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difference between myco P IgG and IgM?


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I posted asking if there is a connection between myco p and pandas symptoms and the responses I received were so helpful. Thank you to everyone! I am still a little confused though...my son came up high IgG which the ped dr says shows a past infection ONLY, his IgM was not elevated. The problem is that he still has a chronic cough and has been on high dose augmentin for 2 weeks now (not to treat the cough but to see if it reduces pandas symptoms while we are waiting to see Dr. B in Feb). Its not sinuses, reflux (on meds for that) asthma or allergy (been ruled out several times) so is it true that the high IgG mycoplasma would NOT be causing this cough that he has b/c it only indicates a past and NOT present infection like I was told?

Thanks again for any help!

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I repeat, unlike what they learn at med school, Mycoplasma Pneomoniae IgG does not mean old infection, it means it is in hiding but active and can keep rising if not treated, and is most likely the main if not the only reason for your sons problems. This story sounds so much like my Sandra's 6 years ago. For the past 2 years she has finally been put on Azithromycin 500mg/day (she is now almost 22 yo) and it has made serious miracles, not yet recovered, but she is back on her feet. I would say abx and IVIG.

Search for my writings on the forum for the full story or contact me privately.

We saw a drop of 50% in her IgG in 3 months and in her symptoms much before that. her IgG went down to low positive in 6 months and she is still on abx! I saw fantastic results when she got IVIG but we cannot get it any longer.

She never tested positive for Strep or PycoP IgM!!!

 

Bathsheba

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IgM is the body's 1st response to a new infection- before IgG ramps up. IgG MAY mean an old infection, but in the face of symptoms, it most likely is a current infection. IgM does not stay elevated for very long and may not be elevated at all with later exposures to the same microbe.

Augmentin is probably not the best abx for mycoP, since it usually infects intracellularly- there are abx that address intracellular microbes- zith is one. MycoP is a slow growing microbe- if it is not fully eradicated, it can take a few months to grow back to the strength needed for symptoms to appear. But also, if it is not fully eradicated the immune system will continue (or should continue) making IgG in response.

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IgM is the body's 1st response to a new infection- before IgG ramps up. IgG MAY mean an old infection, but in the face of symptoms, it most likely is a current infection. IgM does not stay elevated for very long and may not be elevated at all with later exposures to the same microbe.

Augmentin is probably not the best abx for mycoP, since it usually infects intracellularly- there are abx that address intracellular microbes- zith is one. MycoP is a slow growing microbe- if it is not fully eradicated, it can take a few months to grow back to the strength needed for symptoms to appear. But also, if it is not fully eradicated the immune system will continue (or should continue) making IgG in response.

 

My ds did not test positive for the myco p or strep either, could be to a delay in testing though as so many of us face when we finally realize and discover the PANDAS stuff.

But the rest of the family DID test positive for strep and Myco p as past exposure according to Dr T., one with a recent strep in past 6 mos. So I feel we have been the cause of the PANDAS stuff in my ds. We did a z-pac which is the equivalent of 10 days ABX...is this enough?

I also hear they can outgrow it at puberty if treated early and vigilantly until that time, so am hopeful we got it in time although we are almost a year down the road now and only started treating at 6 mos into it when we found out what it was.

I am by far a beginner in all of this and learning as I go, which is scary.

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I repeat, unlike what they learn at med school, Mycoplasma Pneomoniae IgG does not mean old infection, it means it is in hiding but active and can keep rising if not treated, and is most likely the main if not the only reason for your sons problems. This story sounds so much like my Sandra's 6 years ago. For the past 2 years she has finally been put on Azithromycin 500mg/day (she is now almost 22 yo) and it has made serious miracles, not yet recovered, but she is back on her feet. I would say abx and IVIG.

Search for my writings on the forum for the full story or contact me privately.

We saw a drop of 50% in her IgG in 3 months and in her symptoms much before that. her IgG went down to low positive in 6 months and she is still on abx! I saw fantastic results when she got IVIG but we cannot get it any longer.

