PLEASE HELP ... RASH WORSE after week OFF Doxy!

[KimTN]

Ok, I was dx with Lyme and possible Bart over 2 years ago after a tick bite.  Was on abx therapy for about 6 months then stopped on my own because I was tired of taking so many meds.  This Spring, I got another bite and found the engorged tick on my belly during the night.  I contacted my LLMD and he started me on high doses of Doxycycline and took it for 3.5 weeks before I started to develop a rash on my arms.  The left arm was worse from driving so I figured I would STOP the Doxy and DID.  

That was OVER a WEEK ago and I have STAYED out of the sun.  My rash is increasing WORSE and SPREADING up my arm and down to my fingers!  I went to my walk-in clinic and they wouldn't treat me ... said I needed to see the prescribing doctor of the Doxy!  They even made me an appt with him for tomorrow morning.  Problem is that is over an hour's drive for me and I am miserable NOW and SCARED!  The NP at the clinic wasn't sure it was even from the Doxy since it's gotten worse after stopping over a week ago.

I have calls into my LLMD but so far he has not offered any help!  I have even e-mailed links to pictures of my rash to him and am waiting / hoping to hear something back and SOON!  Any ideas / advice, suggestions appreciated!!!

[mojogal]

Please don't be overly worried and upset. This disease is a pain and takes lots of hard work and positive thinking, for me at least, if I get upset all my symptoms go into over drive and I feel worse. Hang in there!

[KimTN]

I didn't mean anaphylaxis from the steroids but from the allergic reaction itself!  Hopefully now that the steroid has been in me a few hours that is

no longer a risk?  But, I do have a dry tickle / cough now!  *sigh*  So, here I am sitting up again at my computer instead of lying in bed afraid that

I won't wake up in the morning.  :(

[JackieCalifornia]

Well, as long as your sense of humor is in one piece, you're halfway home.  Good for you.  :)

I don't know that you would get anaphylaxis from taking the steroids ... I was thinking more of a flare up of the underlying Lyme infection.  Lyme is bacterial, and your immune system is busy swatting it down, but by taking steroids, the immune system is suppressed, and that means your immune system isn't able to do its full job against the Lyme bacteria, so you might get a rise in Lyme symptoms.  

Hang in there!  The Benadryl may be calming if nothing else.  :)  Let us know how you do and what the doc says, okay?

[KimTN]

Don't worry, I am hysterical over this enough for ALL of us! ;)  All joking aside, I am truly concerned but I've already taken the 1st dose of 6 pills.

I also took a Benadryl capsule so maybe that will keep me from a bad anaphylactic reaction!!!???  

[JackieCalifornia]

You don't sound hysterical at all .... and I am on the same page with you about going for it with the steroids *if* the doc feels it's needed in this particular situation.  That's the wild card.

[mojogal]

PS sorry if I sound hysterical, I almost got in big trouble by taking steroids and the word freaks me out. If the doc knows how it affects the immune system but feels it is needed in your case then go for it. My situation was being surrounded by docs who didn't believe in Lyme and winding up in the hospital half dead on a respirator from doctors who didn't know what they were doing.