a tick bite me 1 month ago..and I'm freaking out

So a bout a little over a month ago I found a tick feasting on my precious blood. And unaware about the lyme disease "epidemic" I just pinched it with two fingers(didn't squeeze it) pulled it off. I realy didnt think much of it at the time. when it was off it left a bite mark it was during work hours so I couldn't stop to disinfect the bite and I completely forgot about it. So a couple of days later I notice that I have a lite red circular mark with a bite mark in the center the whole thing was about the size of a Resin and a little over a month later It has not Gotten any bigger ever since but it has not healed. Bite mark is a little bump in the center of the red circle but still the size of a Resin I haven't had any lyme symptoms so far. Is there a chance I have lyme disease???? please help thanks for reading. btw I I've in Noth Dekota.

Hi Daniel and welcome!

Stay calm and please take photographs of the bull's eye rash putting a coin and/or ruler next to the rash. Some say to put a newspaper with the date on it as well. This way you can document your rash.

A bull's eye rash is a given that you may have lyme. Depending on your immune system you may develop lyme disease symptoms or may not. Or you may develop them later on. By taking the photographs you have proof that you have (had) the bull's eye rash.

I strongly suggest to be on the safe side and find a doctor who will prescribe a minimum of Doxycycline (600 mg. a day) for 3 months. Doxy should not be taken on an empty stomach but with food.

Please read the Sticky Thread on top of this forum called "New to Lyme? Start Here!" as it has so much information.

Again, please don't panic, but do take precautions such as the photographs (and you should continue taking photo's of your rash every day (for documentation purposes) and please find a doctor who will prescribe you doxy.

Please ask as many questions as you can okay? We are here to help you.

Denise

Hi Daniel,
Welcome to our community!

If you haven't already, it would be helpful for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled,"New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as it is packed full of important information, symptom lists (as Lyme rarely occurs by itself), helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, ​a list of questions that you can ask any doctor that you are seeking treatment from and so much more.

As Deejavu suggested, please take a picture of this rash. The bulls eye rash is the skin form of Lyme disease, so if you have the bulls eye rash, you have Lyme disease. Don't wait to see if you develop symptoms though - right now is the best time for treatment. You will have the best chance at not having to deal with this later on if it's treated properly now.

According to the new (2014) ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) treatment guidelines:
"Recommendation 2b:
Clinicians should prescribe amoxicillin, cefuroxime or doxycy-
cline as first-line agents for the treatment of EM."
www.ilads.org/lyme/treatment-guideline.php

An "EM" means erythema migrans or bulls eye rash. You can find many pictures of them online.

Can you get in to see a doctor and see if they will prescribe you some antibiotics? Please be sure to take a look at the treatment guidelines to be sure you get a high enough dose of abx. Generally 400 - 600 mgs of Doxycycline for at least 6 weeks will take care of Lyme in this stage- EM rash without symptoms.

Hi Daniel,

You went to the wrong doctor. I suggest you start a new thread asking for a LLMD in North Dakota.

Also, have you taken photographs of your rash since it's still there? If not, please do so as a LLMD will see that and give you Doxycycline immediately.

There are no borders when it comes to ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, and all the other bugs that carry lyme bacteria.

I had a friend on this forum who lived in Montana and she had chronic lyme. She was even in the pre-production phase of the film "Under Our Skin" but at the end they cut her out of the film because she used alternative medicine... True story but that has nothing to do with you.

Again, please start a new thread asking if anyone knows of a LLMD near you okay?

Hang in there,
Denise