ticker

Hi Confused47, welcome to the board!

Although only about 50% of people with Lyme ever get a rash, a bullseye rash is a definite sign of Lyme. The rash alone merits treatment. Get photos of your rash. Place something near it, like a coin or ruler, before photographing to give it size definition. That way you have evidence of it if needed later.

Lyme disease is a multi-system bacterial infection caused from the bite of an infected tick. The rash is only one possible symptom. It is good you got the rash so you can get early treatment. Getting the proper treatment early in the infection may reduce the chance of long-term complications. Untreated or undertreated Lyme can be serious, chronic and debilitating. It is my understanding that an infection caught within two weeks of the bite should be treated with a minimum of six weeks of the right dose antibiotic. If symptoms are present after this time, futher treatment is warranted. Lyme needs much more aggessive treatment than many infections. Many doctors follow outdated protocols and undertreat.

It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. No test is completely reliable and you will most likely test negative this early in the infection. If a doctor relies soley on test results and will not treat you when you have the rash, he/she is not knowledgeable. Ticks can also transmit several co-infections. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. A knowledgeable doctor knows this and can treat accordingly.

If you tell me what state you are located in, I can post if I know of any Lyme doctors in your area.