Tick byte Bulls Eye rash two years ago

[nanvk]

Hi, I don't know where to ask, or even if i could ask this question to anyone. I was bitten by a tick two years back. 2 months after tick byte , there's  bulls eye rash "size of bangle" . I just ignored it, act cleaned that bitten area with Hydrogen peroxide and took some counter ointments to heal it. Lately i am getting bad aches, and joint pains, pains shooting near the joints even in the middle of sleep. And my neck muscles will be burning painful in the mornings on either sides. Is there any place/lab we could go for a test ?? or it have to be only a refered doctor ?.  Still I am not sure if that is of my bad eating habits or if anything carrying from that tick bite i got 2 years back.

Thanks in advance for your reply

[grdner]

Muscle pain, joint pain, bone pain, and stiff/painful neck can all be symptoms of Lyme.  And you even had the bull's-eye rash - I'd say it seems rather likely your friendly tick gave you some microbial presents.

I don't know if you can request tests by yourself or if you have to go through a doctor or if it varies by state, but arguably the best test to start with is the Western Blot from IGenex (try igenex website).  Bear in mind that the results are best interpreted by someone who really understands what they mean, each one and in combination.  Also, levels will vary depending on how long you've been infected and how active your immune system is, or isn't, and this influences the interpretation of the results.

You could pursue getting the test and in the meantime see if you can find an LLMD near you who could interpret the results and also check you out - even the CDC says Lyme is a clinical diagnosis, which means there's more to it than test results.

Best of luck to you, hope you feel better soon.