Although my doctor was reluctant to diagnose Lyme, the rash seems textbook to me, and I have been working in a tick-infected forest.
The clever tick (never noticed or found it) bit me under my arm in a place I never would have expected or seen, so I have no idea how long the rash has been there.
I don't seem to have any symptoms other than the rash yet. Started doxycycline this morning. Did I catch it in time, or do I risk lifelong symptoms of the type I've been reading about on this forum? Any thoughts much appreciated.
Make sure to stay on top of it. How many doses of doxy did you get?
200 mg twice a day?
Posted by Garz (Member # 52095) on :
that would qualify as a bulls-eye rash in my view there are plenty of images to compare it to in the resources at the top of this page
you are very "lucky" to have one - as a large proportion of people do not and then have to undertake years or decades searching for a diagnosis
28days( or more ) Doxy 100mg 2x a day is usually recommended by Lyme literate doctors for fresh tick bites.
many mainstream doctors will only prescribe 14 days or less.
if that is the case many consider it prudent to extend the treatment themselves
Posted by Richard L (Member # 52154) on :
Thanks all.
My doctor prescribed 100mg doxy twice a day for 14 days, but he said he would probably have me stay on for another two weeks after that. I have friend who is also a doctor in West Virginia who suffers from chronic lyme disease. She told me to "blast the s%#$ out of it" with 200mg twice per day. So I took her advice and I am taking that huge quantity.
Seems like there is no real literature to show that the doubled dose will improve outcomes. I work outside, too. So I'm worried that I cannot sustain such a high dose for several weeks. But that's where I am now. I still have no other symptoms except maybe fatigue, which is probably from anxiety and the antibiotic itself.
Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :
Welcome to Lymenet Richard
While there may be no literature to show that double dose will improve outcomes, there is plenty of research which shows inadequate treatment causes long term Disabilty and disseminate Lyme disease throughout the body. Many animal and human published journals prove this.
I'm with the West Virginia doc, nuke it It's the only way to be sure.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
100mg is not enough - needs to be 200mg 2x/day.
Although it's inconvenient to deal with staying out of the sun, you are preventing chronic Lyme from happening and that is going to definitely help you economically etc in the longterm!
You say you work outside. If near vegetation, I suggest having bug repellent on you to prevent future bug bites.