Guest guest Posted September 10, 1999 Report Share Posted September 10, 1999 I noticed that some of you guys have been talking about getting tested for the antibodies. Should you do this periodically for some reason or once you are positive once is there any need to do it again. The doctor hasn't said anything about retesting to me, but it seems like I have to ask everything or I'll never know. He doesn't volunteer much information. Also my antismooth muscle did not come back in a titer either. It just said postive 161. Does that mean 1:161? And is that extremely high? It is so frustrating. There are so many questions, and it seems so hard to get answers. Maybe one of you guys know. Audra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 1999 Report Share Posted September 10, 1999 There at two ways, that I know of, you can report ANA and SMA and AMA results..Ones the ratio ie 1:80. The other is a titer such as yours was.. Ive seen it reported both ways. Jody --- ADilli5783@... wrote: > From: ADilli5783@... > > I noticed that some of you guys have been talking > about getting tested for > the antibodies. Should you do this periodically for > some reason or once you > are positive once is there any need to do it again. > The doctor hasn't said > anything about retesting to me, but it seems like I > have to ask everything or > I'll never know. He doesn't volunteer much > information. > > Also my antismooth muscle did not come back in a > titer either. It just said > postive 161. Does that mean 1:161? And is that > extremely high? It is so > frustrating. There are so many questions, and it > seems so hard to get > answers. Maybe one of you guys know. > > Audra > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2002 Report Share Posted January 14, 2002 Jill, My endo said antibodies CAN fluctuate. Love, Reneé and Jerry rja86@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2002 Report Share Posted January 14, 2002 But, is that only if you have tested positive, ie, there will be more of a buildup of the antibodies as hypothyroidism increases in your body or that you can have the antibodies or not. Maybe someone could ask their doctor. My new endo said that she won't test me for them again b/c a few years ago I tested negative. But, couldn't that be that my body just hasn't created them yet? I don't know, I'm not a scientist or doctor, but what my doc said didn't make sense. Thanks Jill --- rja86@... wrote: > Jill, > My endo said antibodies CAN fluctuate. > > > > > > Love, > > Reneé and Jerry > rja86@... > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2002 Report Share Posted January 15, 2002 Jill, My husband is a doctor and I asked him if it's possible to test negative for the antibodies and then later test positive. He said depending on the stage of the disease, yes it is possible. Just as you suspected, if you had the initial blood work drawn before the antibody titer was high enough to be detected they wouldn't show up. He said he will often retest in 6 weeks if a patient is initially negative for the antibodies. I didn't ask him about the next idea, but I would think that just because someone tests negative doesn't mean years later they can't become positive. That's like saying if your cholesterol is normal today it will always be normal. Also, we all know that when a person is exposed to AIDS they may initially test negative to the antibodies but 3-6 months later could be positive. That's why as a nurse if I stick myself with a needle of an AIDS patient I would have to be checked for 6 months before they would say I'm okay. It seems to me it would be the same with this. So as far as I'm concerned you're right. Your doctors thinking doesn't make sense. I would call her on it. Good luck, Tammy Re: Antibodies > But, is that only if you have tested positive, ie, > there will be more of a buildup of the antibodies as > hypothyroidism increases in your body or that you can > have the antibodies or not. > > Maybe someone could ask their doctor. > > My new endo said that she won't test me for them again > b/c a few years ago I tested negative. But, couldn't > that be that my body just hasn't created them yet? > > I don't know, I'm not a scientist or doctor, but what > my doc said didn't make sense. > > Thanks > > Jill > > --- rja86@... wrote: > > Jill, > > My endo said antibodies CAN fluctuate. > > > > > > > > > > > > Love, > > > > Reneé and Jerry > > rja86@... > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2002 Report Share Posted January 15, 2002 Thanks! I think I will call her b/c she also said that she would run some additional thyroid tests and all that she ran was the same three tests ran two months ago. Thanks, Jill Oh, she said that the uptake was low b/c of my birth control pill but I read that it actually increases the level of T-3 and T-4 not deacreases it. Have you ever heard that? --- Tammy Fuller <tfuller@...