posted
I am new to the site. Started 300mg daily of Doxcycline almost 4 weeks ago. After two weeks I noticed a red/pink rash developing on my right hand. Yesterday a similar rash started on my left hand (1 and 1/2 weeks after the first rash). I have experienced heat and sunlight sensitivity on arms and face, but the rash has only shown on the hands. No other allergic reactions. Is it an allergy to doxy, reaction to the sun or herxing, do you think? Thanks for any opinions.
Posts: 43 | From Sacramento, Ca | Registered: Jul 2009
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
We would have to see a pic of the rash to help you figure this out for sure. Can you post a pic?
If the rash is tiny bumps on the hands and the skin really burns at the site of the bumps, then it is a doxy burn from the sun.
Read med insert. A doxy burn can be extremely painful. The most common place to get it is on the hands.
Some have had to wear gloves while driving to avoid this burn. Once you get it, those spots will be extremely sensitive to sun, heat, cold, etc.
If the rash is not what I have described, then you must describe the rash more. How large is it, what is the shape of it, is it raised, red, warm, or tiny, tiny bumps, etc.
And, welcome to LymeNet! We will help you however we can.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome jeff
after my welcome letter, i'll post some specific things about sun sensitivity & doxy ok
to me; it's sun & doxy doing this, but we've not seen photos to be 100% acurate.
Welcome; I'm so glad you found us!! You've come to the right place for education and support!
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. ----------------------------------------------------
I found Turn the Corner Foundation through the website for the Under Our Skin movie. Here is the link for their website. At the bottom of their webpage there is a link to click if you are interested in getting help finding and LLMD.
I emailed them for help and got a response with the names of over 10 LLMDS in two states in less than a days time. What an incredible blessing! Thought I'd pass it on. By member Aimee, 7.11.09 ------------------------------------------------------
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.
UNDER OUR SKIN dvd LYME DISEASE documentary, www.lymediseasefilm.com go to this site to view trailer of UNDER OUR SKIN 5 min. Clip! Premiering 2008!! on big screen 09 in 10 LARGE CITIES ONLY!
* Please note: What you are about to read below is NOT meant to scare any of you from any lyme testings done; it's meant to be informed PRIOR to going into having various tests done and then be told what the costs will be! * Mine was sticker $$ shock on various testings done by my 2nd LLMD/new to me in 4=06. Those tests/results are found elsewhere in my links/advise.
* Igenex's charges for these below things cost $905, which I figured up the last 2 days for 2 other folks includes
* The below tests were done for ME; you MAY NOT NEED them all ok! :
* western blot IGM & IGG, this is MANDATORY for you which costs $200 total for 2 tests done; 6.09 same prices still. * * ******************************************************* * OPTIONAL ONES ARE:
* co-infection panel for YOUR AREA OF COUNTRY; * PCR WHOLE BLOOD...this is what my LLMD ordered!
It's PREPAY! unless you are on medicare; IGX will file the paperwork & it's FREE to you.
go to www.igenex.com and read over their info. Prices go up twice a year: MAY and NOVEMBER!!
* * have blood drawn MON. or TUES. only; you don't want your blood sitting in post office over the weekend; will ruin the results!
* Also, call 1-800.832.3200 for CURRENT PRICES! * They will also send you a ``test kit'' with their required form, all the test vials, & box to ship it in! OUT OF USA will take longer to receive!
* You need to DOWNLOAD IGENEX's required form.****************************************************** * * MD, DO ,ND, AC, DC are all fine** must sign, date, and show DIAGNOSIS CODE on there why he's ordering the test.
Make sure you show to FAX results and SNAIL MAIL PAPER COPY! My results were lost for 4-5 weeks! Bettyg * * When you get your results, please post them in MEDICAL; * Post ONLY the POSITIVE & IND ones .... not the negative ones!
GET COPIES OF ALL YOUR SPECIAL BLOOD TESTS: western blot igm/igg and/or co-infection tests always!!
OVERSEAS INSTRUCTIONS FOR SENDING TO IGENEX/FRY LABORATORY! 2-23-08
EYE SENSITIVITIES & NOIR, no infrared sunglasses info., 2-28-06 updated YES, I have what you have! Are you on doxy too? That made my extreme eyes 200% MORE sensitive than they we were earlier. I learned a lot about eye sensitivity/lighting on www.marshallprotocol.com board. http://www.marshallprotocol.com/forum2/4.html detailed!
You will need 2% amber and 10% amber ... Style no. 901 and 910. 1-800-521-9746 TOLL- FREE, ONE YEAR GUARANTEE!
mention you have lyme and marshall protocol, they will give you 10% off! I'm NOT on MProtocol, but mention it anyway. I was on their new board almost 12 months!
Also they have been kind enough to replace the SCRATCHED LENSES & BROKEN BOWS! How's that for service? I'VE NOT had to return broken/scratched lenses!!
In fact, I have a terrible time where they drop to the floor, and 1 of bows will break off the connecting PLASTIC piece connecting to the lense itself. They just take the info over the phone from YOUR STATE'S REP!
I don't drive often at night, but I can wear NOIR's 901 lenses at night while driving; it creates soft candle lights coming at me...tolerable. NOT to wear in town with all the action of people crossing where they shouldn't be.
