Hi kouklissa, welcome to the board! I think your English is fine :)
Although only about 50% of people who have Lyme ever get a rash, a bulls-eye rash is a definite sign of Lyme disease. Get photos of your husband's rash, it is important documentation. Place something near the rash, like a coin or ruler, before photographing to give it size definition. Here are some sites where you can see photos of some Lyme rashes:
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/PhotoAlbum_Rash.html
http://www.canlyme.com/rash.html
http://www.lyme.org/gallery/rashes.html
Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. No test is completely reliable, and results can vary by lab. The rash alone merits treatment. Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA. Has your husband been tested for these?
Fourteen days of treatment is not long enough for Lyme. Do you and your husband live in Greece? The closest doctors I know of are in Germany. If you would like the information, you can email me at ko_@bellsouth.net You may be able to get doctor recommendations at EuroLyme Support forum www.groups.yahoo.com/group/EuroLyme/
Be aware of the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction (herx). Often, when people who have Lyme take antibiotics their symptoms get worse or they get new ones. When the antibiotics kill the bacteria, toxins are released making them feel worse. It can be scary when it happens, but it is a sign the antibiotics are working. Although this reaction can vary individually, many people experience this at the beginning of treatment and every three to four weeks.
During treatment, it is good for your husband to document his symptoms daily. One way to do this is to list the three main symptoms he has each day with a numerical rating of their severity from 1-10. Over time when he reviews this, he can see when his herxes occur and how he is responding to the meds.
It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2005 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. He also lists diet, supplement, and exercise recommendations. I also recommend the books "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner and "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singelton MD.
I hope your husband can get treated soon.
Post Edited (ticker) : 10/18/2008 7:25:02 AM (GMT-6)