> wrote: > Jill, > My husband is a doctor and I asked him if it's > possible to test negative for > the antibodies and then later test positive. He said > depending on the stage > of the disease, yes it is possible. Just as you > suspected, if you had the > initial blood work drawn before the antibody titer > was high enough to be > detected they wouldn't show up. He said he will > often retest in 6 weeks if a > patient is initially negative for the antibodies. > I didn't ask him about the next idea, but I would > think that just because > someone tests negative doesn't mean years later they > can't become positive. > That's like saying if your cholesterol is normal > today it will always be > normal. Also, we all know that when a person is > exposed to AIDS they may > initially test negative to the antibodies but 3-6 > months later could be > positive. That's why as a nurse if I stick myself > with a needle of an AIDS > patient I would have to be checked for 6 months > before they would say I'm > okay. It seems to me it would be the same with this. > So as far as I'm concerned you're right. Your > doctors thinking doesn't make > sense. I would call her on it. > Good luck, > Tammy > > Re: Antibodies > > > > But, is that only if you have tested positive, ie, > > there will be more of a buildup of the antibodies > as > > hypothyroidism increases in your body or that you > can > > have the antibodies or not. > > > > Maybe someone could ask their doctor. > > > > My new endo said that she won't test me for them > again > > b/c a few years ago I tested negative. But, > couldn't > > that be that my body just hasn't created them yet? > > > > I don't know, I'm not a scientist or doctor, but > what > > my doc said didn't make sense. > > > > Thanks > > > > Jill > > > > --- rja86@... wrote: > > > Jill, > > > My endo said antibodies CAN fluctuate. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Love, > > > > > > Reneé and Jerry > > > rja86@... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2005 Report Share Posted June 29, 2005 , I too have antibodies and am on medication for life. I have probably had low thyroid function all my life and I'm past 50. You can do some things to feel better now, even before the dr. says what he will do. I lived with it, without a diagnosis until 18 months ago. I have always taken a good multi vitamin. I now know I should have increased my iodine intake, either from salt or kelp or something. I would suggest you become a label reader and avoid anything that has soy in it. Anything that increases your estrogens will adversely affect your thyroid function and conversion. There is also a list of foods that seem to inhibit thyroid function. I take extra vitamins C, E and selenium and biotin. All seem to enhance the medication and I think would have helped without meds but I started them after I started meds. The archives here at the list are full of helpful things. There are many good books also with lots of information. Take charge of your life and don't let anyone, including yourself label you as lazy. I've heard that too many times in my life and about my family. Antibodies also tend to run in families so begin looking at others to see if they have them as well. Learn all you can. You will need to know the info. Some drs. know sort of what to do, others are clueless. Most go strictly by the numbers which are meaningless for autoimmune hypot people. Joan > My doctor did a antibodies test and found them, what does this mean, > he will not tell me till the 19th. Does anyone have any information. > Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2005 Report Share Posted June 29, 2005 I am also progestrone (spell wrong) lacking. The doctor put me on a hormone replacement about a month ago, I was not producing the hormone at all. Now I am taking twice a day with my synthyroid. The 19th he says he will change a few things. So i need extra salt. Good. I cut my coffee already and pop. Eating a more natural food line. I try to swim once a day, but having energy is a joke. Thanks for the information. Angie hendersonteacher <hendersonteacher@...> wrote:, I too have antibodies and am on medication for life. I have probably had low thyroid function all my life and I'm past 50. You can do some things to feel better now, even before the dr. says what he will do. I lived with it, without a diagnosis until 18 months ago. I have always taken a good multi vitamin. I now know I should have increased my iodine intake, either from salt or kelp or something. I would suggest you become a label reader and avoid anything that has soy in it. Anything that increases your estrogens will adversely affect your thyroid function and conversion. There is also a list of foods that seem to inhibit thyroid function. I take extra vitamins C, E and selenium and biotin. All seem to enhance the medication and I think would have helped without meds but I started them after I started meds. The archives here at the list are full of helpful things. There are many good books also with lots of information. Take charge of your life and don't let anyone, including yourself label