Posts by analogbison7

If I recall correctly... Anne Marie was never even bitten by one; she just inherited the illness through her mother.
And apparently, mosquitoes are supposed to be carriers too.

Jacob Lopez51 said:Almost everyone at ArminLabs tested positive. They run these strange tests—maybe they're too sensitive? It seems like anyone who ever had mono would show positive titers. To me, it looks like quackery, though perhaps I’m wrong. I just know those "positive" patients ended up taking out loans to pay for alternative treatments in Germany. Who knows what they were actually being given.

I dealt with similar symptoms—muscle fasciculations and tingling. After spending $100 on labs, I was diagnosed with a psychosomatic disorder, or chronic anxiety. I'm on antidepressants, but it hasn't done much. I've lived with these symptoms for four years now, and the fatigue is even worse. My Vitamin D3 was also low, sitting at only 16.

As far as I can remember, I was never bitten by a tick, nor do I recall seeing a bullseye rash. Yet, the symptoms are a perfect match.

I even have some tiny spots in my brain white matter, though the results are within the normal range. With contrast, they look like something caused by migraines or microcirculation issues. I have degenerative changes in my cervical and lumbar spine, plus some thoracic kyphosis. Generally, nothing concerning enough to warrant treatment.

If you've been carrying Borrelia for a few years, your IgG should be high. But of course, someone will claim the bacteria is hiding and impossible to detect with any test.

Sounds like a vicious cycle. I imagine you went through hell trying to debunk all those suspicions.

My suspicion might not be Borrelia, but I am 90% certain it’s related to a bite. I want to run that more sensitive test as soon as I get back.
Maybe I actually cleared the Borrelia with that antibiotic, but perhaps another infection lingered.
I don't know if anyone takes those ArminLabs tests seriously. Around here, they aren't worth a dime.
When I sent them an inquiry and filled out their questionnaire, the cost came out to about $1,750, even with a 30% discount through an association.

The only other thing I can remember is overdoing it on one specific machine at the gym. An abdominal and back press. I pushed myself way too hard. But I don't know... it's been a year and a half since then, and my mid-back still hurts, right around the shoulder blades. Sometimes it feels like a nerve issue. The sensation travels from the scapula, up to the neck, and into my head.🙂
But there are other symptoms that seem to contradict that.

They performed a CLIA test here, which shows the infection was present. I read everywhere that you have to look at the overall clinical picture. Some people obsess over IgM while others focus on IgG. They have nothing else to offer, acting as if other infections don't even exist.

Jacob Lopez51 said:Maybe you didn't get enough antibiotics. Standard practice seems to be about 3 or 4 weeks of treatment.
What else is there to do besides waiting for a positive Western Blot? There are other expensive tests at Quest Diagnostics, but almost everyone I know who went there ended up being a false positive anyway. This whole Borrelia situation is a mess. Good luck.

That’s exactly what my former doctor in Chicago said. A short course of an antibiotic that isn't even the right choice. But what can you do? That's how they've been doing things here for over 30 years. Not to mention the doctor failed to even recognize the bullseye rash. Why would anyone trust them?

I considered sending blood work to Quest Diagnostics, but I have my doubts about their reliability.

So far, all my results look fine... except for a Vitamin D deficiency, elevated Bilirubin, and low Ferritin.
I'm waiting on an MRI of my spine before I decide on my next move. Either way, it's just a bunch of nonsense, and frankly, I'm exhausted by it all.

The bite happened in May 2019.
A month later, the Borrelia rash appeared. I took antibiotics for it, as previously mentioned. Since then, I’ve been stuck with this constant sense of impending illness and a flushing sensation in my face. It started with wrist pain, shoulder blade aches, a stiff neck, and mid-spine pain—the exact symptoms that sent me running to physical therapy.
Six months after the bite, I suffered an ocular migraine with aura and paralysis in my left arm. (I saw an ophthalmologist immediately since I’d never dealt with migraines before.) My eyes are fine. But since then? The headaches have become unbearable. It feels like my brain is going to explode. Why was my MRI clear? It makes no sense. I’ve had two such episodes.
Now, my head aches constantly, even if the intensity fluctuates.
I’m becoming hypersensitive to light and smells.
Then there’s the fatigue, coming and going in waves.
In January of this year, the muscle twitching began, along with pain in my bones, knees, ribs, and collarbones. Sometimes the tremors last for seven days straight. I suspect stress plays a role, given that I've been feeling terrible for nearly two years without a diagnosis. My life is actually quite stable; I don't have any external issues that would trigger depression or anything similar.
The only reason I managed to get any help at all was through private health insurance.

I can't find any explanation other than that bite.
Unless it's something with my spine.

Thanks for the responses.🙏

Thanks for the response.
My brain MRI is done, and everything looks fine.
I’ll be getting an MRI of my spine in a few days.
B12 Cobalamin is at 317.
Should I be losing sleep over this slightly elevated Immunoglobulin M? (I included links to the tests performed.)
Kidney function is normal too... Is something being missed?

Getting a Western blot seems impossible, or perhaps they just don't bother with it. Private labs here only offer standard blood panels.
It doesn't look like a trip to the States will be necessary.🤔

Rheumatology says rheumatic conditions can sometimes slip through the cracks. They claim everything is okay. I should have the results on Monday.

Here is what the neurologist provided:

The ENA screen wasn't shown.
Spec ANA using FEIA technique:
SS-A (Ro52)
SS-A (Ro60)
SS-B (La)
Sm
U1RNP
Sci-70
Jo-1

For the low Ferritin, I was prescribed tablets that I take during my period.

Can someone make sense of these results for me?
Two years ago, a tick bite landed me a diagnosis of Borrelia. I’m currently living abroad (in Sweden) and was treated with a 10-day course of Penicillin-based Penicillin.
Before that, life was fine, aside from kidney stones and being told I have Gilbert's syndrome—though I've never actually had a genetic test for it.
Then everything changed. It started with neck and spine pain, flu-like sensations, and facial flushing. I suffered an ocular migraine with aura, followed by relentless headaches that simply won't quit. My shoulder blades lock up constantly. For the last few months, I've dealt with muscle twitching. To put it bluntly... there are many symptoms. I just feel terrible and generally weak.

The Borrelia flagell CLIA test was performed:
IgG 20 AU/ml <15
IgM 20 AU/ml <22

The verdict? They told me I was exposed, but apparently, there is no active infection.

We all know there are countless infections spread via insect bites, yet this whole area seems to be nothing but controversy.

Most of my other tests look fine, except for my Ferritin levels. I am also a bit concerned about this Immunoglobulin M. Can anyone explain?
Thanks.