last June i developed the bulls eye rash, 2-3 inches diameter, on my upper hip, back area. i went to a doctor, and ended up taking 4x 500mg clarithromycin a day for 60 days. the rash cleared up fast, and after i finished the pills i went to the doctor and he said everything was cool.
its now february and i have a sort of half-circle bullseye rash in the same general area. it is much milder than the original rash, and shaped sort of like an imperfect U, but similar in size and appearance. it itches, only a little, just like the original rash did.
also, i have a weird lower back ache.
my question is, do these symptoms require any treatment?
will this get worse over time or what?
Posts: 3 | From california | Registered: Feb 2012
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Unfortunately not such a simple answer.
Does not sound like you were treated long enough. Most doctors follow IDSA guidelines which is inadequate. Many of us are here after being sick for months to decades because of the IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) guidelines that most doctors follow.
Many who have lyme are diagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome because the IDSA guidelines do not allow for adequate treatment nor do they accept chronic lyme as a diagnosis after one has been left to languish with inadequate treatment.
Ticks often pass more than just lyme. They can pass viruses and other bacteria. You won't get well until you are treated appropriately.
ILADS is a group of physicians who specialize in treating chronic lyme disease. You will often hear them referred to as LLMD's (Lyme Literate Medical Doctors) http://www.ilads.org/
its funny one of the doctors that came up, well the doctor i went to said "oh let me call my friend _____ who is a lyme disease expert up in San Francisco," and called him while i was sitting there to ask what treatment he recommended. i remembered his name because its a distinct name.
2 of the 3 that came up on that search are in San Francisco (i'm in LA) but one is pretty close by, so i will make an appointment today to ask him.
still basically my question is :
does this returning of the rash mean i still require treatment?
Posts: 3 | From california | Registered: Feb 2012
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
eddie - Did your doctor call his friend after your rash returned? Were you tested for co-infections, especially bartonella and babesia?
Even getting the recommended treatment does not guarantee that lyme will be treated adquately for a given individual. The variables: borrelia strain, how long infected, genetics of person, number of co-infections, life style etc.
Lyme doctors typically treat clinically. They treat and then check for symptoms.
I'm not a doctor but the rash returning is a red flag in my opinion. The backache could be from something else but it could also be from lyme or a coinfection. I would definately want the opinion of a seasoned lyme doctor because there is a lot at stake.
Not all LLMD's are created equal. You might want to check in the seeking doctor section for opinions of other patients on the doctor you are thinking about seeing.
Wishing you the best. Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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