you as lazy. I've heard that too many times in my life and about my family. Antibodies also tend to run in families so begin looking at others to see if they have them as well. Learn all you can. You will need to know the info. Some drs. know sort of what to do, others are clueless. Most go strictly by the numbers which are meaningless for autoimmune hypot people. Joan > My doctor did a antibodies test and found them, what does this mean, > he will not tell me till the 19th. Does anyone have any information. > Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2005 Report Share Posted June 29, 2005 Hi , what type of HRT are you on? Kerry Re: Re: Antibodies I am also progestrone (spell wrong) lacking. The doctor put me on a hormone replacement about a month ago, I was not producing the hormone at all. Now I am taking twice a day with my synthyroid. The 19th he says he will change a few things. So i need extra salt. Good. I cut my coffee already and pop. Eating a more natural food line. I try to swim once a day, but having energy is a joke. Thanks for the information. Angie hendersonteacher <hendersonteacher@...> wrote:, I too have antibodies and am on medication for life. I have probably had low thyroid function all my life and I'm past 50. You can do some things to feel better now, even before the dr. says what he will do. I lived with it, without a diagnosis until 18 months ago. I have always taken a good multi vitamin. I now know I should have increased my iodine intake, either from salt or kelp or something. I would suggest you become a label reader and avoid anything that has soy in it. Anything that increases your estrogens will adversely affect your thyroid function and conversion. There is also a list of foods that seem to inhibit thyroid function. I take extra vitamins C, E and selenium and biotin. All seem to enhance the medication and I think would have helped without meds but I started them after I started meds. The archives here at the list are full of helpful things. There are many good books also with lots of information. Take charge of your life and don't let anyone, including yourself label you as lazy. I've heard that too many times in my life and about my family. Antibodies also tend to run in families so begin looking at others to see if they have them as well. Learn all you can. You will need to know the info. Some drs. know sort of what to do, others are clueless. Most go strictly by the numbers which are meaningless for autoimmune hypot people. Joan > My doctor did a antibodies test and found them, what does this mean, > he will not tell me till the 19th. Does anyone have any information. > Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2005 Report Share Posted June 29, 2005 I am on a cream hormone that you rub into your arms or breasts twice a day. It's suppose to the most natural form of the hormone I am lacking. Angie Kerry Ann Faithfull <kerry@...> wrote:Hi , what type of HRT are you on? Kerry Re: Re: Antibodies I am also progestrone (spell wrong) lacking. The doctor put me on a hormone replacement about a month ago, I was not producing the hormone at all. Now I am taking twice a day with my synthyroid. The 19th he says he will change a few things. So i need extra salt. Good. I cut my coffee already and pop. Eating a more natural food line. I try to swim once a day, but having energy is a joke. Thanks for the information. Angie hendersonteacher <hendersonteacher@...> wrote:, I too have antibodies and am on medication for life. I have probably had low thyroid function all my life and I'm past 50. You can do some things to feel better now, even before the dr. says what he will do. I lived with it, without a diagnosis until 18 months ago. I have always taken a good multi vitamin. I now know I should have increased my iodine intake, either from salt or kelp or something. I would suggest you become a label reader and avoid anything that has soy in it. Anything that increases your estrogens will adversely affect your thyroid function and conversion. There is also a list of foods that seem to inhibit thyroid function. I take extra vitamins C, E and selenium and biotin. All seem to enhance the medication and I think would have helped without meds but I started them after I started meds. The archives here at the list are full of helpful things. There are many good books also with lots of information. Take charge of your life and don't let anyone, including yourself label you as lazy. I've heard that too many times in my life and about my family. Antibodies also tend to run in families so begin looking at others to see if they have them as well. Learn all you can. You will need to know the info. Some drs. know sort of what to do, others are clueless. Most go strictly by the numbers which are meaningless for autoimmune hypot people. Joan > My doctor did a antibodies test and found them, what does this mean, > he will not tell me till the 19th. Does anyone have any information. > Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 I'v been on Xolair since March,2005. I been having too many infections and have been on high doses of prednisone. My doctor took a blood test and it shows that my antibodies are low. He sent me to an immunologist and he took blood tests too. He said if they come back low too this is why I keep getting infections. He also said I might need transfussions??? to bring up my gammaglobulin. Is anyone having a problem like this?? In June of 2005 I asked if anyone was hairing loss of hair and no one was at that time. Well now a lot of people are complaining about hair loss. I'm wondering if this is going to be the case with antibodies too. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 That is true. Our immune systems will almost always produce antibodies against a foreign invading bacteria, virus and/or protozoa. Sometimes, the immune system alone can fight off the infection and we will get sick for a time, but will get better. This happens with the common cold. With other infections, especially bacterial, we need to help the immune system by killing the bacteria with antibiotics. Some bacteria will be eliminated by our immune system without antibiotics. Bb has proven to not be " self-resolving " , it will not resolve on its own. Antibiotics must be taken to kill the bacteria allowing the immune system to " clean up " the remnants left behind by the antibiotics. With that said, there are folks who believe with the correct specialized natural medicine, that Bb can be fought naturally. This can include natural antibacterial supplements and immune boosting supplements. Even if you prescribe to this theory, Bb is still not " self-resolving " because the immune system can't fight the infection without help. Being vaccinated and contracting the disease will both begin the immune process. =) Robynn -------------- Original message -------------- From: " bowriver011 " <bowriver011@...> But it doesn't work right? I mean, the human body cannot successfully fight Lyme by itself, ie. without antibiotics?.....even if a person has been vaccinated and has produced anti bodies before an infection, it still won't be able to fight off and kill the spirochettes on its own; anti biotics will still be needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2006 Report Share Posted February 26, 2006 This is certainly a valid theory. I think until we have more advanced technology we'll never know how many Bb spirochetes our immune systems are killing and where in the human body. Testing is fallible for MANY reasons. Yes, if one is testing blood but most of the spirochetes are living and reproducing in the Central Nervous System, a test that looks for Bb would miss the spirochetes. However most tests look for antibodies not Bb, and those antibodies will be in the blood system no matter where the Bb is at. The circulatory system (blood) is how good and bad organisms travel around the body. So even if Bb is attacking nerve cells, the immune system would still produce antibodies against Bb and send those antibodies into the system via the blood stream. An accurate antibody test would be able to detect the antibodies from blood samples no matter where the Bb spirochetes were hiding. At this time there is no 100% accurate, scientifically valid antibody test. =) Robynn Re: [ ] The first vaccine against Lyme disease was correct me if I am wrong robynn lyme disease is fought by the immune system but there are hiding spots for the organism in the brain and reproduction organs that it is never fully killed...also when testing for lyme in some cases the infection is in the nerves and not the blood and that is why it is hard to pick up on stantard tests... eric Robynn@... wrote: Unless there is an odd underlying cause, everyone produces antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. In fact, different antibodies are produced for the various kinds of proteins found on the bacteria. Unless the immune system is negatively affected by a medical condition (other than Lyme) or immuno-suppresant drugs, antibodies will be produced at " normal " levels in everyone. The problem with the antibody tests, (ELISA and Western Blot) isn't that there are no antibodies present, but often times the antibody the test is looking for has bound to the antigen, causing the test to miss the antibody creating a false negative. Also, the Western Blot can use different " primers " to detect the antibodies, some of these primers are better at seeing the antibodies than others. This is the largest reason why some labs have more accurate testing than others. There are even more reasons that are somewhat complicated for me to get into at this time as to why the antibody tests are fallible. The important thing to note is that YES, the immune system does recognize Bb as an invader and YES it does create antibodies to fight Bb. (This in fact creates the auto-immune issues so many of us face.) =) Robynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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