She never tested positive for Strep or PycoP IgM!!!

 

Bathsheba

My ped dr seems to be convinced that the IgG levels only indicate a past infection and does not want to change his abx. This cough has been the one single constant throughout this entire 3 1/2 year experience that we have been searching for answers to find out what happened to our son! I truly hope Dr. B will look at things differently, but we have to wait until Feb to see him. Thanks for your help and I would love to hear more about your daughter and how it affected her (I'm new and just learning how to send messages, don't know how to pm someone first yet :) )

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I repeat, unlike what they learn at med school, Mycoplasma Pneomoniae IgG does not mean old infection, it means it is in hiding but active and can keep rising if not treated, and is most likely the main if not the only reason for your sons problems. This story sounds so much like my Sandra's 6 years ago. For the past 2 years she has finally been put on Azithromycin 500mg/day (she is now almost 22 yo) and it has made serious miracles, not yet recovered, but she is back on her feet. I would say abx and IVIG.

Search for my writings on the forum for the full story or contact me privately.

We saw a drop of 50% in her IgG in 3 months and in her symptoms much before that. her IgG went down to low positive in 6 months and she is still on abx! I saw fantastic results when she got IVIG but we cannot get it any longer.

She never tested positive for Strep or PycoP IgM!!!

 

Bathsheba

My ped dr seems to be convinced that the IgG levels only indicate a past infection and does not want to change his abx. This cough has been the one single constant throughout this entire 3 1/2 year experience that we have been searching for answers to find out what happened to our son! I truly hope Dr. B will look at things differently, but we have to wait until Feb to see him. Thanks for your help and I would love to hear more about your daughter and how it affected her (I'm new and just learning how to send messages, don't know how to pm someone first yet :) )

 

 

I would recommend that you see a LLMD (PM me if you want suggestions.) Here's why. MycoP can be a co-infection of Lyme, and many people are finding that they and their children, do in fact, have lyme and other co-infecitons in addition to strep (we are one of those families...I never would have believed it, but clinical signs were very, very positive.) Also, LLMD's are very used to mixing abx cocktails, and honestly that's what you are needing. I had mycoP for probably 3 years...I was very symptomatic, and not one dr. tested me for it, until Dr. B. tested the whole family as standard practice to see if that's what was causing the kids to be sick (in addition to known strep.) My IgM was out of control, as was my IgG. My DS's IgM was borderline, and IgG was extremely high. My children's IgG was quite high, and more recently, DS16 has gone up again (I need to call LLMD, because we are clearly fighting multiple infections...strep super high, too!)

 

Again, even if this is not Lyme (and please, people...don't get on my case about the Lyme issue), I have found that LLMD's really do have the best idea how to treat something as tough as MycoP. We have now been treating mine for over 1year, and it took about 3/4 of a year for me to finally stop coughing. I am also seeing a Lung Specialist, who has told me that I appear to have some permanent lung damage from it. Even he is deferring to the LLMD, as he was surprised that we have been able to get the amount of abx over the amount of time needed.

 

And, as Bat-Sheva said, IgG does not only mean past infection. Even the lab report says that, if they would take the time to read it. The lab report says it "frequently" indicates past infection.

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I repeat, unlike what they learn at med school, Mycoplasma Pneomoniae IgG does not mean old infection, it means it is in hiding but active and can keep rising if not treated, and is most likely the main if not the only reason for your sons problems. This story sounds so much like my Sandra's 6 years ago. For the past 2 years she has finally been put on Azithromycin 500mg/day (she is now almost 22 yo) and it has made serious miracles, not yet recovered, but she is back on her feet. I would say abx and IVIG.

Search for my writings on the forum for the full story or contact me privately.

We saw a drop of 50% in her IgG in 3 months and in her symptoms much before that. her IgG went down to low positive in 6 months and she is still on abx! I saw fantastic results when she got IVIG but we cannot get it any longer.

