it may go by something else too. Yes, coinfection testing/treatment is critical.

 

Best.

Mary

 

Hi Emerson,

 

Welcome to the lyme family! I know you'll find lots of support here.

 

I don't have much time to post tonight, but wondered if you ever read the article that was posted under "Evaluating your child for lyme disease". Here:

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10421

 

I know you are hardly a child! But it does talk about teens too. I wondered how much of it you felt rings true for you.

 

Were you prescribed abx?

 

Mary

 

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

 

& I haven't read it but I will tomorrow! It is bedtime for now. Thanks for the link!

 

& no, I was not. Good luck getting abx in Texas, hahah. I was referred to two doctors but I'm not too entirely sure where we go from here. First thing, tests for secondary/co-infections. Already positive for IGG MycoP. No IGM run. Still have Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, & everything else left, hah. Testing positive on those would make abx SO easier to obtain.

[EmersonAilidh]

Emerson,

It would be great if you could get to one of the lyme docs in a nearby state. But I know that's easier said than done for you. You probably know by now that different regions have different strains of tick borne diseases, that are unique. Texas has what has been known as STARI, but I think it may go by something else too. Yes, coinfection testing/treatment is critical.

 

Best.

Mary

 

Hi Emerson,

 

Welcome to the lyme family! I know you'll find lots of support here.

 

I don't have much time to post tonight, but wondered if you ever read the article that was posted under "Evaluating your child for lyme disease". Here:

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10421

 

I know you are hardly a child! But it does talk about teens too. I wondered how much of it you felt rings true for you.

 

Were you prescribed abx?

 

Mary

 

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

 

& I haven't read it but I will tomorrow! It is bedtime for now. Thanks for the link!

 

& no, I was not. Good luck getting abx in Texas, hahah. I was referred to two doctors but I'm not too entirely sure where we go from here. First thing, tests for secondary/co-infections. Already positive for IGG MycoP. No IGM run. Still have Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, & everything else left, hah. Testing positive on those would make abx SO easier to obtain.

 

Yes, I've heard of STARI. I'm no tick expert but it makes me mad). I just find it hard to believe that a tick that's been found to carry Borrelia Burgdorferi can cause ANOTHER illness that presents with virtually the same symptoms, is treated with the same antibiotics, & is even found in the Lyme region. Funny how you can get SOUTHERN tick-associated rash illness in New England, but you can't get Lyme Disease in the south. It just seems like another excuse for doctors not to accept Lyme, if you ask me. Who knows though.

 

We're getting co infection & secondary infection tests run before going out of state. If those come back positive it would be much more likely that I could get antibiotics HERE instead of in Louisiana, Missouri, or Colorado.

[pixiesmommy]

I can speak about the ART. We do NRT which is really similar. Basically what they do is test your muscle strength in response to different triggers. The vials have those triggers- which range from things like mold, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, environmental allergens, etc. When we do it, we are then prescribed whole-food supplements to help detox whatever our body is responding to, as well as to support whatever organs are affected by the trigger.

 

For example, if I react to mercury and my thyroid is affected and my kidneys are weak, I will be given something like Chlorella to help chelate the metal, but also other supplements/herbs to help support my thyroid and kidneys, so they can work more efficiently. This gets expensive, because sometimes we are taking 5 of this pill and 3 of that, several times a day, and seeing the NRT once a week (not covered by ins!) but we have seen excellent results, especially concerning Pixie's chronic fatigue and random tummy aches.

 

We use it less as a diagnostic and more as a supplemental therapy. For example, I didn't react to Lyme, but that doesn't mean I am not going to pursue it elsewhere with other tests. NRT has done wonders for my insomnia too.