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First Time Poster - does bulleye = lyme disease?

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Chemaster
New Member
Joined : May 2009
Posts : 1
Posted 5/8/2009 8:17 PM (GMT -7)
One week ago, I removed a small tick from my leg. It was buried some but didn't appear to have been there for very long.

This morning, when I woke there was a bullseye ring around the area where the tick had bitten me. I remembered from somewhere that this could be a symptom of Lyme Disease so I called my doctor and he asked me to come in right away. After viewing the ring, he says testing at this stage wouldn't help but he prescribed 14days of 2x 100mg of Doxycycline.

So a few questions please: :)

1. I know that Lyme Disease may have symptoms such as the bullseye ring. However, does a bullseye ring after a tick bite mean that I most likely have Lyme Disease? Or is the ring common after all tick bites?
2. It has been 6 days since I removed the tick .... is there anything else that I should be doing? No other symptoms except the rash
3. Does the treatment at this point seem appropriate?

Thanks in advance!

Steve

Post Edited (Chemaster) : 5/8/2009 9:21:42 PM (GMT-6)

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IH8Ticks
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2009
Posts : 296
Posted 5/8/2009 9:03 PM (GMT -7)
A bulls eye rash is a big indicator of Lyme infection, but a lot of people who have Lyme never get the rash. You're actually fortunate to have such an obvious early symptom because it means that you'll get treatment sooner. Are you seeing a doctor who is good at treating Lyme? You need to be tested for other tick-borne infections. An LLMD (lyme-literate medical doctor) would know to do that. It is very common to be infected with other diseases at the same time that you are infected with lyme.

The antibiotics your doctor has put you on may not be enough. An LLMD might keep you on antibiotics for a longer period of time. Keep track of any symptoms that you may have over the next few weeks or months, even if they don't seem related to Lyme or if you think you're cured. Lyme can resist treatment, and you may feel better but not be fully rid of the disease. It may come back later.
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JELAINEP
Veteran Member
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 2017
Posted 5/9/2009 5:50 AM (GMT -7)
yes.
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ticker
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2003
Posts : 9208
Posted 5/9/2009 6:14 AM (GMT -7)

Hi Steve, welcome to the board!

How did you remove the tick?  For future reference, save it.  Although only about 50% of people who have Lyme ever get a rash, a bulls-eye rash is a definite sign of Lyme disease.  Having the rash merits treatment.  Be sure to get photos of it.  It is important documentation.  Place something near the rash, like a coin or ruler, before photographing to give it size definition.

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 may sound crazy since you do not have symptoms yet, but it is very important to get properly treated ASAP.  Early infections are the easiest to cure.  I cannot stress this enough.  Getting the proper treatment now may reduce the chance of long-term complications.  Many doctors do not understand Lyme and undertreat it.  This can lead to problems later on. 

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.  

If you need a doctor recommendation, you can email me at ko_@bellsouth.net 

It is also important to learn as much as possible.  I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2008 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf  He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. I also recommend the books "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singleton M.D. and "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner.  

I hope you can get treated soon.

 

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ttlittlestar
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 296
Posted 5/9/2009 6:30 AM (GMT -7)
Get yourself to a Lyme dr. I got bit just over 2 years ago. Had the rash. Dr put me on antibiotics for 3 weeks. Lyme test came back negative. 3 months later, I could barely walk. the three weeks of antibiotics was not enough. I have had this disease for over 2 years now because of the wrong treatment at the beginning.
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