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Labs B4 IVIG?


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Dr. B. wants us to check for co-infections before IVIG. We did Lyme test and the additional "31" test, but we never tested for co-infections. Doctor Beal in Maryland said even though you do this additional test, it's not definitive. Has anyone done IVIG without testing for co-infections? Also, what other blood work is done b4 you do the IVIG. She is not going to be happy with more blood work. Man, I wish all this was tested when the Igenix test was done!!! I don't think Dr. B. will do the IVIG without this additional test 4 co-infections.

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Dr. B. wants us to check for co-infections before IVIG. We did Lyme test and the additional "31" test, but we never tested for co-infections. Doctor Beal in Maryland said even though you do this additional test, it's not definitive. Has anyone done IVIG without testing for co-infections? Also, what other blood work is done b4 you do the IVIG. She is not going to be happy with more blood work. Man, I wish all this was tested when the Igenix test was done!!! I don't think Dr. B. will do the IVIG without this additional test 4 co-infections.

 

If you are thinking you might want to test for coinfections in the future, it is good to test before IVIG because once you have IVIG you cannot test for several weeks (the donor antibodies will throw the test off). So - you need to realize that this may be your last chance for a while to test for this.

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Dr. B. wants us to check for co-infections before IVIG. We did Lyme test and the additional "31" test, but we never tested for co-infections. Doctor Beal in Maryland said even though you do this additional test, it's not definitive. Has anyone done IVIG without testing for co-infections? Also, what other blood work is done b4 you do the IVIG. She is not going to be happy with more blood work. Man, I wish all this was tested when the Igenix test was done!!! I don't think Dr. B. will do the IVIG without this additional test 4 co-infections.

Does he want to get the results before the IVIG or just get the draw before? If its the latter, they should be able to draw the blood before they hook up the IV, from the same puncture. Then you wouldn't have to get 2 punctures. I try to save bloodwork for IVIG day because of this.

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Dr. B is not set up to draw blood at his infusion center.

 

Dr. B. wants us to check for co-infections before IVIG. We did Lyme test and the additional "31" test, but we never tested for co-infections. Doctor Beal in Maryland said even though you do this additional test, it's not definitive. Has anyone done IVIG without testing for co-infections? Also, what other blood work is done b4 you do the IVIG. She is not going to be happy with more blood work. Man, I wish all this was tested when the Igenix test was done!!! I don't think Dr. B. will do the IVIG without this additional test 4 co-infections.

Does he want to get the results before the IVIG or just get the draw before? If its the latter, they should be able to draw the blood before they hook up the IV, from the same puncture. Then you wouldn't have to get 2 punctures. I try to save bloodwork for IVIG day because of this.

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Dr. B is not set up to draw blood at his infusion center.

 

Dr. B. wants us to check for co-infections before IVIG. We did Lyme test and the additional "31" test, but we never tested for co-infections. Doctor Beal in Maryland said even though you do this additional test, it's not definitive. Has anyone done IVIG without testing for co-infections? Also, what other blood work is done b4 you do the IVIG. She is not going to be happy with more blood work. Man, I wish all this was tested when the Igenix test was done!!! I don't think Dr. B. will do the IVIG without this additional test 4 co-infections.

Does he want to get the results before the IVIG or just get the draw before? If its the latter, they should be able to draw the blood before they hook up the IV, from the same puncture. Then you wouldn't have to get 2 punctures. I try to save bloodwork for IVIG day because of this.

Wow, that's a shame. Its so convenient to just do the draw when you already have a vein open!

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Personally, I think it's a good idea, because if you do IVIG without treating co-infections, you can get a massive herx reaction. That's what so many people on both PANDAS and Lyme forums keep talking about when the IVIG they got done didn't work.

 

IMHO, I believe that treating co-infections while treating with IVIG is good, because even though there will be some herxing, you're still helping the immune system get stronger to help fight off the co-infections. BUT, the co-infections have to be getting treated (if there are any.) So, yes...test for them.

 

BTW..Is Dr. Beals treating your dd for Lyme or anything else?

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Guest pandas16

Personally, I think it's a good idea, because if you do IVIG without treating co-infections, you can get a massive herx reaction. That's what so many people on both PANDAS and Lyme forums keep talking about when the IVIG they got done didn't work.

 

IMHO, I believe that treating co-infections while treating with IVIG is good, because even though there will be some herxing, you're still helping the immune system get stronger to help fight off the co-infections. BUT, the co-infections have to be getting treated (if there are any.) So, yes...test for them.

 

BTW..Is Dr. Beals treating your dd for Lyme or anything else?

 

Scientifically, do you have proof that a bad reaction to IVIG is due to a co-infection? From what I was told, even doctors are not sure of the exact mechanism behind the effectiveness of IVIG. You can't just automatically assume an initial adverse reaction to IVIG is a co-infection. IVIG is a pooled blood product- ALOT could be going on. I don't think it's fair to say that an initial adverse reaction means a co-infection.

Edited by pandas16
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The Lyme specialist said that even if they test for co-infections...that it is not accurate. My gut instinct tells me this in NOT Lymes. Her Igenix test came back with possitive band 41. Then the next test they did "31" test, was negative. I would rather not stick her again for this co-infection thing, but I don't think Dr. B. will do IVIG if we don't have it done.

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The Lyme specialist said that even if they test for co-infections...that it is not accurate. My gut instinct tells me this in NOT Lymes. Her Igenix test came back with possitive band 41. Then the next test they did "31" test, was negative. I would rather not stick her again for this co-infection thing, but I don't think Dr. B. will do IVIG if we don't have it done.

 

 

I know you are in New Jersey- what about Scott Smith? I hear his infusion center is fantastic.

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