Ok, I was reading the "list" of symptoms posted by copper and one of them said skin rashes. Well, I have these weird, mysterious reddish purplish lines appear on my back and arms for a few days and then leave. My doctor is stumped. I figured they are hormone related somehow...didn't think they were related to fibro. They don't hurt, don't stick up or anything...just looks like someone drew a few lines with a marker on me. Curious to know if anyone else has this!

Hi Rorie,

I don't get marks like that but I have a funny rash on my back and across my breasts. It's pinkish/purplish and looks bumpy but it's not. I also find that just touching my skin leaves red marks. If I scratch my skin somewhere, it looks like I've been attacked by a cat!

I've also been wondering if anyone else has problems with acne as a result of FM? I've always had clear skin until this DD started and now I am extremely prone to break-outs and nothing seems to help. It's so embarrassing.

Hi,

I suggest you both check out the lyme board here on healthboards and see if any of the posts ring true.

My story is this...I have been accutely sick for 6 months but suspect I may have had lyme since the summer of 2003. I saw over 15 doctors...some extremely respected. One blood test came back positive for Epstein Barr Virus, as well my homeopath pointed out that all of the pressure points for Fibromyalgia were sore. I had been tested through conventional labs 3 times at this point for lyme. I don't remember a tick bite...nor did i have the conventional bulls-eye rash. I did get really sick in May though and we had just moved to the country and there were ticks everywhere. I never had a fever that I remember but I did have visibly swollen glands on one side of my neck.

Long story short I went to a LLMD (lyme literate medical doctor) and he sent my blood to IgeneX in CA. I came back positive not only for Lyme but also for Babesiosis (a malaria like protozoan) and Ehrlichiosis. These are coinfections that are transmitted by the same tick. The babesiosis does not respond to antibiotics so thank god I am seeing a doctor who knows this and is treating me first with antimalarials and antibiotics. Once the Babesiosis is under control then we will more aggressivley go for the lyme and ehrlichiosis.

My point though is that while I never had the bulls eye rash I have this weird rash that comes and goes. It is really bad when I get out of the shower or I am heated by the weather or exercising (I am not doing much of this lately). The rash sometimes is a little itchy or not...sometimes it appears like little dots that look like chigger marks...or when I get out of the shower it looks like someone has scratched me in a Z shape or any shape...I also get very flushed after a shower. It is like my blood is right at the surface of my skin.

I thought I would share my story just in case you are dealing with a tick borne illness.

Take care,
ncgirl88