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Does this look like a Lyme rash?

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Posted 7/21/2016 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone! I just joined this site, really hoping you guys can help :-) (doctors haven't been much use!!)

I was sat on the grass in the park 2 weeks ago now when I (unknowingly) got bitten, just above my ankle. I realised probably half an hour later as the area seemed to pinch and looked bloodshot in one spot.
Anyway, I dismissed it quickly thinking it would go away but it didn't..in fact it became a red rash with the bite in the middle and got progressively worse day after day.
After about 4 days my whole ankle was swollen, hot to the touch and painful when I walked so I figured I best see someone. At the walk in centre they prescribed me antibiotics (Flucoxacillin) as the doctor suspected it had become infected. It also really itched, right from the offset.
I took the antibiotics for 2/3 days and the swelling/pain vanished so I then stopped taking them as I felt the rash would go away by itself (plus they were making me feel bloated nono )
The rash didn't go away however, it spread down again and continued to really itch and bother me. I became really concerned but 2 days ago, when I noticed a little 'clearing' around the bite - like the typical Lyme bullseye (erythema migrans). Also little symptoms that I determined as nothing but they are: jaw pain and a sort of brain fog/confusion.

I made an appointment with my doctor promptly however she dismissed lyme telling me in the medical profession they go by 'what's likely' and fobbed me off with more antihistamines.
This obviously didn't put my mind to rest whatsoever and I went into a walk-in clinic today, only to have my lyme concerns dismissed again. The nurse there had a look at my ankle and the photo I showed her and told me it didn't look like a lyme rash. She was also quick to point out that I hadn't found a tick in my skin therefore there was no chance it could be lyme as the tick has to stay in the skin to transmit infection (which I don't believe..?!)

I'm feeling very confused now..I would love to go back to the Doc and demand bloods however I feel that is going to be pretty difficult to achieve and even if I'm successful in that - I live in the UK and I've read the testing system here is pretty inaccurate cry I know there isn't really much to go by because if it is lyme, it's in the early stages but that's when it's best treatable so if there's a chance there could be something wrong, I don't want to wait!! !Even though the rash has pretty much gone now)

here's a picture of my rash as it looked a few days ago, I don't have one of the bite initially unfortunately...
What should I do, does it look like Lyme or should I listen to all the docs and calm down?? [url]http://http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/ddsd1/IMG_0458_zpsxbb7rqhj.jpg
Posted 7/21/2016 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hope - welcome to our community!

The Dr. and nurse you saw are ignorant. You need to keep treating. You have caught it early...so please do what you can to continue treatment.

A red rash with a bite in the middle - is lyme disease.

I haven't heard of flucoxacillin being used in the "Lyme world" - but it's in the penicillin class...hopefully it will work.

How many more days of this antibiotic were you prescribed?

The link to the photo didn't work for me.
Posted 7/21/2016 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Girlie - thanks for your reply :-)

I can't actually take flucoxacillin anymore as the doctor today took it away! She said it didn't look infected so I didn't need to take the meds...it was only prescribed for seven days anyway.
Posted 7/21/2016 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Hope! I am so glad you found this forum. We are here to support each other. As you are finding out there is not a lot of support out there.

You are a smart girl. You are being very proactive which is in your favor.

Forget your Doctors, they obviously are not going to help you. You need to find a LLMD (Lyme literate medical doctor).

f you haven't ​yet​, 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!!", It is full of very important and helpful information.

A bulls' eye rash is indicative of Lyme disease. It is important to know that the EM rash is pathognomonic of Lyme disease and requires no further verification prior to starting an appropriate course of antibiotic therapy."
www.ilads.org/lyme/about-lyme.php#sthash.W73vuhCG.dpuf


For information on finding a​n ILADS ​(International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society)​ trained​ Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, 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 email the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at [email protected]​ for LLMD referrals and you can go to ​tbdalliance.org​​ to learn more about these infections.

You can 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.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74​​


ILADS has their own referral system as well:
ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/

And a new resourcewww.LymeDoc.org

Best wishes in getting the help you need!

Denise K
​
Posted 7/21/2016 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Oh one more thing, the forum can possibly help you find a LLMD as well. Just start a thread saying "looking for LLMD in UK. If there is someone out there that knows of one the can email you.

IF you cannot find one I would suggest going on a herbal protocol right away and treating yourself. There are a lot of herbal treatments that have antibiotic affects.

I did not catch that you were from the UK when I wrote the first post so some of these links may not help you.

Post Edited (Denikeef) : 7/21/2016 2:31:58 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/21/2016 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hope - there's not a lot of good options in the UK (that I know of) but I have list with a few...if you want to email me I can share them with you.


To email me - just click on the envelope below my screen name on the left.

Hopefully one (or more) of our UK members will be on and see this - you could also edit your title of this thread - and add "from UK" so it's easily seen.

As far as the herbal protocols go...we can help you get started on one.
Posted 7/21/2016 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I think it is definetly bull's eye rash, and therefore needs to be treated with antibiotics! PLease, do not stop the antibiotics until the rash is gone, and take it at least for 4weeks, but to be sure for 6weeks! Rather take meds for 6weeks than beeing cripple (and also taking meds) for decades!
Posted 7/21/2016 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Hope, sorry to hear about your bite and subsequent problems. I live in the UK and if you would like to email me I can give you some information, but as girlie says there are hardly any LLMD's in UK - I only know of two. Do get some anti biotics, I had jaw pain at the beginning and wish I had insisted on that, problem is I didn't have a rash and consequently have been struggling with lots of different symptoms for years. By the way Docs still look at me blankly when I mention Lyme Disease.
Posted 7/21/2016 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Denikeef - Thanks for your post, I have enabled my email option :-)

Girlie - I'd love to find a LLMD in the UK and learn more about the herbal protocols - will email you!

hornet599 - You're very right, I've been trying to explain to everyone that I'd rather worry myself now but have a stress-free future!
Posted 7/21/2016 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
I'd love to get in touch Suzee - could you make your email available on your profile? Alternatively, you can just email me :-)
Posted 7/22/2016 6:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Hope, sorry just edited my profile so my email address should now be available to you.
Posted 7/22/2016 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Hope.

I was unable to reach the site you posted, but my husband's rash sounds exactly like yours. It was red, hard, feverish and extremely itchy. He did have an attached tick in the middle of it. After a few days, there were little blisters all over it, like poison ivy. It got paler and paler, but the center never cleared. I have no doubt his is Lyme or one or more of the other tick-born infections.
Posted 7/22/2016 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
s50.photobucket.com/user/ddsd1/media/IMG_0458_zpsxbb7rqhj.jpg.html

I think I fixed the photo of the rash.
Posted 7/22/2016 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
VERY AWESOME!! Yes, you did, PeteZa!!! Thank you!

So, back to the picture, it doesn't look like a bulls eye at this point, but it could be turning into one as there is some clearing in the center starting. At this point in the picture, you are seeing your immune system trying to kick in, which is why it's all red.
Posted 7/23/2016 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
"I'm feeling very confused now..I would love to go back to the Doc and demand bloods however I feel that is going to be pretty difficult to achieve"

High Hope 196,
Just one thought for you on the testing. I would caution against testing at this point as the labs for Lyme's are very inaccurate anyway but especially during the first few weeks. The reason is, is they are testing for the bodies immune response to the disease which for at least the first 4-6 weeks is going to be minimal at best. If you want to test to try and understand if it may be Lyme's later that is fine but I would wait for the testing. If you suspect Lyme's than treat for Lyme's.
And besides it would only give the MD's more ammo to use so they can say "See I told you it wasn't Lyme's".

Nick
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