posted
i got this rash about 4 years ago and have had almost 95% of symptoms at at least one point, they come and go, I have had a few that have stuck through this whole time too, and about 2 years ago I also had Bell's Palsy
And doctors have been telling me I don't have any Lyme symptoms, and that rash isn't typical. I feel like I'm gonna go crazy. All that I have read, this is the only explanation I can come up with. I also cant afford to keep going to drs, its racking me up in serious debt. And I dont have insurance.
What should I do now, and are there any doctors out there that will take payment plans, so far I have had no luck with that. I live in the tampa bay area in florida.
Also, do you guys tink this looks like a lyme rash?
Posts: 1 | From Florida | Registered: May 2009
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Son's blog born at 24 weeks. Posts: 356 | From massachusetts | Registered: Jan 2009
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
Yes, I believe that is a Lyme rash. They come in all shapes and sizes.
My suspicion is that most LLMD's (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor) do not take insurance for various reasons.
To find an LLMD in your area please go to "Seeking a Doctor" and start a thread asking for a referral. I am certain that some will come along and help 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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gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
La,
Looks like lyme to me but the symptoms are the most important in diagnosing lyme.
Can you see a lyme literate doctor? I know there are some folks that post here from your area.
I would definitely see a lyme literate doctor who should be an ILADS member. Regular MD's dont believe in long term antibiotics. (IDSA group)
Just remember, lyme is diagnosed by symptoms, not the rash. The longer you wait the more damage lyme does. Try to get the right doctor and start treatment.
Please let us know how you make out. Here is the latest guidelines from the top lyme doc in the country.
PS.. My rash(s) were two bruise-like marks - one the size of a quarter and the other a bit smaller both appearing on my stomach. They were not typical.
Didnt have a clue it was lyme until I got really sick 6 -8 months later. Even my dermatologist couldnt identify it. DUH!
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Yes, looks like a lyme rash to me!!!! And the fact that you have had Bell's Palsy at one time, is a huge indicator that this is most likely lyme. The rash itself is diagnostic of lyme disease. It looks bulls-eye-ish to me (but not all lyme rashes are bullseyes either)!!!
Definitely find an LLMD.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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-------------------- Seeking renewed health & vitality. --------------------------------- Do not take anything I say as medical advice - I am NOT a dr! Posts: 830 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2007
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
I, too, had Bell's Palsy years ago. It often goes hand in hand with Lyme.
-------------------- 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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adamm
Unregistered
posted
Sounds like a classic case. Unfortunately, due to corruption in high places, the mainstream medical community's been lied to about Lyme since its emergence. You need to make your way to a doc known to be Lyme-literate and do everything you can to educate yourself about what you're likely up against.
posted
Looks like one of the rashes I had last year. I had one oval and two rounded ones.
-------------------- Sherlock Posts: 31 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2009
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome la !! good photo to show us too; looks like what i have currently UNDER my arm from elbow up. mine starts out as small pimples, gets like that, and NON-STOP ITCHING & IT RUNS A TEMP!
llmds, lyme literate mds, in your state & most do NOT accept insurance; it's strictly out of pocket ... you don't have insurance.
check your profile above for my pm to you on florida & s. missouri llmds --------------------------------------------
Welcome; i'm so glad you found us!! You've come to the right place for education and support!
Dr. Burrascano's most recent "Diagnostic Hints and 2008 Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses" .
Betty's suggested POSTING GUIDELINES . many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``TWICE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. ------------------------------------------------------
People seeking doctors might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Nearly 3,400 people belong to state groups. Some of the groups are small but more than 20 of them have 50 or more people and seven have over 100.
The groups are moderated and you have to apply. Most don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately. *******************************************
This explains the medical politics around lyme WHY you need an ILADS-educated or ILADS-member LLMD (and there are also some ILADS-member LL NDs (naturopathic doctors):
You should also be evaluated for coinfections. Not all tests are great in that regard, either, but a good LLMD can evaluate you and then guide you in testing. One of the top labs is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM." ===========
ILADS The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides a forum for health science professionals to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the management of Lyme and associated diseases. ===========
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otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. 
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