Still Waiting...

Got a phone call yesterday from Dr. Reddy herself regarding the test she ran in the office last week. What she ran was called a PCR test, and here's a reader's digest version of what it does:

The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test detects the presence of the DNA of the Lyme bacteria. The PCR test is a sophisticated approach that makes multiple copies of a specific region of unknown but suspicious DNA found in urine or blood. Once it produces enough DNA, it can be tested to see if matches the DNA of B. burgdorferi (the Lyme bacteria). The test allows detection much more quickly than a culture.

The test came back negative, but Dr. Reddy isn't ruling out anything. These tests sometimes have false-negatives, so she is investigating other avenues to confirm a diagnosis. Some ways could be an immunoglobulin check (haven't read up on that quite yet) and of course the spinal tap. She is very concerned with the "etiology" of my neurological symptoms, which there are many. So she is going to speak with my neurologist, Dr. Novey, today via telephone about my case. I believe what she ultimately wants to do is run a spinal tap and examine my central nervous system fluid, and she's contacting Novey so that he can do it in Athens for me.

Anyway, still in a waiting game. That's all I know right now...will keep this blog updated with the latest.

Best,
Joy