If the tick was negative...

[JAG10]

Let me preface by saying I'm in the process of having my dd10 tested by Igenex now......Waiting for the kit/slip from ped.

 

But wanted to get some feedback.... I pulled a tick of her in 2006. My brother-in-law has Lyme disease, so I knew a little about it. Her pediatrician absolutely refused to treat her at all at the time of bite if no bulls eye rash, which there wasn't. So, I sent the tick itself to Igenex and it came back negative. Has anyone else done this? I wonder how extensively the ticks themselves are tested??? I wonder if the ticks can later turn positive like people seem to...? I'm going to include reference to that tick report, which the woman told me they still have on file, when I send in her form and blood just in case they can gather any useful info from it.

 

My dd10 was definitely having mild to moderate neuro (PANDAS) symptoms prior to the known tick bite. Her symptoms spiraled from mild/moderate to severe in March 2007 after what we now think was myco-p in February 07. I think the infections just keep piling on these susceptible kiddos. She also picks up every virus including warts, molluscum, cold sores....but isn't usually physically sick or tired; quite the opposite she has incredible stamina for running and has run a few 5Ks and a triathlon.

 

Anyway, with a known tick bite, living in PA with Bambi all around us and with her history of problems with hundreds of mosquito/"bug" bites and all the feedback shared by so many of you.....I have to have her tested. We're doing the Basic Western Blot (thru Quest she was only reactive for 41) and the co-infections panel.

 

Do people usually have any luck getting reimbursed for the Igenex labs?

[Suzan]

Do people usually have any luck getting reimbursed for the Igenex labs?

 

My insurance company sent me back 60% of the cost of the tests. I felt very fortunate to get that!

 

Susan

[PacificMama]

You were really smart and on top of things back then to send the tick in. Maybe you could just call Igenex and say you sent a tick in 2006, and it was negative, but are investigating lyme now. What do they think?

 

Is it possible the tick still had borrelia? Yes, because there are over 100 strains of it in the U.S. alone. Also, even if negative for borrelia, ticks harbor all these other infections.

 

Also, is it possible she had another tick bite you were never aware of? Like you said, you live in the infected tick capitol of the U.S.

[philamom]

y

Edited April 29, 2012 by philamom

[lyme_mom]

My llmd says the quest Lyme test is one of the worst Lyme tests, very insensitive. He says lab Corp is better and a good place to start but it is wrong 50 percent of the time. It's great u knew to send the tick to igenex but like pacificmama said, it's the one that got away you have to wonder about and ticks are sewers and harbor so many microbes. We had no history of tick bites and had Lyme so it's so so easy to get.

[justinekno]

We got 20% back.

 

Do people usually have any luck getting reimbursed for the Igenex labs?

 

My insurance company sent me back 60% of the cost of the tests. I felt very fortunate to get that!

 

Susan

[philamom]

y.

Edited April 29, 2012 by philamom