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General health

Lyme disease or nothing to worry about?

9 replies

biscuitbadger · 15/08/2019 09:08

About 5 weeks ago I noticed a small red bump like a little bite, on the inside of my elbow. I work outdoors and am prone to getting bitten/scratched a fair bit so I ignored it, assuming it would go away.

After a few days a red patch appeared around it, which then over the course of a couple more days spread slowly outwards to maybe 3cm diameter, and a clear patch appeared in the middle.

Thinking it could be ringworm, I popped into a pharmacy. The pharmacist wasn't sure but thought it looked like it could be fungal, and I was given antifungal cream. I started using the cream and the spot and red patch disappeared within 48 hours.
This was now all about a month ago. I thought no more of it until I saw sth in the news about Lyme disease...

I have had a slightly upset stomach and felt a bit nauseous and tired for the last week. Yesterday I felt worse and had a headache too, but this morning I don't feel as bad. So I think I just have a mild stomach bug.

I also have health anxiety.

I'm freaking out now that I might have Lyme disease and that I should have seen a doctor when I had the original bite.

Should I see a doctor now? Is it urgent? Am I panicking over nothing?

Would a Lyme disease rash be so small and clear up so quickly?

Could Lyme disease make me feel queasy and bloated rather than fluey?

Because of my health anxiety I tend to try and avoid bothering the doctor when I'm in a sudden panic. But I don't want to miss something important.

OP posts:
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Emmasian94 · 06/11/2022 12:56

biscuitbadger · 15/08/2019 09:08

About 5 weeks ago I noticed a small red bump like a little bite, on the inside of my elbow. I work outdoors and am prone to getting bitten/scratched a fair bit so I ignored it, assuming it would go away.

After a few days a red patch appeared around it, which then over the course of a couple more days spread slowly outwards to maybe 3cm diameter, and a clear patch appeared in the middle.

Thinking it could be ringworm, I popped into a pharmacy. The pharmacist wasn't sure but thought it looked like it could be fungal, and I was given antifungal cream. I started using the cream and the spot and red patch disappeared within 48 hours.
This was now all about a month ago. I thought no more of it until I saw sth in the news about Lyme disease...

I have had a slightly upset stomach and felt a bit nauseous and tired for the last week. Yesterday I felt worse and had a headache too, but this morning I don't feel as bad. So I think I just have a mild stomach bug.

I also have health anxiety.

I'm freaking out now that I might have Lyme disease and that I should have seen a doctor when I had the original bite.

Should I see a doctor now? Is it urgent? Am I panicking over nothing?

Would a Lyme disease rash be so small and clear up so quickly?

Could Lyme disease make me feel queasy and bloated rather than fluey?

Because of my health anxiety I tend to try and avoid bothering the doctor when I'm in a sudden panic. But I don't want to miss something important.

Hi OP! I'm going through something similar now. Did you ever get answers?

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biscuitbadger · 06/11/2022 13:36

No not really!

If I remember right, I went to the GP and had a course of antibiotics, and I think they also did a test which didn't show anything.

Nothing bad seems to have happened to me... 🤞🏻

OP posts:
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Emmasian94 · 06/11/2022 13:38

biscuitbadger · 06/11/2022 13:36

No not really!

If I remember right, I went to the GP and had a course of antibiotics, and I think they also did a test which didn't show anything.

Nothing bad seems to have happened to me... 🤞🏻

Ah thank you for your reply! I had this show up in my hand in June. Pharmacist said she thought it was ringworm and the cream treated it in a few days and it didn't get any bigger. Now I'm experiencing joint pain and heart palpitations so my mind is going crazy!

Lyme disease or nothing to worry about?
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rustcohlesmug · 06/11/2022 13:43

Haven’t you already posted somewhere else about this OP? Go to a GP and address it and your health anxiety.

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Boomboomboomboom · 06/11/2022 13:54

If the blood test didn't show lyme antibodies/active lyme you probably didn't have lyme and the sickness was unconnected. Try not to worry.

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biscuitbadger · 06/11/2022 15:36

@rustcohlesmug and @Boomboomboomboom - thanks for the misplaced concern! I posted this a few years ago and have only returned to answer a question from @Emmasian94, who now has a similar situation.

Emma, if you are worried I'd talk to the GP.

If it's any reassurance, that photo looks like what most insect bites look like on me! What I had that time was bigger and had a lighter patch inside an outer circle.

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Boomboomboomboom · 06/11/2022 18:45

Oops missed the zombieness.
The testing for Lymes has got better over recent years so @emmasian94 I would advise seeing your gp to ask for a blood test. My child's symptoms for lyme disease started about 3 months post infection and joint pain and a racing heart wear symptoms - although her heart really raced after antibiotics (so much do we were worried about heart block).
Interestingly, or not, she still has some issues 5 years on, and has high antibodies for lyme although no active lyme now

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Emmasian94 · 06/11/2022 18:50

Boomboomboomboom · 06/11/2022 18:45

Oops missed the zombieness.
The testing for Lymes has got better over recent years so @emmasian94 I would advise seeing your gp to ask for a blood test. My child's symptoms for lyme disease started about 3 months post infection and joint pain and a racing heart wear symptoms - although her heart really raced after antibiotics (so much do we were worried about heart block).
Interestingly, or not, she still has some issues 5 years on, and has high antibodies for lyme although no active lyme now

Oh really?! It would be over 4 months since I had the mark on my hand now. I will be going to the GP tomorrow as I feel horrendous. Sorry to hear your little one still experiences some problems xx

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WaveyHair · 06/11/2022 18:53

A Lymes disease bite\radh is more of a bullseye shape rather than solid rash. I had this once from a tick bite. Got completely wiped out for a few days, GP gave me antibiotics which made all the difference.

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