My C4a test

[SSS]

I got my C4a test back from the Jewish hospital.

Normal range 0-2,830

Quote from a leading LLMD says they see their chronic Lyme patients come back between 6,000-12,000.

Mine came back 19,440.

 

I'm a little worried my head is going to explode from all the inflammation. (seriously)

How could I have walked around all these years this sick, not knowing it?

Must have been the brain fog.

Is it too dramatic to liken it to someone who doesn't feel really great, but dealing so-so with life, goes to the Dr., and finds out they have stage 4 cancer?

 

I am grateful I am not physically broughten down by this- but if it's this deep, and chronic, what is the actual lyme treatment going to be like? So far I am holding my own with the Bartonella treatment, but it is early.

 

Thanks for listening. Wondering what all the rest of the blood tests will reveal...but this one got me. I guess there are different layers of acceptance.

[JuliaFaith]

My ds had this test done and from what I read/told by drs. the C4a test is an indicator for mold. The C3a test (range 0-940) is the indicator for lyme.

 

Mold has been an issue for some on this forum. We are still doing 'mold remediation' because of this test coming back high (2,632) for my son. His dr. said that it was probably much higher at an earlier time. We did the test after about 7 mos. of treatment for lyme, borrelia, babesia, mico, thyroid. Also tested positive for MARCONS which a large percentage of patients have if 'mold indications.'

 

Best wishes on your health.

Edited September 14, 2011 by JuliaFaith

[SSS]

My ds had this test done and from what I read/told by drs. the C4a test is an indicator for mold. The C3a test (range 0-940) is the indicator for lyme.

 

 

*Thanks for the reply. I have read mixed things re: the mold. My Dr. did not do a C3a, pulled the C4a as another piece pointing to chronic Lyme- like the CD57.

We talked about mold- don't think it's an issue- our house was built in 2003, we have never had a water leak of any kind, I am clutter free, nothing is old here, and we had a air filter purifer system put in the whole house about 4 years ago...we live in a non-humid climate.

[SSS]

I believe our LLMD also uses the C4a numbers to track the patient getting better (numbers going down) and the CD57 the same way (numbers going up.)

[cobbiemommy]

C4A is a measure of complementary immunity and inflammation. My son's was over 6,000 and his little brain is fried part of the time, so I can only immagine what you are going through.

 

It seems to me, that you are more anxious about the future of Lyme treatment in your life and the black and white proof that you have this dreaded disease. It is not just a vague idea now, it is very real for you since you got your results. Most of us have had that moment-it is not fun. With the support of this group and others, you will get through it.

[SSS]

Here is an interview with Ginger S., she and Dr. Stricker discovered the C4a test, I believe. If you scroll down the link to the 'eggs in a basket' bolded part, she discusses the C4a indicating chronic infections:

 

http://www.lyme-disease-research-database.com/ginger-savely-transcript.html

[SSS]

C4A is a measure of complementary immunity and inflammation. My son's was over 6,000 and his little brain is fried part of the time, so I can only immagine what you are going through.

 

It seems to me, that you are more anxious about the future of Lyme treatment in your life and the black and white proof that you have this dreaded disease. It is not just a vague idea now, it is very real for you since you got your results. Most of us have had that moment-it is not fun. With the support of this group and others, you will get through it.

 

THANK YOU.

[LNN]

C4A is a measure of complementary immunity and inflammation. My son's was over 6,000 and his little brain is fried part of the time, so I can only immagine what you are going through.

 

It seems to me, that you are more anxious about the future of Lyme treatment in your life and the black and white proof that you have this dreaded disease. It is not just a vague idea now, it is very real for you since you got your results. Most of us have had that moment-it is not fun. With the support of this group and others, you will get through it.

 

Very, very insightful!

Can't offer much more than that, except that the positive spin on things is that this forces you to re-prioritize. So tempting to say you'll treat yourself once you get your child well, but this forces you to treat yourself at the same time, because without a healthy you, there can't be a healthy child. it may also keep you from expecting too much of yourself. This is about baby steps. About cherishing each blessing. In a way, it is like stage 4 cancer in that it gets in your face and makes you stop to re-assess. But unlike stage 4, it carries so much potential for a healthy life in the future.

 

S - thanks for the link - very helpful on the C3a/C4a confusion.

I think you should do something ridiculously silly and fun with your kids this afternoon. Let them do your hair or put on your makeup or dance in a rain storm. Cherish them and know you'll get well together.

[Suzan]

HUGS TO YOU! I know you will get treatment and although times will be hard, you will feel better. Having direction and a goal is 1/2 the battle it seems.

 

Susan

[Familyof5]

My ds had this test done and from what I read/told by drs. the C4a test is an indicator for mold. The C3a test (range 0-940) is the indicator for lyme.

