Guest guest Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 My take on it is that my Lyme triggered a bunch of other things.. now this is anecdotal... but, where I live in southern Rhode Island Lyme is so very common... and it's just accepted as given that if you don't get rid of it quickly you are liable to come up with neurological problems, heart problems, memory problems... Columbia University has a center for the study of Chronic Lyme.... which is quite interesting. I never got a regular positive test... but my response to the treatment and ... some blood factor which I can't remember to tell you, gave something like a zero-neg diagnosis. I sure as heck got bitten by a tick. Oooooh I hate them. Anyway, people around here just presume that if it goes Chronic you are going to get something in addition to the Lyme. RA, Lupus, Fibro.. heart problems, neuro etc. etc............. So rather than people with RA being more likely to test pos. for Lyme, my thinking is that Lyme can set off the RA. Carla in RI [ ] question about Lyme's Hi ... maybe some of you research experts can help with this question ... is the prevalence of a positive Lyme's test more frequent in those who have a diagnosis of RA or those with Lupus? My Lyme's has been positive a few times and I read about that for others too. I was just diagnosed with RA and I am wondering if that is just common with RA or lupus and other autoimmune conditions. Thoughts? Thanks! Love and Prayers, Beth ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Philippians 4:8 (The Message): Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 My take on it is that my Lyme triggered a bunch of other things.. now this is anecdotal... but, where I live in southern Rhode Island Lyme is so very common... and it's just accepted as given that if you don't get rid of it quickly you are liable to come up with neurological problems, heart problems, memory problems... Columbia University has a center for the study of Chronic Lyme.... which is quite interesting. I never got a regular positive test... but my response to the treatment and ... some blood factor which I can't remember to tell you, gave something like a zero-neg diagnosis. I sure as heck got bitten by a tick. Oooooh I hate them. Anyway, people around here just presume that if it goes Chronic you are going to get something in addition to the Lyme. RA, Lupus, Fibro.. heart problems, neuro etc. etc............. So rather than people with RA being more likely to test pos. for Lyme, my thinking is that Lyme can set off the RA. Carla in RI [ ] question about Lyme's Hi ... maybe some of you research experts can help with this question ... is the prevalence of a positive Lyme's test more frequent in those who have a diagnosis of RA or those with Lupus? My Lyme's has been positive a few times and I read about that for others too. I was just diagnosed with RA and I am wondering if that is just common with RA or lupus and other autoimmune conditions. Thoughts? Thanks! Love and Prayers, Beth ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Philippians 4:8 (The Message): Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Carla wrote: So rather than people with RA being more likely to test pos. for Lyme, my thinking is that Lyme can set off the RA. Hi Carla ... that is very interesting. My brother lives in Delaware and also has been diagnosed with Lyme's, although he has another autoimmune problem. I live in Atlanta and I certainly have not been bitten by a tick and even so Lyme's is very rare here. I have RA and show up with a positive Lyme's test. Coincidence?! I am thinking not! I would love to hear other thoughts on this. Love and Prayers, Beth ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Philippians 4:8 (The Message): Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2004 Report Share Posted November 30, 2004 Carla wrote: So rather than people with RA being more likely to test pos. for Lyme, my thinking is that Lyme can set off the RA. Hi Carla ... that is very interesting. My brother lives in Delaware and also has been diagnosed with Lyme's, although he has another autoimmune problem. I live in Atlanta and I certainly have not been bitten by a tick and even so Lyme's is very rare here. I have RA and show up with a positive Lyme's test. Coincidence?! I am thinking not! I would love to hear other thoughts on this. Love and Prayers, Beth ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Philippians 4:8 (The Message): Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Love and prayers to you Beth..... Gosh you guys are an inspiration to me, every single one of you. (sniffffles..... ) The Columbia Chronic Lyme site is interesting, by the way. The Lyme bacteria are an invasive, opportunistic " species " which target injured, enflamed, problematic areas with a vengeance... sic making worse whatever else is lurking... Very interesting thoughts.... huggs Carla in RI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Love and prayers to you Beth..... Gosh you guys are an inspiration to me, every single one of you. (sniffffles..... ) The Columbia Chronic Lyme site is interesting, by the way. The Lyme bacteria are an invasive, opportunistic " species " which target injured, enflamed, problematic areas with a vengeance... sic making worse whatever else is lurking... Very interesting thoughts.... huggs Carla in RI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Beth, because there are several tests used to help make a Lyme disease diagnosis, and the tests aren't standardized, and false-positives and false-negatives are not uncommon, the test results have to be interpreted with great caution. You can get a sense of some of the problems with the tests here: " An abnormal, or positive, test for Lyme disease can mean one of the following: If antibodies are detected, you may either have Lyme disease now or had the illness in the past. Once infected with Lyme disease, the antibodies to the bacteria usually remain in the body for life. If Lyme disease bacterial DNA is detected, you most likely have an active Lyme disease infection. However, the PCR test will also detect the DNA of dead Lyme disease bacteria. The result is false positive. Sometimes an antibody test for Lyme disease detects antibodies to other bacteria (such as syphilis bacteria) or viruses (such as the Epstein-Barr virus or the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV). The test may also detect antibodies that develop as part of an immune