First Time Poster - does bulleye = lyme disease?

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)

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.

yes.

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^{Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.  - Margaret Meade}

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. 

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.