Lymes Rash?

I was researching Lymes and most of my resources said that most people infected with Lymes have a rash.  Is it possible to get it and not have the rash?  The reason I ask is I live in tick country -Oklahoma.  I've been exposed to Ticks several times this spring/summer.  I've never actually found one on me.  Both my son and hubby have found attached ones on them, so it is definately a possibility that I could have been bitten.  Is lymes very common?  I mean really what are the chances of it being lymes?

[oncetri]

Hi, I'm in NJ, the other Tick Country.  Every park I go to has warnings about Lymes and deer ticks.

From my research, and from some people I know who have Lymes, a rash does not always show up.  Or if it does, sometimes it looks like nothing more than some irritated skin (dry skin or like you scratched it a lot, slightly red).

I think I might have Lymes, so I've been reading up on it, and talking with some fellow athletes.

It really depends on the location (in country) that you are bitten in on how prevalent Lymes is.  By me, about one third of the athletes I ran with or competed with have been tested or treated for Lymes.  Two people I know were diagnosed in the chronic phase, so from what they tell me, they never noticed a bite or a rash.  And they had Lymes for a few years before their diagnosis.          

[tory2457]

I agree with oncetri:

I have Lyme and I too never had a rash; I never knew I was ever bitten. Research says 65% never had a bulls eye rash.

Here's a website that offers lots to read,,,publichealthalert.org.
The August online paper talks about Bartonella and Babesia, and offers some photos of these co-infections. I am being treated for both.

Then go to pdf Archives find the June issue, on page 12 a Doctor talks about the Western Blot. He explains the bands, and how testing for lyme can easily go undetected, etc.

Simple fact is even if a tick is found crawling around on you one of these co-infections especially Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (from a dog tick per the CDC website) can infect us. New research is showing these co-infections are more hidious than lyme disease. Add Mycoplasma, Erlichia of co-infections to the list to name a few...kind of scary!

to note: not one family member of mine that has gotten tested recently--isn't infected! We too live in a "hot spot",,,,PA!
It's distressing to say the least.

the best to both of you.