Quote:

anyone going thru the diagnostic runaround ordeal OUGHT to have that
Western Blot test done by a good lab...(not QUEST)...it'll show a lot of details about
your health in general- it even showed my low-level infected teeth...each of the bands
has specific relevance



Ben,

Did your doctor show you the full results of the test? I had a lyme test done, at the encouragement of a friend whose sister was infected with lyme, by my GP a little over two years ago. She (the friend, not the doctor) thought that lyme might explain some of the "goofy" symptoms (chemical sensitivities, trigeminal neuralgia/cranial neuritis) that don't seem so common to AS that I'm still trying to resolve.

The test was done through LabCorp. It was a IgG/IgM test. Western Blot is mentioned on the results sheet, but I don't think one was done as the results of the initial testing were negative. It states that the CDC (oh...please...seriously...) recommends a Western Blot only when the IgG/IgM result returns equivocal or positive. The initial test was negative, and what I can interpret based on a copy of the lab work in my possession, no Western Blot was done.

You have piqued my interest with the fact that you state that the Western Blot picked up some low level infection in your teeth. I've been to the dentist three times, oral surgeon twice, and a TMJ doctor due to what I'm told is a facial (trigeminal) neuralgia. All of their exams and tests were negative for any structural dental problems. I continue to vacillate regarding whether I need to pursue resolution through an MD or some sort of dental explanation/solution. I've been to a neurologist who wanted me to schedule an MRI, but he was an a$$ and pushed some newfangled, chemical samples on me. Therefore, I ran and never went back. I also have not seen another neurologist. I guess the simple answer, enabled by a neurologist, is to use the drugs to cover up the symptoms. The thing is tearing my life apart, but I'm not yet willing to live in a drug induced haze as a trade-off for symptom relief (although it's getting close). A naturopath told me, based on some VEGA feedback testing gadget, that it might be NICO (Neuralgia Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis) and that I should see one of these biological dentists. However, 1) this diagnosis and the method used (a Cavitat scan) to diagnose the condition is rather controversial (imagine that!) 2) a pre-requisite of the condition seems to be having some sort of infected major dental work (think root canal), yet I've only ever had my wisdom teeth pulled and one minor filling on the opposite side (upper left) of the affected area (bottom right) 3) I'd like a more definitive answer from an MD before I spend thousands of dollars to have one of the biological dentists digging around in my head when it may not be necessary.

My curiosity lies in wondering if a Western Blot might shed any light on a potential dental cause, similar to the results of your Western Blot.

Any thoughts or additional insight based on your experiences would be appreciated. Thanks.

P.S. Sorry for what might be too much information, however, perhaps another member will read this and have some ideas.

Kind Regards,
Jay

Almost all of us long for peace and freedom; but very few of us have much enthusiasm for the thoughts, feelings, and actions that make for peace and freedom. - Aldous Huxley

Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now. - Thomas Jefferson