Aa
Could it be lyme?
Hi there,
First off: I live in a relatively urban South Carolina area and do not recall being bitten by a tick (although I've read the nymphs often go unnoticed).
I've had a cold that started on July 28 and was prescribed antibiotics (azithromycin) and a steroid. It's important to point out here that I experienced only throat pain, severe congestion, and a cough but no muscle ache or fever chills, both described as typical for the flu-like symptoms associated with lyme disease. It took about two weeks for the cold to disappear and I am now (August 4) back to normal.
I have a yard that is frequented by squirrels (potential tick carriers) and is swarming with mosquitoes. I have often before displayed severe reactions to mosquito bites, with massive bruise-like rashes around the affected area. While playing with my dog in the yard, I was bitten, as usual, by a lot of mosquitoes. I didn't think too much about it until I realized yesterday that one of the (what I thought was) mosquito bites had a bull's eye shape. I remember itching that particular spot and noticing a reaction. I am not sure if I have been bitten by a mosquito in that particular spot. However, I've never had a ring shaped reaction to a mosquito bite.
I have attached a picture to this post - this is what the rash looked like last night. I will attach a second picture in which the rash looks almost like a bruise. It is from today.
I went to the doctor who (somewhat condescendingly) assured me that we have no lyme issues at all in South Carolina (a statement definitely up for debate) and that I am experiencing a totally normal rash, possibly as a reaction to a flea or mosquito bite. He agreed to run a blood test but I've heard those are unreliable.
I am not experiencing any other symptoms than the rash, although I am worried that the cold two weeks ago and the rash are related. While I do live in an urban area, I walk my dog quite a lot in parks and nature-y areas and, again, our yard is populated by squirrels and all kinds of insects.
First off: I live in a relatively urban South Carolina area and do not recall being bitten by a tick (although I've read the nymphs often go unnoticed).
I've had a cold that started on July 28 and was prescribed antibiotics (azithromycin) and a steroid. It's important to point out here that I experienced only throat pain, severe congestion, and a cough but no muscle ache or fever chills, both described as typical for the flu-like symptoms associated with lyme disease. It took about two weeks for the cold to disappear and I am now (August 4) back to normal.
I have a yard that is frequented by squirrels (potential tick carriers) and is swarming with mosquitoes. I have often before displayed severe reactions to mosquito bites, with massive bruise-like rashes around the affected area. While playing with my dog in the yard, I was bitten, as usual, by a lot of mosquitoes. I didn't think too much about it until I realized yesterday that one of the (what I thought was) mosquito bites had a bull's eye shape. I remember itching that particular spot and noticing a reaction. I am not sure if I have been bitten by a mosquito in that particular spot. However, I've never had a ring shaped reaction to a mosquito bite.
I have attached a picture to this post - this is what the rash looked like last night. I will attach a second picture in which the rash looks almost like a bruise. It is from today.
I went to the doctor who (somewhat condescendingly) assured me that we have no lyme issues at all in South Carolina (a statement definitely up for debate) and that I am experiencing a totally normal rash, possibly as a reaction to a flea or mosquito bite. He agreed to run a blood test but I've heard those are unreliable.
I am not experiencing any other symptoms than the rash, although I am worried that the cold two weeks ago and the rash are related. While I do live in an urban area, I walk my dog quite a lot in parks and nature-y areas and, again, our yard is populated by squirrels and all kinds of insects.
"The doctor I went to worked in a walk-in clinic and he assured me that in 35 years he hasn't seen one case of lyme in our area. He also said that the rash looked like a flea or spider bite."
That's like saying 'I've never seen an albino elephant, therefore they don't exist." What's the maxim: Absence of proof is not proof of absence.
If you search online for
-- south carolina lyme disease --
there are quite a few links to groups like CarolinaLyme, Lyme Disease Network of South Carolina, and other groups that can likely give you information about Lyme specialists. Lyme docs often don't advertise or want to be well known, because in some states, the medical boards can go after the docs for treating Lyme aggressively.