She never tested positive for Strep or PycoP IgM!!!

 

Bathsheba

My ped dr seems to be convinced that the IgG levels only indicate a past infection and does not want to change his abx. This cough has been the one single constant throughout this entire 3 1/2 year experience that we have been searching for answers to find out what happened to our son! I truly hope Dr. B will look at things differently, but we have to wait until Feb to see him. Thanks for your help and I would love to hear more about your daughter and how it affected her (I'm new and just learning how to send messages, don't know how to pm someone first yet :) )

 

 

I would recommend that you see a LLMD (PM me if you want suggestions.) Here's why. MycoP can be a co-infection of Lyme, and many people are finding that they and their children, do in fact, have lyme and other co-infecitons in addition to strep (we are one of those families...I never would have believed it, but clinical signs were very, very positive.) Also, LLMD's are very used to mixing abx cocktails, and honestly that's what you are needing. I had mycoP for probably 3 years...I was very symptomatic, and not one dr. tested me for it, until Dr. B. tested the whole family as standard practice to see if that's what was causing the kids to be sick (in addition to known strep.) My IgM was out of control, as was my IgG. My DS's IgM was borderline, and IgG was extremely high. My children's IgG was quite high, and more recently, DS16 has gone up again (I need to call LLMD, because we are clearly fighting multiple infections...strep super high, too!)

 

Again, even if this is not Lyme (and please, people...don't get on my case about the Lyme issue), I have found that LLMD's really do have the best idea how to treat something as tough as MycoP. We have now been treating mine for over 1year, and it took about 3/4 of a year for me to finally stop coughing. I am also seeing a Lung Specialist, who has told me that I appear to have some permanent lung damage from it. Even he is deferring to the LLMD, as he was surprised that we have been able to get the amount of abx over the amount of time needed.

 

And, as Bat-Sheva said, IgG does not only mean past infection. Even the lab report says that, if they would take the time to read it. The lab report says it "frequently" indicates past infection.

Thank you so much for all of the great information...crazy question, but what is a LLMD? A lyme specialist? His lyme came up non reactive on all bands, labs were done at Quest lab, not Igenex, but wouldn't something show up?

BTW...I looked at the lab report and it states "a positive result indicates that the patient has antibody to mycoplasma. It does not differentiate between active or past infection. The clinical diagnosis must be interpreted with the clinical signs and symptoms of the patient." Am I crazy, or does that mean if my son still has a chronic cough and his IgG came back HIGH, he could still have an active infection and that could be causing his pandas/pitand symptoms??? Meanwhile he is on 4,000mg of augmentin/day until we see Dr. B in Feb, which won't treat the myco p and if that is what is causing his symptoms, then isn't he taking the augmentin for several months for no reason?

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I repeat, unlike what they learn at med school, Mycoplasma Pneomoniae IgG does not mean old infection, it means it is in hiding but active and can keep rising if not treated, and is most likely the main if not the only reason for your sons problems. This story sounds so much like my Sandra's 6 years ago. For the past 2 years she has finally been put on Azithromycin 500mg/day (she is now almost 22 yo) and it has made serious miracles, not yet recovered, but she is back on her feet. I would say abx and IVIG.

Search for my writings on the forum for the full story or contact me privately.

We saw a drop of 50% in her IgG in 3 months and in her symptoms much before that. her IgG went down to low positive in 6 months and she is still on abx! I saw fantastic results when she got IVIG but we cannot get it any longer.

She never tested positive for Strep or PycoP IgM!!!