 

Mold has been an issue for some on this forum. We are still doing 'mold remediation' because of this test coming back high (2,632) for my son. His dr. said that it was probably much higher at an earlier time. We did the test after about 7 mos. of treatment for lyme, borrelia, babesia, mico, thyroid. Also tested positive for MARCONS which a large percentage of patients have if 'mold indications.'

 

Best wishes on your health.

I second this comment about mold. I thought there was no way my house had mold because it was built recently, but it turned out to be completely contaminated with mold. Newer homes with less air movement and "air" systems for heat and AC often have worse mold problems than old farm houses. Keep mold in your considerations as I believe it is a likely cause if more than one person living in the enviroment is sick.

[justinekno]

I don't want to hijack the thread but just wondering if either of you saw any new symptoms arise as a result of the remediation? We have recently done some remediation and my son is experiencing some new symptoms. We are stepping up the detox but our LLMD said this is common when remediation is done because the spores are so small they can travel even under the best of remediating processes. My son's C4a test came back at 5478 along with positive markers on the other related mold tests. He has also tested positive for MARCONS and Lyme.

 

 

My ds had this test done and from what I read/told by drs. the C4a test is an indicator for mold. The C3a test (range 0-940) is the indicator for lyme.

 

Mold has been an issue for some on this forum. We are still doing 'mold remediation' because of this test coming back high (2,632) for my son. His dr. said that it was probably much higher at an earlier time. We did the test after about 7 mos. of treatment for lyme, borrelia, babesia, mico, thyroid. Also tested positive for MARCONS which a large percentage of patients have if 'mold indications.'

 

Best wishes on your health.

I second this comment about mold. I thought there was no way my house had mold because it was built recently, but it turned out to be completely contaminated with mold. Newer homes with less air movement and "air" systems for heat and AC often have worse mold problems than old farm houses. Keep mold in your considerations as I believe it is a likely cause if more than one person living in the enviroment is sick.

Edited September 17, 2011 by justinekno

[SSS]

Thank you for the replies.

I will admit, there is a part of me that wants to stay in denial about mold, because when I think of the financial aspect/all the work, I cannot handle it.

I did have a front loading washing machine, with the rubber around it the front enclosure, that developed black mold, despite my scrubbing. I did eventually properly dispose it, and replaced it with a brand new top loader washing machine, but probably used the old one too long. *sigh*

[JuliaFaith]

I don't want to hijack the thread but just wondering if either of you saw any new symptoms arise as a result of the remediation? We have recently done some remediation and my son is experiencing some new symptoms. We are stepping up the detox but our LLMD said this is common when remediation is done because the spores are so small they can travel even under the best of remediating processes. My son's C4a test came back at 5478 along with positive markers on the other related mold tests. He has also tested positive for MARCONS and Lyme.

When we did our remediation we took all the precautions recommended - plastic taped up double; mask etc. even on rooms we just cleaned. We did not see any mold in our house but our ERMI test came back high (of course I cheated and took a swab of the heater filter too). So we started the cleaning taking all precautions, just in case, and did find a little bit of mold in our kitchen & bathroom, so it was good we took all the precautions.

 

My ds doctor knew we were doing all of this, and she covers all scenarios with treatment (Found this out when he had tonsils removed!). We did propolis (also helps raise MSH) in the room my son spends a lot of time in which happens to be close to the kitchen/bath. This helped with mold spores, along with open windows, and also had "matrix microbes" in a spray bottle (mixed with a little water) and every time anyone came out of rooms or whatever, I sprayed that in the air. It also keeps mold spores from spreading. Even sprayed it in the rooms he was in. Now that remodel is coming to a close, I have backed off on spray bottle. Our doctor said she would cover up the mold and not remove it if possible, but we did not think there was mold, so did the remodel on that assumption.

 

There are mold spores everywhere in the air, so impossible to get away from them completely, but you are probably correct in thinking that the remediation is kicking up some more symptoms. It seems we started the remodel after tonsils were removed and had already been treated for MARCONS and on Month 8 of lyme treatment. He is actually showing improvement after all of this and his C4a tested at 2632 a few months back (have heard of others in the 10-20,000 range). These kids are all at different places of healing so is difficult to tell why something is going on but mom's intuition is usually pretty close to right on.

 

Keep up the good work and healing will be forthcoming. You seem to definitely be on the right track. Just wish the healing would happen faster!

[Familyof5]

yes, remediation will definately kick up the spores no matter how careful you are to keep it contained. All my children have flares and increases when we do any type of heavy cleaning or remodeling. They are so sensitive that if I dust their rooms with a good "spring" cleaning the next day their symptoms will increase without a doubt. Do your best to keep things contained and I would definately increase detox applications for some time after!