Lyme Test and IgM Levels?

Beeftown

Member
I have a high level of igm in my blood all the time; is this a test for lyme? My neurologist wasn't concerned about it. I had a routine test for lyme's disease at my primard md's office, but I understand these kinds of tests run in a regular lab can be misleading. Can you clarify, please. Thanks

Cherie
 
Thanks for your response; my igg was negative(normal)-at this point, I don't think I need further testing; my main problem now is the difficulty swallowing which seems to have improved since I started taking reglan, nexium, and sucrafate. I hope you get an earlier appt; I know you are anxious for further testing and possible treatment. What are your symptoms, and do they ever get better? Good luck,

Cherie
 
If your IgM was positive for Lyme, then that needs to be taken into consideration and you need to see someone also. I don't know what you mean by "high". Did you get testted for Lyme or just an antibody check?

From what I've read on my Igenex report, there is a "positive" where bands are clearly seen at a higher intensity, and "ind" which is where bands are seen but not at the high intensity and "negative" where no bands are seen at all. To me, "ind" (indeterminate) means probably positive.

What they do, from what I read on my flyer they sent with my report, is that they take your IgG and IgM (immunoglobulins) and react them with the Lyme bacteriums.

Also, note that both do not have to be positive, they run both to see where the illness may be in your body, and such.

The IgG, if positive, says you have been exposed to the B. Burgdorferi (the causitive agent of Lyme's).

A positve IgM is an indication of early Lyme infection, recurrent, or persistent infection. (Please note I am reading this directly from their flyer).

It says the IgM presents first, then the IgG. It also says that in late stage Lyme, sometimes only the IgM is shown to be positive.

I would advise you to be checked by a LLMD, if you had the Lyme's test and were psoitve IgM. I am no doctorm just giving advice as to what I would do. My doctor is the sdame way as yours, and forget about a "regular" neurologist knowing about this stuff.

The more I read and learn, the more I am convinced I have been at least exposed to this stuff, and will explain so many things (actually for me and my wife).

I will learn more as I go, but I hope I have helped.
 
Ryanbobs-I also had an mri that showed pretty severe arthritis in my cervical neck. (sorry it took so long to reply, I left town for the hurricaine.) I don't know why they checked my antibodies; only the igm was pretty high, nothing else. Has anyone else been clinically diagnosed with a swallowing problem? I was diagnosed with an egd. It showed that i have third degree motility dysfunction. At times, I feel like I am being strangled. The ent said my throat anatomy looked ok; he recommended I go back to my neuro or gastro (who is also my primary) I am currently taking pepcid otc, nexium, and sucrafate. I just hope this swallowing thing doesn't get any worse. My primary scared me; he said he has had patients that had this problem and had parkinson's. I wish he would'nt have told me that, now I am worried all over again.

God bless,

Cherie-
 
What is an EGD?

I'm sorry your doc scared you...mine did too at first, and now he hardly listens, since I've seen 2 neuros.

I had to initiate the Lyme's testing on my own.

Glad you escaped the hurricane...do you live in Texas or Louisiana?
 
egd-esophageal gastric dilitation-they go down through your throat with a scope and look at the movement (motility) of the esophagus-the barium swallow didn't show anything-no problems with swallowing-that's why my md did the egd-yes, I live in Galveston County, which is north of the island of Galveston. I am going to ask my neuro about parkinsonnn's when I go see him; he seems to get irritated with me when I ask him questions about diseases. Also, I am going to get a steroid shot in my neck for the pain. My brother had one in his back and it greatly helped the pain. I used to lift weights, but the last time I worked out, my neck hurt so bad that it felt like it was fractured!! I have to be careful, also I can't jog anymore, because it makes my neck hurt. I am going to see if I can drive to the place in Texas and be tested for Lyme's-I hope I don't need an order from my doc.
 

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