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[Chi chi]

I had some private blood tests through a lab in Germany and they've come back showing weak positive with a suppressed immune system?
Does anyone here have Lyme or know much about it?

Thanks

[countrybumpkin]

Living in a very high risk area and working for a outdoor charity I was fairly well informed.   the nhs blood tests are not always conclusive especially if done too early after infection and can give false negatives and they can show false positives in people who have been infected but they do not have active infections as once in contact with lyme's then you always get positive test for antibodies.
The downside of tests available from other countries is that there is almost always some financial questionables especially if done in conjuction with drs who specialise in treating lyme's outside the nhs guidelines.
If somone has untreated and chronic lyme's disease then damage will already have been done which is not revesable but treatment can hopefully prevent ongoing damage although it is not always successful.
I assume that the only way you can be treated for your weak positive test is via foreign or private Dr's which means you will be spending alot of money so bear in mind that people will be making money out of you so their intentions are not necesarily always in your best interests.
Have you discussed your test results with nhs Dr for their opinion and what might or might not be on offer from nhs?

[Chi chi]

Hi countrybumpkin, no haven't approached the subject with my GP, yet! I only got my results last night so haven't really got my head around what to do or who to see?
My results indicate that I've had it a long time though which makes me worry about my kids as I've read it can be passed through the placenta and also for my husband as it can be passed through sex.

[CLKD]

There is a very good UK web-site Chi chi ....... if you do a 'search' it should come up.  Your NHS GP may not recognise it but your Vets. probably will do!  It MUST be treated appropriately.  Look up the web-site and follow the advice ;-).

[Chi chi]

Thanks CLKD there seems to be a couple of UK ones

[cubagirl]

My brother had a terrible 10 or so years after diagnosis. They couldn't get the right mix of drugs to help him. He eventually had to give up work as exhaustion & severe headaches became debilitating. His wife never got it by the way. He eventually underwent an intense course of IV antibiotics 2 years ago & now declared Lyme free. The treatment is out there, but my brother had to do a lot of research to push for it. Trying to get a doctor who was prepared to accept the severity of his case was difficult. He made full use of the website to acquire information. I expect there are forums on it too.

[elsie001]

My son was diagnosed with Lyme disease after coming back from a residential school trip (had the classic bullseye mark on arm).  He was promptly given antibiotics to take for a couple of weeks and has been fine since. 

I've no idea what happens in your case, Chi Chi, but hope you manage to get a full & accurate diagnosis soon.

[Ju Ju]

How do you know you have been bitten by a tick? I was aware I must have been bitten on my arm by some insect in the middle of the night two nights ago following a walk. My arm is a bit painful and the swelling around it has increased. Chances are it's just a nasty reaction to a mosquito bite, but DH and I are a bit concerned.

[dazned]

Don't think that you just get "bitten " a tick attaches it's self to your skin and sinks it's " teeth "in ,then stays there sucking your blood ! 
DH has had a couple whilst working on farm.

[Chi chi]

I don't remember being bitten as such but we went to Greece for the first time 10 yrs ago and I remember getting bitten lots! Never had the classic bullseye rash (which some don't even get) and do t remember if I was ill when we got home?
I have an old bite mark on my leg that I've had for yrs possibly from Greece? That every now and again erupts and starts itching again.

I took the results to my GP this week who didn't have a clue and she's referred me to the infectious disease clinic at hospital.
I'm no doctor and certainly no expert but one of the tests that was done was a CD57 + natural killer cells and my result was very low. Looking online this is something to do with the immune system so even if I don't have Lyme then I need to find out why it's so low especially with all my symptoms!

[CLKD]

I sent a message asking what you had decided but it's disappeared  . gremlins again?

How do you feel generally Chi Chi?

[Katia]

Lyme can be quite elusive and often takes quite a few tests to show up. I have an MSc in International Health/tropical medicine

[CLKD]

There are also GPs that don't or won't recognise it!