Last week I developed a bullseye rash (looked more like a bruise than a rash) on my leg. The rash/bruise started from what originally looked like a mosquito bite.
The reason I STILL think it was a mosquito that bit me and not a tick is because the bite appeared a day after I arrived in Florida where I had just started wearing shorts. I didn't walk through any wooded areas or any possible tick-infested areas and I didn't see any ticks on me. However, I did notice the LARGE amount of mosquitos in the area.
After that first night in Florida, I had MULTIPLE bites on my exposed legs and they all itched and looked like your classic mosquito bites. Do ticks usually bite multiple times in different areas?
One of these bites developed into a perfect bullseye bruise/rash ONE DAY after the initial bite appeared, which prompted me to start researching online about it. That's how I came across this board.
I've read on here that some experts believe mosquitos can also carry and transmit Lyme. Is that true?
It's been a week since the bite first showed up and I've already scheduled an appointment with a local LLMD in my area (thanks to DeniseS). The appointment isn't for another ~2 weeks, so in the meantime, I visited my PCP and convinced him to put me on 400mg of Doxycycline for 3 weeks. He wouldn't agree to anything longer than 3 weeks. This should hold me over until I see the LLMD.
My second question is do you guys think 400mg is sufficient? I'm 5'11" and weigh 190lbs.
Thanks in advance!
[ 27. May 2006, 03:08 AM: Message edited by: daveappen ]
Posts: 27 | From CA | Registered: May 2006
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david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
You can check in the ilads guidelines (www.ilads.org which also has IDSA listed), but from what I recall, 300-400 mg seems pretty standard as an early treatment and is in fact a pretty high dose compared to its use for some other bacteria infections.
Your Dr may have looked at the IDSA guidelines, which I think also indicate doxy but at 200 mg/day, but you have to check if those guide lines have been updated. Based on IDSA, your weight (almost 200) may be the reason for the 400 mg dose.
At these dosages (200-400) you WILL become more sensitive to the sun, Do not underestimate the effect. Be careful as the first burn is the worst.
Further to this, ticks do not bite multiple times. They have to anchor themselves to get a blood meal, after that they drop off. As far as is lyme carried by other insects... nothing proven to date but there are plenty of other pathogens out there that are.
good luck
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Mosquitos are also carriers of lyme as are horse flies
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Sounds like you're very lucky, having got on doxy right away and having appt with llmd already set up! Don't underestimate ticks. They can get to places you never would have expected- they are very hard to see or feel and are almost indestructable! You mght want to guard against possibly having also picked up the co-infection babesia by "prophylactically" taking a course of artimesia anua. It is an herb that has been shown very effective in treating babesia and malaria (which is caused by a a plasmodium similar to that which causes babesia). Good luck. DaveS
Posts: 4567 | From ithaca, NY, usa | Registered: Nov 2000
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So far I haven't developed any symptoms yet and my bullseye rash has completely disappeared in under a week without taking any ABX. How long do EM rashes generally last?
I started the Doxy yesterday and will look into picking up some ProBiotics. I'll also start researching more about co-infections.
Also, does anyone have any feedback regarding Dr. S in San Francisco?
Posts: 27 | From CA | Registered: May 2006
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robi
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Member # 5547
posted
He is one of the best ...... not sure he is taking new patients though.
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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