do i have the erythema migrans rash?

is that the lyme disease rash? if so does it mean i absolutely have it? or could it just be a bad bite...

How long was the tick on you before you noticed it and removed it? How did you go about removing it and did you get the whole tick out without leaving the head in your skin?

The pictures really can't say whether or not you have developed lyme disease at this point. What you really need to do is see a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) asap and have him/her look at it. The best course of action, in my opinion, would be to get treated with antibiotics as a preventive measure for a period of a minimum of a month and possibly up to four months (various opinions on this). That would be the safest thing to do and should very likely prevent you from developing a full blown case of lyme disease.

It's best to let your LLMD look at the bite and make a decision as to whether or not he/she wants you on antibiotics (which most like he/she will) and for how long. BUT, the sooner you do this the better your chances of not developing lyme disease will be. Right now a blood test would not show if you have lyme disease as it's too early, but there's no reason to wait and see if you develop the disease when you can take preventive measures now. This is not something you want to play around with--believe me.

Anyone else have some suggestions for yankees237?

Gary

You were wise to go to the doctor today and get started on abx. It's typical that a non-lyme literate doctor would prescribe you only 21 days of doxy. I would stay on doxy for at least one month and possibly longer to be on the safe side. By the way, take some probiotics too so that you don't kill off all the good bacteria in your stomach while killing off the bad stuff.

Probiotics are very important to take while on antibiotics otherwise you could develop some serious stomach problems. Take probiotics three to four hours apart from antibiotics. Be sure to eat food with your doxy and don't take them late at night before you go to bed otherwise they'll burn your esophagus. Taking probiotics before bed and when you get up in the morning is a good way to do it.

If you already know this, sorry to repeat it. I had to learn the hard way, so whenever someone gives me good advice like this I always appreciate it.

Razzle, Denise, CajunGrl, others, what say you?

Gary

Hi yankees237,

I agree with all that Gary said. To help prevent the other possible coinfections, I would pick an alternative protocol and add that in as well. Find a good naturopath that is lyme/coinfection literate. We have found them to be a necessary addition to treatment.

I am happy you are treating immediately after the bite. You now have the best chance of warding off these "creeps".

Best wishes to you, bablymers mom

Hi yankees,

I don't think your rash is an EM rash but it's good that you are on Doxy and Gary gave you great advice on how to take the Doxy. 

I read that it doesn't matter how long a tick is attached, it could take seconds for a tick to inject the bacteria into one's body and most people don't even feel it because ticks have a numbing agent.   Also, most people never even see the tick or any blood sucking vector that carries lyme bacteria as the "host" of most lyme bacteria is the "white footed mouse".

Anyway, here are some photo's and information:

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=photographs+of+Erythema+migrans&rlz=1R2RNTN_enUS336&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=hD7lS52UNoW0lQfV1Z35Cg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBsQsAQwAA

http://www.lymenet.org/picture4.shtml

http://www.canlyme.com/rash.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythema_chronicum_migrans

Hope this helps and hope you don't have lyme.  Please keep a log of any symptoms you may develop or have every day just to be on the safe side and next time you take photographs, place a coin or ruler next to the rash along with the date, again, just to be on the safe side.

Hope this helps,

Denise