November 1st marked two years since I received a stem cell treatment known as Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF). I had this treatment as part of the Lyme Disease program at the Infusio clinic in Frankfurt
Though I still have my health challenges, treatment at Infusio has been life changing for me. I honestly feel as though Lyme Disease is in my past and I am moving forward into a new chapter of my life.
However, I say this as someone who has never re-tested for Lyme Disease following my treatment. Which comes as a surprise to some people.
I guess re-testing seems like the logical thing do to following treatment. Surely you need to see in black and white that you now test negative for Lyme Disease?
Today, I want to chat about why it’s not as simple as that and share why I decided against re-testing for Lyme.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your doctor about Lyme Disease testing.
1. Lyme Disease Testing is Unreliable
The main reason why I haven’t re-tested is because testing for Lyme Disease is notoriously unreliable. Which is a big reason why Lyme Disease can be challenging to diagnose in the first place.
Sure, there are tests available that are more sensitive than the standard ELISA and Western Blot tests (such as the tests provided by Armin labs). However, no test exists that can definitively prove that the Lyme bacteria has been fully eradicated from the body.
In other words, a negative test on its own does not necessarily mean someone is free of the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. We all know that people can be very sick with Lyme but test negative (and I explain some of the reasons why in this post).
If we place so much importance on the fact a negative test doesn’t rule out Lyme, how can we trust that a negative test means we are cured?
Knowing this, in my case, I personally don’t value or feel the need to re-test for Lyme Disease.
2. Lyme Disease Testing is Expensive
Especially given that Lyme Disease tests are expensive!
If Lyme Disease tests were cheap, I’d probably do it out of interest. But, they simply aren’t.
A Borrelia elispot (Lyme Disease test) from Armin labs is– at the time of writing this post– £166 alone. Never mind taking any co-infection tests into account.
That’s a lot of money to spend on a test. Especially as the result would be unlikely to change anything for me.
3. I Place More Value on How I am Feeling
The reason why is because I place more importance on how I am feeling over a test result.
This was actually a huge gripe for me when the situation was reversed. I hated that I felt incredibly poorly but my test results always came back as negative.
I wish that doctors had placed more weight on my symptoms and how detrimental they were to my quality of life. Rather than relying on test results.
And, now, the opposite holds true. If I did get a positive result, it wouldn’t take away from how well I am doing.
I wouldn’t feel the need to start doing treatments because I’m doing well at the moment! Why rock the boat and all that.
4. I don’t feel the need to test for the sake of knowing
I feel like I’d just be testing for the sake of knowing. Which is fine if that’s what you need to do for your own peace of mind.
But, for me, I don’t feel I need to do it. I don’t need a piece of paper to confirm what I already know; that treatment at Infusio was one of the best decisions I made for my health.
Rather, I need to continue on the path I am already on. Which is looking after myself and keeping my immune system as strong as possible.
Most important of all, though, is simply enjoying the life I am now able to live.
FURTHER READING:
- In Response to *That* New York Times Lyme Disease Article
- Herbs for Chronic Lyme Disease: Can Herbal Therapies Help Chronic Lyme Disease?
- Learn How to Prevent Lyme Disease: Lyme Disease Awareness
- Lyme Disease Treatment at Infusio, Frankfurt: My Experience
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