response against the body's own tissues (autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus). It can be difficult to tell whether the antibodies detected have developed in response to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The PCR test may be done to confirm an infection if you have a positive antibody test result. What Affects the Test A high amount of rheumatoid factor in the blood can cause a false-positive test result. Rough handling, contamination, or inadequate refrigeration of the blood sample can cause inaccurate test results. What To Think About Because false-positive and false-negative Lyme disease test results are not uncommon, this test can add confusion to the diagnosis of the illness. Also, only about 60% of people who have Lyme disease develop antibodies within 3 weeks of becoming infected. The decision about when to use blood tests to detect Lyme disease should depend on whether your doctor strongly suspects Lyme disease and whether the test result will alter the course of treatment. Testing should be done only if you have risk factors for Lyme disease or symptoms of Lyme disease and if test results are likely to affect treatment decisions. If you have symptoms of Lyme disease, but test results are negative, treatment should not be delayed. A urinary antigen test to check for Lyme disease is not a useful test, and it is not considered scientifically valid in the diagnosis of Lyme disease. Detecting antibodies to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease does not always mean that the infection is active. It merely means that the person was infected at one time. This makes it difficult to distinguish between an active and a past (inactive) infection. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test may determine whether an active Lyme disease infection is present. Researchers are currently working on developing tests that can detect Lyme disease much earlier than antibody testing so that treatment can begin immediately. " Source: WebMD Lyme Disease Test Test Overview October 09, 2002 http://my.webmd.com/hw/arthritis/hw5113.asp I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] question about Lyme's > > > Hi ... maybe some of you research experts can help with this question ... > > is the prevalence of a positive Lyme's test more frequent in those who have > a diagnosis of RA or those with Lupus? > > My Lyme's has been positive a few times and I read about that for others > too. I was just diagnosed with RA and I am wondering if that is just common > with RA or lupus and other autoimmune conditions. > > Thoughts? > > Thanks! > > Love and Prayers, > Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Beth, because there are several tests used to help make a Lyme disease diagnosis, and the tests aren't standardized, and false-positives and false-negatives are not uncommon, the test results have to be interpreted with great caution. You can get a sense of some of the problems with the tests here: " An abnormal, or positive, test for Lyme disease can mean one of the following: If antibodies are detected, you may either have Lyme disease now or had the illness in the past. Once infected with Lyme disease, the antibodies to the bacteria usually remain in the body for life. If Lyme disease bacterial DNA is detected, you most likely have an active Lyme disease infection. However, the PCR test will also detect the DNA of dead Lyme disease bacteria. The result is false positive. Sometimes an antibody test for Lyme disease detects antibodies to other bacteria (such as syphilis bacteria) or viruses (such as the Epstein-Barr virus or the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV). The test may also detect antibodies that develop as part of an immune response against the body's own tissues (autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus). It can be difficult to tell whether the antibodies detected have developed in response to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The PCR test may be done to confirm an infection if you have a positive antibody test result. What Affects the Test A high amount of rheumatoid factor in the blood can cause a false-positive test result. Rough handling, contamination, or inadequate refrigeration of the blood sample can cause inaccurate test results. What To Think About Because false-positive and false-negative Lyme disease test results are not uncommon, this test can add confusion to the diagnosis of the illness. Also, only about 60% of people who have Lyme disease develop antibodies within 3 weeks of becoming infected. The decision about when to use blood tests to detect Lyme disease should depend on whether your doctor strongly suspects Lyme disease and whether the test result will alter the course of treatment. Testing should be done only if you have risk factors for Lyme disease or symptoms of Lyme disease and if test results are likely to affect treatment decisions. If you have symptoms of Lyme disease, but test results are negative, treatment should not be delayed. A urinary antigen test to check for Lyme disease is not a useful test, and it is not considered scientifically valid in the diagnosis of Lyme disease. Detecting antibodies to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease does not always mean that the infection is active. It merely means that the person was infected at one time. This makes it difficult to distinguish between an active and a past (inactive) infection. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test may determine whether an active Lyme disease infection is present. Researchers are currently working on developing tests that can detect Lyme disease much earlier than antibody testing so that treatment can begin immediately. " Source: WebMD Lyme Disease Test Test Overview October 09, 2002 http://my.webmd.com/hw/arthritis/hw5113.asp I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] question about Lyme's > > > Hi ... maybe some of you research experts can help with this question ... > > is the prevalence of a positive Lyme's test more frequent in those who have > a diagnosis of RA or those with Lupus? > > My Lyme's has been positive a few times and I read about that for others > too. I was just diagnosed with RA and I am wondering if that is just common > with RA or lupus and other autoimmune conditions. > > Thoughts? > > Thanks! > > Love and Prayers, > Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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