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Lyme Testing, Anxiety, and IGeneX Labs
I have read several stories on this website that are very similar to mine. About nine months ago I had a severe anxiety attack out of the blue. The anxiety led to severe depression with continued anxiety. It has been the worst nine months of my 49 years. Because there was no apparent reason for anxiety in my life, I have felt all along that there had to be some underlying reason. I've been to half a dozen doctors and had every conceivable test trying to find a cause, all to no avail. My wife and brother-in-law have been battling chronic Lyme for several years. Both have severe physical symptoms but no significant anxiety. Until recently, I was unaware that Lyme could create the symptoms I have been experiencing. Since I am an outdoorsman and lived in one of the Lyme hot spots for years (Eau Claire, Wisconsin), I now am wondering if this could be the underlying cause I've been looking for. Our family doctor said there is little chance that both my wife and I would have Lyme. Then I described just one trip through the woods around our house resulted in finding 47 ticks between my son and I. He then changed his mind quickly and agreed to have me tested.
So here is my question. I have been told to have the Western Blot, IgG and IgM test run. The doctor is having this done by an unknown lab. I have been told that I should request that the test be performed by the IGeneX labs because they are more accurate. I have also been told that there results come back positive 98% of the time. Is this true? If so, that doesn't seem scientifically or statistically correct either. Can anyone give me feedback or point me to a website where I can learn more about this?
So here is my question. I have been told to have the Western Blot, IgG and IgM test run. The doctor is having this done by an unknown lab. I have been told that I should request that the test be performed by the IGeneX labs because they are more accurate. I have also been told that there results come back positive 98% of the time. Is this true? If so, that doesn't seem scientifically or statistically correct either. Can anyone give me feedback or point me to a website where I can learn more about this?
Alas you are mistaken. I work for a non profit sliding scale clinic that pays salary to providers and no encentives. More testing etc.. does not increase wages for us. We give the best care possible at the lowest cost so that we can treat the most patients and give those that need care that can not afford it what they need.
No one is turned away for any reason, period!
So no money for me is not an issue here. what is an issue is practitioners giving care and hope that is unfounded. I will caveate this by saying that I acknowledge that some of the patients that have been treated for Lyme truely had Lyme as diagnosed by Igenex. As I initially stated I think it worthy to question the practice of using your father's lab to test your own patients to make the diagnosis. It is far from standard practice and to me unethical as well.
I ask you this, what is the difference? If your water company has their water tested by the company that makes the filters the water company uses? Would you believe the results? Or the equipment that diagnosis your engine troubles is made by your mechanics owners?
Best to you
No one is turned away for any reason, period!
So no money for me is not an issue here. what is an issue is practitioners giving care and hope that is unfounded. I will caveate this by saying that I acknowledge that some of the patients that have been treated for Lyme truely had Lyme as diagnosed by Igenex. As I initially stated I think it worthy to question the practice of using your father's lab to test your own patients to make the diagnosis. It is far from standard practice and to me unethical as well.
I ask you this, what is the difference? If your water company has their water tested by the company that makes the filters the water company uses? Would you believe the results? Or the equipment that diagnosis your engine troubles is made by your mechanics owners?
Best to you
You make serious and unsubstantiated claims here against IGeneX and the Harrises (father and son).
Unlike you, I do not have a financial interest in seeing IGeneX be taken down. And I quote you: "Our clinic has treat [sic] many true Lyme disease patients and also suspected Lyme in some cases as it is often better safe than sorry." So ... you yourself have a clinic, and IGeneX is eating your lunch?
I will skip over the rest of the non sequiturs in your post, and leave it at your acknowledgment that you are a competitor of IGeneX -- and are simply mudslinging for competitive advantage.
Unlike you, I do not have a financial interest in seeing IGeneX be taken down. And I quote you: "Our clinic has treat [sic] many true Lyme disease patients and also suspected Lyme in some cases as it is often better safe than sorry." So ... you yourself have a clinic, and IGeneX is eating your lunch?
I will skip over the rest of the non sequiturs in your post, and leave it at your acknowledgment that you are a competitor of IGeneX -- and are simply mudslinging for competitive advantage.
Jackie, I must say I sense a tiny bit of hostility here.
Most "Lyme" specialist will request a signed waiver priot to treatment in case of med errors i.e. improper dosing. using medications for off label use. And also require extreme costs out of pocket. I have seen patients treated for Lyme with > 1 year of IV antibiotics like Ertapenem. The carbapenems do not treat Lyme.
None of the organizations I mentioned are perfect and neither is Igenex.
If their testing so superior why is it not used by others? It is not proprietary technology. Our clinic has treat many true Lyme disease patients and also suspected Lyme in some cases as it is often better safe than sorry.
