Hi Todd!
Welcome to our forum!! I am sorry to hear of your experiences with ticks & poison ivy!!
A site where poison ivy has brushed up against a person will frequently turn red & swell some, it leaves a 'welts' -fluid filled blisters. There are special soaps now available now just for washing those sites on a persons' skin where they has brushed up against it.
I believe that you would be doing yourself a huge favor by investigating this further. It sounds as if your previous treatments for tick-borne infections may not have been adequate. Reappearing rashes
is a symptom of a tick-borne infection.
I would heavily suggest that you read through the thread at the top of the forum titled, "
New to Lyme?...Start here!, as it is full of some really important info and informative links to help you get started.
I would then like to suggest (heavily) that you get in to see a Lyme 'specialist' - a LLMD (Lyme literate medical doctor - as they are educated on these infections and how to recognize them not only in a blood test (which aren't that reliable), but by your symptoms as well (clinically). If it's a tick-borne infection, p[leas don't ignore it - it won't just 'go away'.
If you need help with finding an LLMD, all you need to do is to ask! Start a new post and include where you live - or at least the name of a larger city near you - here on the forum. Another thing to do to find a LLMD in your area, email our long time member, Dan's Mother at:
[email protected]If you'd like more doctor suggestions, you can email stephanie at:
[email protected] You can also go to:
www.turnthecorner.org/bod.htm 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=74You will want to find an ILADS(International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society) doctor. The ILADS site is a great place to read to get you started on your Lyme journey.
www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_clearing_ilads.html I do hope this helps some! Please feel free to ask more questions!!!
Once again, Welcome!!