I just finished up my Doxy, how do I know if it's gone?

Hi, I am new to this forum and so glad I found it... takes people who understand that "I" am not crazy or a "chronic complainer". I just finished 21 days of Doxy 100 mg twice a day... yes I had side effects and glad I am done... but how do you know the Lyme is gone? Do you just wait to see how you feel? or other signs? Also, just so ironic that I fell in July (3 weeks apart) on the same left knee... and it is hurting... seems like it started to hurt worse after stopping the Doxy. Is that normal? I also sometimes can't get my words out right and at first was afraid I was like my Mother getting Dementia? Sound paranoid I know, but this Lyme Disease as we all know, is frightening. The symptom I had that my husband finally forced me to go to a Faster Care doctor (my P.C.P. said it was hives) and beg for a blood test - was the bulls eye that was spreading and new ones were forming... (no middle dot by the way). I never saw this tick or where it bit, so how do you determine how long you might have been infected? My my, so many questions.... sorry this is jumbled with questions. Any help is appreciated.... THanks!!!

I just finished antibioltics Saturday, the rashes have been gone, but legs/knees continue to ache and sometimes have speech issues.... I have had weird jaw/tongue symptoms and sinus feeling head issues... that has subsided considerably? Is this a Doxy side effect? It is so hard to pinpoint anything with this Lyme, isn't it? I appreciate you replying and any help I can get. I live at the end of a lane surrounded by woods and worry about my husband and children getting this so being very vigilant about spraying and checking. Thanks!!

Thanks, I will do that!!

My symptoms that I am actually aware of... started beginning of June... the rash thing came and went, then reappeared last of June, and continued on to spread and multiply. I then began to understand I had other symptoms... mid June and fever of 101.5 without any other illness - I was perplexed about that, but never thought of Lyme. I still feel strange, but I have read many posts wherein it can take a while for the symptoms to actually disappear even after finishing the antib.
I can't thank you enough for replying - everyone - this is nothing to mess with and those who don't have it, don't understand... ..