 

Bathsheba

My ped dr seems to be convinced that the IgG levels only indicate a past infection and does not want to change his abx. This cough has been the one single constant throughout this entire 3 1/2 year experience that we have been searching for answers to find out what happened to our son! I truly hope Dr. B will look at things differently, but we have to wait until Feb to see him. Thanks for your help and I would love to hear more about your daughter and how it affected her (I'm new and just learning how to send messages, don't know how to pm someone first yet :) )

 

 

I would recommend that you see a LLMD (PM me if you want suggestions.) Here's why. MycoP can be a co-infection of Lyme, and many people are finding that they and their children, do in fact, have lyme and other co-infecitons in addition to strep (we are one of those families...I never would have believed it, but clinical signs were very, very positive.) Also, LLMD's are very used to mixing abx cocktails, and honestly that's what you are needing. I had mycoP for probably 3 years...I was very symptomatic, and not one dr. tested me for it, until Dr. B. tested the whole family as standard practice to see if that's what was causing the kids to be sick (in addition to known strep.) My IgM was out of control, as was my IgG. My DS's IgM was borderline, and IgG was extremely high. My children's IgG was quite high, and more recently, DS16 has gone up again (I need to call LLMD, because we are clearly fighting multiple infections...strep super high, too!)

 

Again, even if this is not Lyme (and please, people...don't get on my case about the Lyme issue), I have found that LLMD's really do have the best idea how to treat something as tough as MycoP. We have now been treating mine for over 1year, and it took about 3/4 of a year for me to finally stop coughing. I am also seeing a Lung Specialist, who has told me that I appear to have some permanent lung damage from it. Even he is deferring to the LLMD, as he was surprised that we have been able to get the amount of abx over the amount of time needed.

 

And, as Bat-Sheva said, IgG does not only mean past infection. Even the lab report says that, if they would take the time to read it. The lab report says it "frequently" indicates past infection.

Thank you so much for all of the great information...crazy question, but what is a LLMD? A lyme specialist? His lyme came up non reactive on all bands, labs were done at Quest lab, not Igenex, but wouldn't something show up?

BTW...I looked at the lab report and it states "a positive result indicates that the patient has antibody to mycoplasma. It does not differentiate between active or past infection. The clinical diagnosis must be interpreted with the clinical signs and symptoms of the patient." Am I crazy, or does that mean if my son still has a chronic cough and his IgG came back HIGH, he could still have an active infection and that could be causing his pandas/pitand symptoms??? Meanwhile he is on 4,000mg of augmentin/day until we see Dr. B in Feb, which won't treat the myco p and if that is what is causing his symptoms, then isn't he taking the augmentin for several months for no reason?

 

Yes, an LLMD is a "Lyme Literate MD." Your son may not have anything more than MycoP, but the reason I would still see an LLMD is because they know how to really treat, and aren't afraid to go for the abx cocktails that other docs are afraid to do (or honestly, don't have the experience to do.) Then again, Lyme is also a clinical dx, so the doc can also treat it as he sees it. Case in point...DS16 had only 1 band positive (I realize you're not seeing any positive bands,) but even on Igenex, his Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia were all negative. Erlichiosis finally came back barely positive...after months of tx, and sudden increase in some symptoms. BUT, my DS clearly has Bartonella (even though all blood work was negative,) because he has the stretch marks. We weren't certain until he was suddenly put on IV clindomycin last May for a horrendous infection, and the stretch marks got dramatically lighter. The stretch marks are definitive proof of Bartonella. So, too is other lyme and co-infection testing, so that's why you need someone who knows what to look for. And, even if the specialist says no lyme, there's still the mycoP that LLMD's know how to treat. Dr. B. diagnosed my mycoP, and started me on Azith, but he was not comfortable treating it for more than 1 month. That's one of the reasons we found the LLMD. It was only after that that we realized there was lyme and co-infections in my entire familly (DH actually tested positive on the Quest test, he has RA that wasn't getting better, and he's the one who likes to deny the hardest that he has it...go figure!)

 

Now, as far as the medication you are dealing with...I would ask your doctor to change medications to azithromycin or biaxin, as these are the 2 that are primarily used with MycoP. The fact that he sounds symptomatic...you don't want this to go on any longer than necessary. Remember, I am now dealing with possible permanent lung damage from all the years mine went untreated. And, yes, MycoP could be the cause of the PANDAS/PITAND (PANS.)

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