This reflects the split in the entire Lyme community, with the establishment clinging to the view that Lyme is rare, hard to get, and easy to cure, and never mind possible co-infections carried by the same ticks. The standard view is what docs like the walk-in dr you saw, because that is what the older view of Lyme is. Unfortunately, being on the cutting edge of medicine is not a comfortable place to be for anyone.
I've recounted this before, but may be worth doing again: back in the mid to late 1980s, when AIDS was first recognized, there was panic that it was as easy to get as the common cold -- and truly, the docs were scrambling to figure it all out. At that early point, AIDS had been recognized only in Haitians and gay men in the US, and to quell the rising panic, a doc from the CDC, in long white coat and with stethoscope slung around his neck, went on live national TV to state flatly that there was no need for panic because only gay men and Haitians had AIDS. Granted, the doc was trying to quell the panic, but what a dumb thing to say: viruses don't care who you are or where you are from.
Unfortunately, there is still a fair amount of the denial you encountered at the walk-in clinic, stating that 'in 35 years' the doc 'hasn't seen one case of Lyme in our area.' Hmmm, could it be that the doc wouldn't recognize a case of Lyme since he doesn't believe that Lyme is in the area? Cart before horse, anyone? If you don't believe something exists, you won't acknowledge it when you see it.
That is exactly where the medical profession is today, and so you are wise to look for a knowledgeable doc, and do it soon. The faster you are diagnosed and treated, the sooner you are well.
I hope you don't have Lyme, but if you do, you are doing what I would do: finding a Lyme doc who really understands. It took me 20 MDs before I got a diagnosis, and the 20th doc who ran the test that came up positive denied that the test was accurate! Duh. I took the test result and found a Lyme specialist, was treated 7 years ago, and am still well today. I wish the same for you!
Let us know how we can help and how you do, okay?
That's like saying 'I've never seen an albino elephant, therefore they don't exist." What's the maxim: Absence of proof is not proof of absence.
If you search online for
-- south carolina lyme disease --
there are quite a few links to groups like CarolinaLyme, Lyme Disease Network of South Carolina, and other groups that can likely give you information about Lyme specialists. Lyme docs often don't advertise or want to be well known, because in some states, the medical boards can go after the docs for treating Lyme aggressively.
This reflects the split in the entire Lyme community, with the establishment clinging to the view that Lyme is rare, hard to get, and easy to cure, and never mind possible co-infections carried by the same ticks. The standard view is what docs like the walk-in dr you saw, because that is what the older view of Lyme is. Unfortunately, being on the cutting edge of medicine is not a comfortable place to be for anyone.
I've recounted this before, but may be worth doing again: back in the mid to late 1980s, when AIDS was first recognized, there was panic that it was as easy to get as the common cold -- and truly, the docs were scrambling to figure it all out. At that early point, AIDS had been recognized only in Haitians and gay men in the US, and to quell the rising panic, a doc from the CDC, in long white coat and with stethoscope slung around his neck, went on live national TV to state flatly that there was no need for panic because only gay men and Haitians had AIDS. Granted, the doc was trying to quell the panic, but what a dumb thing to say: viruses don't care who you are or where you are from.
Unfortunately, there is still a fair amount of the denial you encountered at the walk-in clinic, stating that 'in 35 years' the doc 'hasn't seen one case of Lyme in our area.' Hmmm, could it be that the doc wouldn't recognize a case of Lyme since he doesn't believe that Lyme is in the area? Cart before horse, anyone? If you don't believe something exists, you won't acknowledge it when you see it.
That is exactly where the medical profession is today, and so you are wise to look for a knowledgeable doc, and do it soon. The faster you are diagnosed and treated, the sooner you are well.
I hope you don't have Lyme, but if you do, you are doing what I would do: finding a Lyme doc who really understands. It took me 20 MDs before I got a diagnosis, and the 20th doc who ran the test that came up positive denied that the test was accurate! Duh. I took the test result and found a Lyme specialist, was treated 7 years ago, and am still well today. I wish the same for you!
