Hi lovemuffin, welcome to the board!
Although only about 50% of people who have Lyme ever get a rash, a bulls-eye rash is a definite sign of Lyme disease. To me your rash looks like a bulls-eye. It is good you took photos of it. Take more if it changes. You may want to place something near it, like a coin or ruler, before photographing to give it size defiition. The rash can appear anywhere on the body, not only where you are bitten and it can also appear anytime in an infection.
Here are a few sites where you can see photos of some Lyme rashes:
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/PhotoAlbum_Rash.html
http://www.lyme.org/gallery/rashes.html
http://www.lymenet.org/picture4.shtml
Ticks are just about everywhere. You do not have to be in the woods to be bitten. You are correct that early infections are the easiest to cure. Please do whatever is necessary to get the proper treatment as soon as possible. Doing so may prevent the chance of long-term complications. The rash alone merits teratment. Most people test negative early in the infection.
This is likely more information than you need at this time, but it is still helpful. Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
When Lyme disease is a possibility, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. No test is completely reliable, and results can vary by lab. Lyme needs continuous, aggressive treatment. It is my understanding that the ELISA or titer test is the least reliable and the one most doctors run first.
Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.
If you need a doctor recommendation, you can email me at [email protected]
It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2008 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. I also recommend the books "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singleton, MD and "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner.