They did a blood test on me, Igg-. Igm positive, then they sent it for confirmation, and the result came back inconclusive. I have excruciating joint, muscle and bone pain, and I often feel as if my ears are throbbing, like when they pop on a plane. I was given 1000 mg Ospamox tablets, and I am now taking the sixth one, but there is no change. I have been suffering for 7 months.
I have no idea whether I was bitten by a tick.
The interpretation of the symptoms you describe and the laboratory results is not always straightforward in cases of suspected Lyme disease, because the diagnosis of the disease often cannot rely solely on serological tests.
An IgM-positive (presumably ELISA) result, followed by an inconclusive (more commonly referred to as borderline) result in a confirmatory blot test, does not in itself rule out infection, as serological tests for Lyme disease do not detect the pathogen itself, but rather the immune system’s response to it. Borrelia is capable of modifying the immune response, so uncertain or contradictory, fluctuating serological results may occur even in the presence of an existing infection. Some test manufacturers recommend interpreting borderline results as positive results anyway.
These laboratory results appear to confirm the diagnosis of Lyme disease, especially if you have not previously had confirmed and treated Lyme disease.
After treatment, it may be worthwhile to use a direct diagnostic method to verify the treatment, which detects the pathogen itself rather than providing information about the immune response it triggers.
In addition, clinical symptoms are of particular importance in establishing a diagnosis, especially if the complaints are persistent and affect multiple organ systems.
It is not uncommon for patients to have no memory of being bitten by a tick or to have no classic Lyme rash. Less than half of Lyme patients remember being bitten, and only a quarter of patients have the characteristic bull’s-eye rash around the bite. Therefore, the absence of these symptoms should not be considered a factor for exclusion. Severe joint, muscle and bone pain that has persisted for months, as well as neurological complaints such as pressure or throbbing in the ears, can constitute a set of symptoms that may also occur in Lyme disease or other tick-borne infections. It is important to note that tick bites can transmit not only Borrelia, but also so-called co-infections, which can alter the symptoms and response to treatment.
The fact that you do not experience any improvement a few days after starting antibiotic treatment is not in itself considered abnormal or a failure of the therapy. Amoxicillin is one of the antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease, but its effectiveness depends largely on the duration of the disease, the form of infection, the dosage, proper preparation, and the presence of co-infections. Antibiotic treatment does not always lead to rapid symptom improvement, especially in cases of prolonged complaints. In general, Lyme disease, especially when accompanied by co-infections, can only be completely cured with a combination of antibiotics.
An important but often overlooked factor is that the success of treatment depends not only on the choice of antibiotic, but also on the proper preparation of the patient. Before and during therapy, attention must be paid to the body’s tolerance, the condition of the immune system and intestinal flora, and the step-by-step structure of the treatment, because improperly prepared treatment can exacerbate symptoms or reduce effectiveness. The treatment strategy is therefore not merely the administration of medication, but a complex, structured process that includes stabilising the patient’s condition and ensuring the tolerability of the therapy.
Overall, a positive ELISA IgM serological result may confirm the diagnosis, while a borderline blot test does not rule out the possibility of Lyme disease. The absence of a tick bite is not a decisive factor, and clinical improvement cannot be expected after just a few days of antibiotic treatment. Based on the complaints that have persisted for seven months, it may be justified to re-evaluate the clinical picture from a complex perspective, consider the possibility of co-infections, and review the appropriate preparation and personalisation of treatment with the involvement of a specialist experienced in Lyme disease.
(C) Lyme Borreliosis Foundation
