Well, I was able to see the pictures and you need to take those pictures and get to a LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor) as soon as you can. You need to start abx (antibiotics) as that is a bulls eye rash. This is the skin form of the disease, so there is no question that you have it. It doesn't matter that you have no other symptoms.
You are correct - 200 mgs of Doxy a day isn't a high enough dose and 10 days certainly isn't long enough, as this is a slow growing bacteria. Most bacteria replicate in just a matter of hours, but the Lyme bacteria takes 3 - 4 weeks to do the same.
You will need to be on at least 400 and I would go for the upper range of 600 mgs of Doxy a day for at least 8 weeks so that you catch at least two rounds of them replicating - you have a higher chance of killing off enough of the bacteria so that your own body can handle what's left.
There's no reason to freak out, but you have every reason you need to insist on the proper treatment - which you won't likely get at the clinic you went to. It sounds like you were dealing with Infectious Disease doc's and they don't believe in the same treatments that you will get from LLMD's, even though the patients that see a LLMD have a higher chance of recovery.
You can find a LLMD a number of ways. you can start a new thread titled something like:"Looking for LLMD
/LLND
in the _______ area." Although you will need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.
You can also email our long time member, Dan's Mother at:
[email protected] You can also email Stephanie at:
[email protected] You can also go to:
www.turnthecorner.org/ if you want to learn a little bit more about
Lyme Disease.
You can also go to The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:
www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74 You will want to find an ILADS (International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society) trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. The ILADS site is another great place to read to get you started on your Lyme journey.
www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_clearing_ilads.html I would also highly suggest that you read through our "New to Lyme? Start Here!" thread that sits at the top of the forum, as it's packed full of really important information, symptom lists that you need to be aware of as Lyme rarely travels by itself, helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, and a list of questions that you can ask any doctor that you are seeking treatment from!
You are not alone in this - we are here to help you learn what you need to and to offer our support and ideas as you go through treatments.