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Need help with rash, bulls eye or not?

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 10/3/2009 8:10 PM (GMT -8)
I need help. I had Lyme in 2005...super sick for over a year, felt like I was dying, the whole bit...made a good comeback, except the antibiotics I was on left me with a nasty yeast problem and irritable bowels. Not really the point...the point is the other day I was walking and felt something itchy on my back near the hip, I itched it. It didn't go away and feels a little sore. I looked at it in the mirror and all I could think was a bull's eye rash. Except I don't really know what one is like since I did not have one the first time around with Lyme.

What do you guys think? What does a bulls eye rash feel like? I tried looking this up myself with very limited success...you guys were always awesome so I thought I'd come back and ask...here are some pictures, this is my hip/love handle area.

I was living and still do live in a very high risk area...I could just scream at the fact I could be dealing with this again!!!!

But if anyone could help me as soon as possible, that would be great! thank you.
Posted 10/3/2009 8:32 PM (GMT -8)
Hol, it sure looks like a bull's eye to me. Not all 'bull's eye' rashes have the 'cleared' ring. If this is not a bull's eye, I sure don't know what it is. At any rate, sure looks to me like you need to see a Dr asap.

Please keep us apprised!
Posted 10/4/2009 3:18 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Hol1979,

It's nice to see people post about getting better. It gives us something to look forward to.

In my opinion, and I'm no doctor, that doesn't look like a bullseye rash to me. I've had bites that have gotten swollen like that. BUT, still have it looked at just to be on the safe side.

about the yeast...are you still taking probiotics to balance everything out in your system?
Posted 10/4/2009 7:23 AM (GMT -8)
oh yes I was very sick! And definitely got better. Just that the antibiotics left a path of destruction kinda. I still take probiotics!

I ended up calling Lyme dr and they want me on the drugs and to make an appointment...not sure what else it could be? Don't sometimes bull's eyes start out like this and spread and turn more bullseyish after? This is almost 2 days I've noticed it now.
Posted 10/4/2009 7:37 AM (GMT -8)
Hol, well, I thought these look like a bull's eye w/o the center clearing, because I have seen a lot of lyme rash photos w/o the center clearing. But CG does not agree. The resolution in the photos is not real good, so I think it's impossible for us to know for sure from them. I do agree that you need to see the Dr. When can you get in?
Posted 10/4/2009 7:43 AM (GMT -8)
Yes, they can start out with no center. That was just my opinion. I'm no doctor. The doctor would know for sure.

Are you going in to have him look at it?
Posted 10/4/2009 8:22 AM (GMT -8)
The 'typical' LD rash is seen in only about 40% of those infected. There are all kinds of Lyme rashes actually. If you notice ANY increase in LD sx, run - don't walk - to the nearest doc/pharm & get started on those abx!!!

During the spring & summer, my gp has me 'carry' a script for Doxy, so that as soon as I notice a tick attached, or any other suspicious thing I can fill it at my local pharm & then I'm under strict instructions to get in to see him asap!!!

Personally, I think this is a good practice for some.
Posted 10/4/2009 10:35 AM (GMT -8)
Sorry for the craptastic photo quality! It's just hard to get a good shot of this...I was wondering if it looks like it has changed shape or color? And also, I have two smaller red spots on other spots on my back now. Weird. Pharmacy said my meds are in. LLMD said to make appt, but they are doing appts a couple months out now sad because they are just SO booked, so I'm guessing by the time I get in, rash will be gone? I really appreciate you guys help! Thank you! *hugs*
Posted 10/4/2009 10:44 AM (GMT -8)
I would suggest you keep a photographic record of these "spots" & let your LLMD get a good look of them!!!

& if I was in your boat - I would be doing all the research my Lymie brain would allow & then some on my own!!

This approach has helped me many times.
Posted 10/5/2009 10:43 AM (GMT -8)
LLMD said I could go in for him to see spots today. I also have developed hurting knees, stiff fingers and a myriad of other symptoms that I totally had a few years ago and did NOT miss at all. I'm so tired and achey.

So YEP, I am back in the Lyme club. Doctor says he's pretty sure I also have Bartonella.
Posted 10/18/2009 6:43 AM (GMT -8)
Hello, I had a rash that also did not look like a typical bulls-eye but it was considered to be an erythema migrans rash due to Lyme disease. It started out looking like mosquito bite and within days it grew in size. The rash was oval shaped, raised in the cener and it would burn if I rubbed it. It was not particularly itchy but it was very warm to the touch. I was treated for Lyme disease and Bartonella.
Posted 10/18/2009 7:04 PM (GMT -8)
Yep mine was the same way! It was red like yours, had a definite center, warm, mine was slightly itchy at first, and I ended having THREE bite marks that my doctor identified, because there was also puncture holes. I believe mine to have been sort of a bull's eye, but just very faint...mine grew in size over the period of a few days too. I am glad that at least I saw it this time. My first bout with Lyme, I did not see any bite or rash or anything.
Posted 10/18/2009 7:38 PM (GMT -8)
Hol,

What did you doctor say about this second bite/bump?
Posted 10/19/2009 3:25 AM (GMT -8)
well, there were actually 3 and he just said I was bitten in 3 different spots pretty much. He asked me if I saw any tick and I said no. He said there were definite puncture marks in the center of each spot, though very tiny. He has me on Omnicef and Zithromax, which I haven't even had the guts to take both at once yet because they're ripping apart my belly which hasn't healed fully from my first bout with Lyme....this is why I posed about the alt tx recently...as I'd like to keep treating with abx but it's just so hard on my belly...I still have irritable bowel from the first time. Right now my biggest symptoms are painful knees and back. With the occasional stiff and sore neck, fingers, feet, etc. and another symptoms is that this past May, I had a C-section to birth my son, and my C-section spot hurts, and dr said that Lyme will attack scar tissue. Lovely.
Posted 10/19/2009 3:27 AM (GMT -8)
Oh also, I have a feeling of malaise a lot of time...just blah...like unwell...and before I realize I had Lyme again/around the time I found the bites, I had a swollen gland in my armpit and my neck glands were sore. But I didn't think much of it, because in early Sept. I had mono and I was just getting over it when I was rebitten and reinfected with Lyme so I thought it was a remnant from that. Ahhh, never a dull moment.
Posted 10/19/2009 4:21 AM (GMT -8)
I was infected in September 2 yrs ago. My rash was blistery with a clear center. I also had 2 red marks that looked like bites on my back at the same time. My rash was on my stomach. I think it is definitly Lyme. Especially with all of your symptoms. Wish I went to the doc when I had my rash. Thought it was poison ivy so didn't get treatment for 15 months. Glad u r on top of this!
Posted 10/19/2009 9:13 AM (GMT -8)
I know...unfortunately from the first time I have learned my lesson and know all, and I mean all, of the signs. Bleh.

It seems like the ticks tend to head for the middle part of the body a lot...I mean, I know not always...but sometimes...like in your case, your stomach, with me, it was my hip and middle back.

But when I was a little kid, I used to find those dog ticks in my head all the time.

Now it's just alllll deer ticks where I live.

I have it, my mom has it, my dog, and her dog have it. I have two very little ones and I'm just stumped about what I will do to protect them from Lyme. Besides not letting them outside. I mean, if I can't stop myself from getting it....
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