Lyme is vicious disease that is very real and definetively under diagnosed across the USA. Most do not even know that there is Lyme disease in Europe, Australia and elsewhere.
My only intention in bringing up the relationship is make some aware of the possibility of things not being what they seem. You seem very adamant that what these gentlemen are doing is proper. I respectfully disagree.
While no method, belief, or way of doing things is always correct atleast we live in a country where we can express our views and choose treatment we find most logical.
Best
2indebt
Most "Lyme" specialist will request a signed waiver priot to treatment in case of med errors i.e. improper dosing. using medications for off label use. And also require extreme costs out of pocket. I have seen patients treated for Lyme with > 1 year of IV antibiotics like Ertapenem. The carbapenems do not treat Lyme.
None of the organizations I mentioned are perfect and neither is Igenex.
If their testing so superior why is it not used by others? It is not proprietary technology. Our clinic has treat many true Lyme disease patients and also suspected Lyme in some cases as it is often better safe than sorry.
Lyme is vicious disease that is very real and definetively under diagnosed across the USA. Most do not even know that there is Lyme disease in Europe, Australia and elsewhere.
My only intention in bringing up the relationship is make some aware of the possibility of things not being what they seem. You seem very adamant that what these gentlemen are doing is proper. I respectfully disagree.
While no method, belief, or way of doing things is always correct atleast we live in a country where we can express our views and choose treatment we find most logical.
Best
2indebt
With this said I would like to draw attention to the very true fact that there is probable grounds for prosecution of collusion of Igenex and many "Lyme literate doctors". Why do I say this??? Has anyone ever noticed the fact that founder and CEO is Nick Harris? Has anyone noticed that his son is Steven Harris a supposed "Lyme specialist"?
When a practitioner uses his fathers laboratory to make a diagnoses ot Lyme it should be suspect. No?
NO, NOT IF THAT IS THE BEST LAB AVAILABLE.
NB I am not using capitals to shout but to distinguish my replies from the original post by 2indebt)
Why do all these "Lyme" specialist use the same lab?
THEY DON'T. THERE ARE OTHER LABS THEY USE TOO.
Why do they request that you sign a waiver?
MY LYME DOCTOR HAS NEVER ASKED ME TO SIGN ANY WAIVER.
Why do they ask you to buy supplements that you can only get from them?
AGAIN, I'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED TO DO THIS, AND NEITHER HAVE MANY OTHER PATIENTS HERE.
I ask this out of concern for patients, not out of any casue or intention. I have practiced in the health field for many years and have seen many horrendous things. But, to me this is malpractice and harmful to patients.
WHAT IS REALLY HARMFUL FOR PATIENTS IS HAVING LYME DISEASE THAT GOES UNDIAGNOSED AND UNTREATED FOR YEARS.
I WAS GOING BLIND, COULD HARDLY WALK AND SUFFERED PERIODS OF BOWEL INCONTINENCE BY THE TIME I WAS DIAGNOSED.
I WENT TO OVER 30 DOCTOR REPEATEDLY OVER A PERIOD OF 28 YEARS SEEKING A DIAGNOSIS AND NEVER GOT ONE. I WAS NEVER TESTED FOR LYME DISEASE.
THAT IS MY IDEA OF MALPRACTICE.
When a practitioner uses his fathers laboratory to make a diagnoses ot Lyme it should be suspect. No?
NO, NOT IF THAT IS THE BEST LAB AVAILABLE.
NB I am not using capitals to shout but to distinguish my replies from the original post by 2indebt)
Why do all these "Lyme" specialist use the same lab?
THEY DON'T. THERE ARE OTHER LABS THEY USE TOO.
Why do they request that you sign a waiver?
MY LYME DOCTOR HAS NEVER ASKED ME TO SIGN ANY WAIVER.
Why do they ask you to buy supplements that you can only get from them?
AGAIN, I'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED TO DO THIS, AND NEITHER HAVE MANY OTHER PATIENTS HERE.
I ask this out of concern for patients, not out of any casue or intention. I have practiced in the health field for many years and have seen many horrendous things. But, to me this is malpractice and harmful to patients.
WHAT IS REALLY HARMFUL FOR PATIENTS IS HAVING LYME DISEASE THAT GOES UNDIAGNOSED AND UNTREATED FOR YEARS.
I WAS GOING BLIND, COULD HARDLY WALK AND SUFFERED PERIODS OF BOWEL INCONTINENCE BY THE TIME I WAS DIAGNOSED.
I WENT TO OVER 30 DOCTOR REPEATEDLY OVER A PERIOD OF 28 YEARS SEEKING A DIAGNOSIS AND NEVER GOT ONE. I WAS NEVER TESTED FOR LYME DISEASE.
THAT IS MY IDEA OF MALPRACTICE.
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