Driving daylight hours, be sure to wear DRIVING GLOVES and a LONG SLEEVE SHIRT/JACKET so you will NOT SUNBURN ! I got burnt bad on my 1st out of state trip to new LLMD in Minn.
I wear my darkest tinted RX sunglasses always with my NOIR wraparounds over them, and my floppy straw hat too; shields my face/side views
NOTE: Wearing sunglasses that BLOCK ULTRA VIOLET LIGHT, help to prevent CATARACTS.
There is also something that is called "Scheerer's phenomenon" or "blue field entoptic phenomenon". This is basically the ability to see white blood cells traveling through in the squiggly capillaries of your retinas... especially when looking at a blue light. (like the sky) When a leukocyte travels through.. it makes a wiggling motion. The link below is v\ery interesting and even has an impression of this phenomenon. "Scheerer's phenomenon"
Eye pressure up to 29 may be normal. Not a very good test for glaucoma. Better to look for dammage to optic nerve (visual nerve) with dilated exam. When in doubt, a threshold visual field test (painless but boring) can be done to detect early glaucoma.
Other reliable tests that can help pick up glaucoma include corneal pachymetry and gonioscopy.
I agree that optic neuritis is a much greater concern with Lyme than glaucoma, but of course the possibility of glaucoma still exists in everyone.
If you're quite concerned about glaucoma, easiest way to rule it out would be the visual field route. Maybe ask a glaucoma specialist for a second opinion.
NOISE/SOUNDS .... MAGNESIUM by Carol in PA, 7.3.09 Supplement with magnesium to help hypersensitive hearing.
posted
Thank you for the responses. The rash is very irregular (call it splotchy). It has three colors; a pink base, some of the spots are red and a few have a dark red, almost scab type appearance to them. The rash is raised a little in spots, but I don't see a lot of bumps. The rash is not warm or overly sensitive to the touch, but it is very itchy. I see a small area developing up my left arm up from the wrist and I have had my arms covered and SPFed for several days. So I am starting to wonder if it is caused by sunlight. Sunlight and heat, do, however, seem to aggravate the rash. I will look into getting a photo posted.
Posts: 43 | From Sacramento, Ca | Registered: Jul 2009
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
That definitely sound like a doxy burn from sun exposure. The SPF does not help, sorry.
This is a medication burn due to sunlight. Sunscreen won't stop it. You have to get out of the sun and stay out of it. You really have to limit your sun exposure. Wear long sleeves and gloves when driving. It will burn you through the windows and windshield.
Don't stay outdoors much. Stay in the shade all the time you possibly can.
This is so common that many docs don't prescribe doxy in the summer. They put you on something else until fall, then go back to doxy.
The burn can get really bad--just warning you. It is not a sunburn. I had it so bad it felt like someone had a torch to my skin. I couldn't sleep or get comfortable. And, prescription pain killers did nothing to help. I almost thought I would have to go to the ER, I was suffering so bad.
Once I got that, I couldn't even sit under our skylight to eat. The sun coming through the skylight set off the pain. Just running to the mailbox and back set off the pain. This went on for about a month.
So, it is best to avoid getting this rash in the first place, because once you have it, the sun sensitivity lasts a good while.
This ruins lots of summer vacations.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Thanks very much for the feedback TF. I think you are right. I will keep myself protected. I am going to have to cancel my golf game tomorrow.
Do you think a cortisone cream would help the condition or the itching at all? Or hurt it?
Posts: 43 | From Sacramento, Ca | Registered: Jul 2009
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Burrascano says not to use steroids such as cortisone if a person has lyme because the effects of it are really bad on lymies, so I would stay away from it, even in topical cream form.
Try other things for itching, maybe something soothing like cool, wet compresses, or aloe, or some oatmeal type products. Or, first aid cream, or something that treats burns.
I'll tell you, it is hard to get relief from a doxy burn.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I got terrible rashes on my hands .... I had to wear gloves when I drove to prevent the exposure through the car windows. I got that through the car window wearing heavy sunscreen when I was on doxy.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Eating Citrus or Cranberries can make the sun burn effect MUCH worse - Even tiny in amounts --
Google --Photo Toxic -- Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Look for sunscreens with titanium in them. Also it needs to be UVA and UVB protection. This will help some but you still need to stay out of the sun whenever possible.
Shade doesn't always help. I got burnt on my face while sitting under a tree.
I just stopped doxy last week. Got that same rash you are talking about on my arms when we drove to our new LLMD 12 hrs away. It looked horrible!
I usually bring a sheet in the car and cover up with it since I don't do the driving part.
My new LLMD says that giving doxy in the summer is just cruel! I think I like him
-------------------- My lyme disease blog: http://lymetimes3.blogspot.com/ One BIG Lyme family! I tested CDC + 10/08 My mom Igenex + 11/08 & My brother Igenex + 4/09, My 2 boys some + & IND bands, clinical diagnosis 3/09 (youngest has Aspergers too) Posts: 470 | From Painesville, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2009
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I found them at Rite Aid for like $20! They also sell similar kinds at Walmart. Just make sure they are polarized & have all the UV protections.
Best of luck!
-------------------- My lyme disease blog: http://lymetimes3.blogspot.com/ One BIG Lyme family! I tested CDC + 10/08 My mom Igenex + 11/08 & My brother Igenex + 4/09, My 2 boys some + & IND bands, clinical diagnosis 3/09 (youngest has Aspergers too) Posts: 470 | From Painesville, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2009
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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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