If you had to choose only ONE test

[golden]

Which would be most likely in M.E. to show physical abnormalities

which one would it be?

that nebulase blood test surely counts for a lot?

 

[ukxmrv]

The tests that I have had that I keep referring back to over the years have been

1. TH1/TH2 ratios and then absolute numbers for the different parts
2. Saliva cortisol test (taken at different parts of the day)

 

[Valentijn]

Blood platelet catecholamines - the results explained my OI problems, and have let to a very successful treatment for it.

 

[golden]

1) The Intrinsic Factor.

One blood test with potential full recovery possible if it a problem. (true B12deficiency)

2) Nagalase blood test.

Would offer a physical biomarker , some M.E. bloodshed come back at the same level as HIV patients. This would indicate beginning GcMaf treatment .

3

 

[Ema]

A saliva cortisol test.

Ema

 

[Seadragon]

ukxmrv - is there anywhere you can get these done in the UK? I have access to private health care through my husband's work but would not know who to see. Could any immunologist do these or does it need to be at a specialist teaching hospital (or something like that - brain fog, sorry!)

Esperanza x

 

[SickOfSickness]

If money and travel were no problem, I'd like one of those new expensive tests. I don't know if they are available yet (unless you are in a research study). I don't know what they are called now. The kinds in the new articles. I think they are MRI or better than MRI.

 

[ukxmrv]

Hi Esperanza, My th1/th2 were done when Dr Hyams was still seeing patients in London. I've actually had 2 different Th1/th2 tests as the second one was done through a USA doctor who used to visit here and the bloods were sent to the USA. Have a feeling that the USA doctor may have been using Dr Klimas' lab but this was a long time ago and things are hazy.

The cortisol test was a saliva one and I think done by a lab in the Netherlands.

I'm not sure who is offering blood tests in London now Dr Hyams has gone. One possibility would be to have a consultation with Dr Enlander (either by Skype or when he comes to London) and see if he would suggest the tests. Might be a good idea to check with his office first to see if he does organise tests when he comes to London.

This is one of the private labs a lot of the private docs use

http://www.tdlpathology.com/home

This is a lab in Belgium that is used by some patients and doctors in the UK

http://www.redlabs.be/

 

[Hip]

TH1/TH2 ratios and then absolute numbers for the different parts

I am familiar with the whole TH1/TH2 balance theory, and its relation to ME/CFS, but how would you say the results of this TH1/TH2 test helped you in terms of guiding you to an appropriate treatment or course of action?

Presumably if the results show an individual is towards the TH2 side, it might be advisable to take TH2 > TH1 shifting immunomodulators. Or are there more complexities to interpreting results than that?

 

[ukxmrv]

Hi Hip, I'm in the UK so it's not even taken seriously that any person with ME could have immune system abnormalities. I've referred to my tests everytime a measure of an immune system is shown. It's only a theory. A private immunologist took the risk of writing a script for Immunovir after seeing my th1/2 tests and my GP even got the PCT to pay for a course. A miracle here (and in my experience an isolated one) and it didn't last long but I can now buy it on the internet.

The TNF-a was useful as it was high and I did manage to get an experimental drug and then the TNF-a went down and my symptoms improved.The NHS won't pay for that of course or any other treatment.My access to see a private doctor is very limited.

When I mentioned my tests I said that they were the ones that I referred to the most frequently. This was be in relation to published papers to see if the theories are still popular and to see where I fit in. Very little guides me to a course of action as we can get so little testing or treatment in the UK. All my treatments are either luck that the right person gave me a drug to try or I had enough money to buy some or a very lucky appointment with a visiting doctor or similar.

 

[Hip]

The TNF-a was useful as it was high and I did manage to get an experimental drug and then the TNF-a went down and my symptoms improved.

So you had a whole cytokine profile as part of this test. Makes sense, as I guess the Th1/Th2 activity is probably measured via measuring cytokine levels.

I have a whole list of supplements that reduce TNF-alpha. PM me if you want the details.

 

[golden]

*an earthing tester.

This measures how much electricity is running through your body.

It can be tried in different locations in the home, on concrete, in rubber shoes, and on grass.

It can also be used with a grounding sheet which earth the body.

The recovery earthing bags are used by athletes to speed up healing.

Personally, I think earthing is a top ten contender on the list of most important....

I am just awaiting my earthing tester.

 

[Living Dead]

Which would be most likely in M.E. to show physical abnormalities

which one would it be?

that nebulase blood test surely counts for a lot?

I am assuming severe cases diagnosed by the ICC ME criteria. Cardiac output in supine (lying down) position, measured by impedance cardiography will be abnormal. Unfortunately, this test tells us absolutely nothing about what's wrong.