Sadly, getting a Lyme test is not always helpful. Since testing is so abysmal, it misses a vast majority of cases – which can be worse in the long run because when the test comes back negative doctors tell patients they don’t have Lyme, when they very well could be infected with numerous life-altering infections. Getting to an experienced Lyme literate doctor is your best bet as they use more sensitive tests AND they diagnose clinically based on symptoms, not a test with arbitrary antibody levels.
Jacksonville Lyme disease patients say they had to ask a dozen times for a test
Researchers at the University of North Florida say official Lyme disease statistics underestimate the number of people with Lyme disease.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Schools may be out for summer break, but we are now in tick season. As your family spends more time in the fresh air, it’s important to know how to avoid the disease-carrying arachnids.
At the University of North Florida, researchers are working to create a more sensitive test for Lyme disease, a disease that is transmitted through ticks. Needing a more sensitive test and getting doctors to give a Lyme disease test in the first place, are just some of the problems people with Lyme disease say they face.
“It was March 3, 2011,” said Melissa Bell. “He came home from school, I know the exact day because it was a traumatic day, saying, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong, I’m falling down at P.E.’ And then an A+ student started having problems with short term memory, C’s, D’s, F’s, started losing the ability to walk.”
Bell’s son was 11 years old when he started showing symptoms of Lyme disease, but no one knew what it was. Bell, who is now the president of the Florida Lyme Disease Association, says it took nearly a year of advocating for her son to get a diagnosis.
“We probably asked for Lyme testing a dozen times,” Bell said. “It shouldn’t be that hard to have children tested for Lyme disease.” (See link for article)
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**Comment**
Sadly, this is the norm in Lymeland.
Important quote:
“If you get a negative Lyme test, it doesn’t prove that you don’t have the infection,” Clark said.
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 