Do you think I have Lyme Disease?

It's very possible that you have Lyme.

You need to go to the doctor and get tested, and then you need to find an LLMD, because now you may have waited too long (sorry).

One Amoxicillin will do virtually nothing. Conventional doctors will put you on a month's worth, but if you still have symptoms, an LLMD might put you on a year or several year's worth.

You also need to detox.

Try to email one of the moderators.

Margaret

I never had a bullseye,
I thought if you did it meant lyme for sure
and didn't need a test?
I don't know if someone who just got diagnosed will get really sick,
we are usually chronic and stuff
=]chloe

Hi Sara3crows!
Welcome to our community!

If you haven't yet, please do read through our "New to Lyme? Start here!" thread that sits at the top of the forum. It's packed with important healing information, symptoms lists, detoxing suggestions and more.

A bull's eye rash is completely diagnostic of Lyme disease. It is the skin form of the infection and is the only thing that causes it. Even the CDC would have you diagnosed with your symptoms www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/index.html

Amox alone is not enough to treat this highly complex infection, it has to be combined with something like Probenecid in order to be effective, so you will need to either use natural means to heal or see a LLMD.

We can help you find a LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor) as close to your area as possible. 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 send me an email by clicking on my screen name or the small blue envelop under my screen name. I have already had a quick look and although I don't have any really close to you, I do have some that you can travel to. I'd be happy to share their contact information with you.​​Please include your state and area that you would like to find a LLMD.


You can 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 can also now email TBDA (Tick Borne Disease Alliance) at [email protected]​
​ and ask for LLMD referrals also.
​
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. Go to the ILADS site to read the new (2014) Treatment guidelines to get you started on your Lyme journey.www.ilads.org/lyme/ILADS_Guidelines.pdf

Sara3crows,

If you want to be proactive while looking for a local LLMD, will your primary/family doctor order a round of blood tests for you (even though he will not be directly involved in your treatment)? That's what I did while waiting for my initial LLMD visit and my Lyme diagnosis was verified w/in days of that 1st visit. Saved a bunch of time, money, frustration, etc.....You want to order a test kit through IGeneX in California. I did the test that cost $260 and is what was recommended to me......Hope this helps!

staceygar

Just read on Igenex site:
"Test(s) not yet available for NY Residents"

You don't need a test. You have the rash and, therefore, you have Lyme.

I suggest you take pictures of the rash to share with doctors.....and find a doctor willing to start you on antibiotics now.

I started treatment the day after I pulled a tick out of my abdomen. The tick was there at least 12 hrs. because it was that amount of time that passed between me noticing a tiny red bump on my abdomen and when I finally decided to investigate further. I thought the red bump was poison ivy but it turned out to be a nymph deer tick burrowing into my skin.

I had no symptoms when I started treatment and then I developed a few. My PCP didn't recognize the couple of weird and mild symptoms I had as being symptoms of Lyme. The 3 wks. of doxycycline was not enough to rid me of Lyme.

Some more weird stuff happened (all mild) but it was enough to motivate me to see an ILADS-trained LLMD. He noticed Bells Palsy in me that neither I nor my family noticed....it was that mild. Turns out, Bells Palsy after a tick bite is slam-dunk for Lyme.

I repeated at home the cheek-puffing he had me do in his office....and I then saw the facial weakness I developed. I then had an explanation for the novacaine-type feeling I had in the lower left area around my mouth.

I've been taking antibiotics for a total of 12 wks. now.....and I'm still not done. My LLMD says I need to take antibiotics for a period of time after being symptom-free for a month. I'm still dealing with symptoms.

Lyme is a complicated infection to treat and delaying treatment will only make it harder for you to heal.

I suggest you have those rash pics ready to share with a doctor....along with a printout of the info on the CDC site that Traveler linked for you.

Any doctor that can read should start you on some doxycycline. Then you can work towards finding a LLMD.

Best of luck to you!