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Bulls Eye Rash Returning

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Posted 12/14/2016 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone experienced the bulls eye mark re-appearing well into the lyme journey? I know this mark is mostly associated with the initial onset of lyme but has anyone had it re-appear (excluding getting re-infected).

I ask because a year into my lyme journey I had it appear on my stomach (I actually never saw one when I first got infected).

Over the weekend I caught a cold (a real cold, not a lyme herx), and as we know when our defenses are down, lyme symptoms like to pop back up or get more intense.

As someone that is nearly symptom free, I get temporary returning symptoms if I catch a real cold or a real flu (real meaning runny nose and sneezing so you know it's "real").

I just found it real interesting a bull eye would appear as a herx, a year into having lyme.

Anyone else experience something similar.
Posted 12/14/2016 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
I haven't ever experienced a bulls eye rash, but I have read that they can reoccur.
Posted 12/14/2016 1:21 AM (GMT 0)

Girlie said...
I haven't ever experienced a bulls eye rash, but I have read that they can reoccur.

In a very bizarre way, a year later, it's almost like this confirms my Igenex results. As illogical/strange as that may sound, there's always that sliver of possibility a test can be wrong. It's almost like the bulls eye is more reliable than a positive test result.

When I researched why/how the bulls eye mark happens, it makes sense that it can happen again. But just curious to read what others have to say.
Posted 12/14/2016 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
I also heard it can happen, but I haven't experienced it.
Posted 12/14/2016 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I've read that this can happen. Disconcerting when one is nearly symptom free - for certain!
Posted 12/14/2016 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry I didn't answer your email yet, Dacarte. I was just completely exhausted last night.

The bulls eye rash is no more than a symptom of the skin, so rashes can come back at any point when we are treating just like any other symptoms - just this one is very visible.

When you are in full remission, you should not have the rashes come back either.

The bulls eye rash IS more accurate than the testing, as nothing else causes the 'true' bulls eye rash other than certain strains of Borrelia (Lyme).

So sorry to hear about your cold though!! As 'not fun' as a cold is, it's a good sign when your body can produce those symptoms, as that means your immune system is at least that functional.

I hope you feel better soon!!
Posted 12/14/2016 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
I know in the OP's specific case they are dealing with a bullseye, but I just want to point out that the bulls eye characteristic is not ubiquitous of the EM rash.
Posted 12/14/2016 3:50 PM (GMT 0)

Lymepilot said...
I know in the OP's specific case they are dealing with a bullseye, but I just want to point out that the bulls eye characteristic is not ubiquitous of the EM rash.

Can you explain your thoughts a bit further? This doesn't make sense to me, maybe it's because I'm exhausted, but the bull's eye rash is the only rash that confirms Borrelia completely. The other forms of EM rashes can be confused with other things.
Posted 12/14/2016 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/rashes.html

According to the CDC the EM rash due to Lyme has multiple forms and does not solely present as a classical bullseye/target.
Posted 12/14/2016 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
The CDC only gets one thing right about these infections - they are a clinical diagnosis and should not be based on test results alone. They actually have so much information wrong, that they can't be considered a reliable source of information.

For information about a bull's eye rash, or other manifestations of Lyme rashes, these are good sites:
jemsekspecialty.com/erythema-migrans/


phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/CZVBD/Shared%20Documents/Lyme_MD_poster_FINAL.pdf


www.childrenslymenetwork.org/children-lyme/lyme-disease-symptoms/


lymeontario.com/about/about-lyme-disease-2/


/canlyme.com/lyme-basics/symptoms/classic-lyme-rash/


www.lyme-disease-research-database.com/lyme_disease_blog_files/tag-bullseye-rash.html


www.bayarealyme.org/blog/lyme-disease-bullseye-rash/


These are all sites I commonly go to in order to help identify a EM rash or provide information to others about them.
Posted 12/14/2016 5:25 PM (GMT 0)

Lymepilot said...
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/rashes.html

According to the CDC the EM rash due to Lyme has multiple forms and does not solely present as a classical bullseye/target.


That is true...the EM rash is not always in the form of a bulls-eye. (I think that was what you were pointing out?)
Posted 12/14/2016 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Traveler I think we are both on the same page but just not connecting.

The point I am trying to get across is that a "classical bullseye with central clearing" is NOT the only presentation of am EM rash due to Lyme.

http://www.bayarealyme.org/blog/lyme-disease-bullseye-rash/

"No. A certain kind of rash, called erythema migrans, is a telltale symptom of Lyme disease, and if you have it call your doctor immediately. But not everyone who has Lyme exhibits a rash, much less the “bullseye” rash so often associated with Lyme disease."
Posted 12/14/2016 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
My rash was not a perfect bullseye but it was at the spot of the tick bite. When the doctor saw it she did not even look at the ELISA test, immediately prescribed 2x100 doxy for 2 weeks. Sadly it proved not enough and hello chronic Lyme.
Posted 12/14/2016 6:29 PM (GMT 0)

Lymepilot said...
Traveler I think we are both on the same page but just not connecting.

The point I am trying to get across is that a "classical bullseye with central clearing" is NOT the only presentation of am EM rash due to Lyme.

http://www.bayarealyme.org/blog/lyme-disease-bullseye-rash/

"No. A certain kind of rash, called erythema migrans, is a telltale symptom of Lyme disease, and if you have it call your doctor immediately. But not everyone who has Lyme exhibits a rash, much less the “bullseye” rash so often associated with Lyme disease."

My bad, Lymepilot. I'm having a really bad day today. So sorry. Thank you for your patience with me.
Posted 12/15/2016 3:43 AM (GMT 0)

Traveler said...


When you are in full remission, you should not have the rashes come back either.

I agree. However "full" remission, can also be elusive. It can be in remission for a certain time frame. Pop back up and then put back into remission by the immune system.

I've accepted the fact that when I don't have a cold or flu, I'll feel fine. But when a cold or flu happens, I can expect lymie symptoms to accompany it. This is probably my reality for the rest of my life. However, knowing how much worse lyme can be, I'll take it.

I heard a similar story of someone who once caught malaria. And now every time they get a cold or flu, the opportunistic (much like lyme) pathogen of malaria pops back up and he's always recovering from both essentially. A life long 2 for 1.
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