Is this lyme disease rash?

Allex - I don't know if one is better than the other. Both protocols are used by many people.

I have only used Buhner's so I am more familiar with it...but many members use cowden.

Usually people are on the protocol for longer - a year I think is recommended...but you are starting it symptom free, right? Your rash is gone and no other symptoms showed up?

So, in your case, maybe a couple months would be sufficient...if you remained symptom free.

Hopefully others will chime in...with their opinions/knowledge.

Girlie,
There is still a bearably noticeable pigmentation, but nothing else. I was told that's normal. Is it?

daddylonglegs,
Nothing other than the rash. Don't remember being bit; had my wife check me a couple of hours after hiking and she didn't see anything. She believes I'm a hypochondriac...
I'm still very active, going to gym, running, playing sports etc
Doctor told me it could be cellulitis, but he would treat it as lyme to be on the safe side.
Btw, did you rash completely went away?

I'm so sorry Daddylonglegs - not understanding this is definitely not gender specific.

Well, I was going to review your photos but they are no longer available. I think you had an atypical rash, but it was a rash and a sizable one too - it covered the top of your thigh(side to side), and at least half of the length of your thigh, right? Even though it's called an atypical rash, it's a fairly common one to Lyme, but could still be caused by other things.

It takes at least 3 weeks to develop antibodies to the Lyme bacteria - testing before that would do you no good.

Testing is so poor though, that you could still have a negative even if you had a very high bacterial load of the Lyme bacteria - as a matter of fact the higher bacteria load of Lyme (especially if combined with Bart), the less likely anyone is to have a positive test because Lyme keeps the immune system from responding properly and making the antibodies that the tests are looking for.

Even the DNA tests that are used sometimes will be faulty unless there are very large numbers of this bacteria in the blood stream at the time of the blood or fluid draw.

There is a new test out, but I haven't seen too much on it's accuracy yet.

The issues with testing are why at this point in time, treatment after a suspected infection is the best way to go - ask anyone here if they would have rather gone through possibly unnecessary treatment or wait like they did. I can tell you for sure that I would have much. much rather had gone through years of unnecessary treatments than to have had my entire life compromised and taken away from me like this.

If only I had had that choice.

and yes, once you have been exposed you will always show antibodies. The current thinking is because the bacteria is still in the body, but the immune system is able to keep them in low enough numbers that they don't cause any sickness - like with cancer, EBV, Shingles or any other number of things.

Thanks Traveler,

The photos are still available.
The rash got my attention when it looked like this http://imgur.com/yZBtXBy
It peaked on day 3 of my abx treatment http://imgur.com/1D0YaVq

I have two friends that work as doctors abroad, but neither of them have experience with lyme. Based on the photos I sent them, one of them thought it's cellulitis and the other one thought it's an allergy reaction. My primary care doctor thought it could be both lyme and cellulitis, but recommended to treat it like lyme (abx for 3 weeks)

I finished my abx treatment this weekend, but based on everybody's feedback decided to continue my treatment. I decided to try core Buhner (Japanese Knotweed, Cat's Claw, Siberian Eleuthero)
+ Banderol + Serrapeptase + Sarsaparilla + Probiotics.
I will start the protocol today and will treat for two months (I'm symptoms free)

Do you think I should try to find some abx as well?
Would you recommend more than 2 months?

Allex...take a look at mine... this was the day after it started expanded (day 2 of doxy treatment--June 8th maybe)...

http://i60.tinypic.com/17db9t.jpg

The PA i saw in urgent care took about 2 seconds to diagnose it...the 2 nurses i saw prior to him both said it was lyme.. the doc even said it could be in a text book.

I've been off abx for 5 days...still going to wait longer...plan on letting anything left to come out of hiding then be blitz by abx.