Let us know how we can help and how you do, okay?
Just saying...I was told there were no ticks in Washington state and it must be a spider bite. Three years later lyme and co infections are in my brain, heart and everywhere else. I don't mean to scare you but maybe I wouldn't be going through this had I taken Doxy back then. Jackie and others can help you find a LLMD in your area. Keep your pictures and date them.
Thank you, bdonahue7 and JackieCalifornia.
I want to point out that the two only thing that seems to vaguely point towards lyme is (1) the strange-looking rash that I have developed. Maybe the word rash is misleading here, it was an itchy spot that I scratched and that has end up being shaped that way. This is also with a history of extreme reactions to insect bites in SC. The rest of my legs is also covered in mosquito bites, although they look different and do not have the clearish center. I do not recall having a dermal reaction to a mosquito bite that had this shape but I get them so frequently it's hard to keep track.
The other thing that worries me is (2) that I had a cold two weeks ago, but again, with almost no symptoms traditionally associated with lyme. My main issue was severe throat pain and congestion, I am not sure if these two things are common with lyme.
However, I am absolutely willing to take this seriously if you guys think this rash alone is a reason for concern. My best friend's father has suffered from lyme and it has devastated his life and I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Can anyone recommend a specialist in the SC Greenville/Clemson area? The doctor I went to worked in a walk-in clinic and he assured me that in 35 years he hasn't seen one case of lyme in our area. He also said that the rash looked like a flea or spider bite.
Thank you again!
I want to point out that the two only thing that seems to vaguely point towards lyme is (1) the strange-looking rash that I have developed. Maybe the word rash is misleading here, it was an itchy spot that I scratched and that has end up being shaped that way. This is also with a history of extreme reactions to insect bites in SC. The rest of my legs is also covered in mosquito bites, although they look different and do not have the clearish center. I do not recall having a dermal reaction to a mosquito bite that had this shape but I get them so frequently it's hard to keep track.
The other thing that worries me is (2) that I had a cold two weeks ago, but again, with almost no symptoms traditionally associated with lyme. My main issue was severe throat pain and congestion, I am not sure if these two things are common with lyme.
However, I am absolutely willing to take this seriously if you guys think this rash alone is a reason for concern. My best friend's father has suffered from lyme and it has devastated his life and I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Can anyone recommend a specialist in the SC Greenville/Clemson area? The doctor I went to worked in a walk-in clinic and he assured me that in 35 years he hasn't seen one case of lyme in our area. He also said that the rash looked like a flea or spider bite.
Thank you again!
DITTO what bdonahue7 says above.
And if you don't feel perfect when the doxy is done, find a doc for a consultation, because not everything ticks carry is cured by doxy, but it's the thing to do against Lyme, from what I read, and is the first step.
You sound like a clear thinker, and that's a very good thing. Keep us posted!
And if you don't feel perfect when the doxy is done, find a doc for a consultation, because not everything ticks carry is cured by doxy, but it's the thing to do against Lyme, from what I read, and is the first step.
You sound like a clear thinker, and that's a very good thing. Keep us posted!
My bulls-eye rash looked very much like that. If your Dr won't believe you please go to a walk-in clinic or ER. Ask for 200mg doxy 2x/day. Someone please correct me if that dosage is to low. Don't worry about testing just start treating ASAP. Stay on a high dose of Doxy for at least a month. Best of luck! Please let us know how you are doing.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Lyme Disease Community
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Can HIV be transmitted through this sexual activity? Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia answers this commonly-asked question.
A breakthrough study discovers how to reduce risk of HIV transmission by 95 percent.
Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia provides insight to the most commonly asked question about the transfer of HIV between partners.
Before your drop a dime at the pharmacy, find out if these popular cold and flu home remedies are a wonder or a waste
Fend off colds and the flu with these disease-fighting foods
