posted
Hi, I have yet to be diagnosed with lyme/bart, but I truly beleive I have it. My symptoms include chronic diarrhea, abdominal bloating, nausea, chronic cough, excess phlegm, constant muscle twitching in the calves for the past 8 months (drive me crazy!), pain in knee joints and leg bones, constant joint cracking, frequent headaches, and two episodes of severe brain fog lasting two weeks each ( doing stupid things like getting in the wrong side of the car, forgetting where I'm going, etc.) The things that have remained constant are my muscle twitching and chronic abdominal problems. I have had numerous blood tests ( all normal, even ESR and CRP, which I thought were elevated in lyme/bart), colonoscopy, endoscopy, ct of abdomen and brain, mri of spine and brain, chest x ray, eeg, ekg, etc. all normal I have had skin problems too. I get little rashes under the skin that come and go. Not painful, but pop up all the time. When I press on them they dissapear and come back again. I have also been getting these small wandering rashes that have a red crusty border and white inside ( I will post picture) I have also had what looks like a broken blood vessel/streaked rash that hasn't gone away. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the type or rash I will post below. Thanks so much for your help p.s. I am from Canada and am currently looking for a llmd. Thanks! Colin
posted
Sorry, I also have little white bumps which look like warts, but aren't. I also have tiny bumps under my skin that are hard when I press on them. Finally I have developed about 11 skin tags on my neck a few months ago which were never there before. Most are white, but some turned brownish/blackish.
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
bump?
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
I have Lyme, Bart and Babs and have lots of skin issues, but none look exactly like the picture you posted.
Still, I would suspect Bart. It can cause some odd skin things. I, too, have the little white wart like bumps that you describe. They are mostly on my arms, although for a long time I had them along my chin-line.
As weird as this sounds, I would sterilize a needle with rubbing alcohol and pierce the "warts". Then, I would press the core or center out of the lesion and eventually it would heal.
No dermatologist ever could diagnosis me. It took an LLMD to do that.
The streak rashes that you mention remind me of the Bart rashes I have.
Best of luck to you.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Thanks leelee, has anyone else seen a rash like this before? Thanks!
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
I think these look like bart. Bart is notorious for this kind of thing, I think these things are called skin lesions. Also GI problems are notoriously bart! Could be Lyme too really.
Please find an LLMD and do a search on Google for "bartonella rashes".
Bart causes weird rashes because it lives in the RBC and digs holes in the capillaries and blood vessels, causing vasculitis. Maybe get a VEGF test, that is also supposed to be elevated in acute bartonella, but really a good doc will diagnose you clinically.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
Find yourself an LLMD! I have seen all of these rashes with Bartonella. I have the streaked blood vessel one myself.
All of your symptoms are indicative of tick-borne infections, as are the standard tests and labs that all come back WNL (within normal limits). This group could fill a warehouse with all our "normal" test findings.
Make sure your LLMD or LLND (naturopath) is ILADS educated and trained, and follows their protocols. Don't be afraid to ask. Finding the right diagnosis is step 1. Finding the right doctor is step 2. Finding both at the same time puts you well on your way to recovering your health.
posted
Thanks so much everybody!!!! I wasn't too sure if it was bart related or not, but I guess it is. It's great having support like this, thanks!
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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I believe I have to two of the crusted moles you're talking about on my fore-arm. I saw the picture, and they look very similar. They are light red/pink, and they crust over and you can pick at them, but they just crust over again and stay red.
I had a positive Bartonella (or Hemobartonella) blood smear, so that is likely the culprit.
I just started treatment a couple months ago, and am on Bactrim DS to target Bartonella as of yesterday.
I'll post about my experience and whether my skin lesions disappear in a few weeks.
posted
I had something like this. First there were 3 little pimples/blisters like the small one on your pic. They were close to each other and when they grew, they became one big blister, getting dry and crusty at the edge after a while. I have Bartonella hens.(confirmed)
posted
Cool. that sort of sounded like mine too! Has anyone experienced skin tags too?
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
The round lesion looks like the "cigarette burn" marks the LLMD said are caused by Bartonella. The blood smear was positive for Bartonella (possibly heamobartonella).
Bartonella is known to cause skin lesions, GI problems, and seizures.
You may want to change the name of your title to "cigarette burn" marks or somethinglike that. The edit link is near the right hand side of the date line, under the title of your post. It looks like a paper pad and pencil.
Also, search for cigarette marks in medical. Do you see the tiny "search" link. It's about 3 inches down from the top of this page, under a rectangle which says "Post a Poll."
"Post a Poll" is between the "Post New Topic" and "Post Reply."
Welcome to Lymenet!
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
Here's a 2009 Massachusetts article about a person diagnosed with Lyme after they developed cigarette burn like rashes.
Lyme and Bartonella may be transmitted by the same infected tick bite. "Lyme" diasease may include other diseases such as bartonella, babesia, ehrlichia, etc... Some call this mixed infection Lyme Borelliosis Complex, since it's not always a stict infection with only Lyme idsease.
posted
wow that's a very informative article, sounds exactly like what I have, thanks so much!
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
I would describe my skin lesions as cigarette burn looking also. I attribute them to bart. But who knows for sure?
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I get bumps just like that, that come and go! I think its either lyme or bart!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
That's so reassuring, thank you guys so much for the support, you don't realize how much it means to me!!! Time to find me a LLMD!
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
From what I've read, skin tags are a sign of possible insulin resistance.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Hmmm pretty sure I don't have diabetes, but thanks for the post!! I think I'v read somewhere that they can be attributed to Bart.
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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lightparfait
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22022
posted
I was told the round burn looking lesions are ring worm.
Posts: 1009 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
Is it possible to get ring worm with lyme? Can ring worm cause all the other symtpoms like brain fog, muscle twitching,nausea, bone pain etc? I'm starting to think its bart. Thanks!
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
I finished 3 months of doxy last august and in september developed itchy tiny welt on back but not far from armpit region. Lasted for months. Started zith,bactrim for Bart in January (Bart symptoms first came to fore in December) (I saw the Bart like bugs when I did blood smear before starting zith and bactrim. I repeated the blood smear 3 weeks ago and no Bart were present only the maltese cross of Babesia (now on Art for that as well) Anyway now the area is nearly pale and hard to see at all. So yes looking at your picture that skin lesion much the same as what I had with Bartonella and (or) BLO.
Beachinit.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
That's good to hear, I hope you are all doing well, I just wanna start getting treated, I feel like garbage.
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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lightparfait
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22022
posted
Yes you can get ringworm with bart and most parasites as well with lyme and co-infections. IT is the norm actually to have an overload of various parasites when you have lyme.
With lyme you also have viruses, bacterias, parasites, heavy metals, toxic chemicals and canduda/molds fungus. All come together and must be addressed to get better totally.
Just dont think the round marks are bart...they look like clasic ringworm. Bart marks are more linear in nature...like stretch marks.
Suggest you also treat for parasites...even if your tests do not show parasites...as tests need provocation for the parasites to show in stool. Being that you have a skin parasite...you may want to do at least a round of humaworm to see what comes out! This can be done with any bart or lyme treatment.
Posts: 1009 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2009
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Not ring worm with me. I've seen ringworm. Bart is known for many different skin eruptions and sores. Stretch mark looking, I'm not.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I've had the same kind of small, red rings as well as red irritated bumps. I've also had stretch marks, usually on my forearms. Both of these are signs of Bartonella.
Your symptoms sound very much like Bart. Bartonella would explain the GI problems, nausea, cough (dry I assume), headaches, and fog. I had very similar symptoms to yours. Do you have sweating or air hunger? If you have either of those I would think Babesia as well. Based on the info you provided I definitely think it's Bart.
-------------------- Bart and Babesia seropositive Current tx: Rifampin, Biaxin, Bactrim DS, Artemisinin, Resveratrol (japanese knotweed), Red Root, Boneset Posts: 168 | From PA | Registered: Feb 2010
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posted
Thanks so much guys, yah I think they may be bart. I don't have sweating or air hunger thankfully. Ian, I have the same rashes you talk of. Thanks lightparfait and pam too, i appreciate it!
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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