Lyme disease...

[FlaminSnowball]

Does anyone have any experience with Lyme disease? I'm a it worried but at the same time think I'm being paranoid!? Help!!

have you been bitten by a tick?

What are your symptoms?

I was gardening last Wednesday and clearing out a lot of overgrown vegetation (live in the countryside next to a farm) I noticed something in my arm I presumed it was a sting and didn't think anything of it.
Until Saturday when I noticed a redness appearing around it and later it had the red spot in middle a white ring the red rash.
It's only small, thought it was odd to be having a reaction days after. But now I've got shivers. Migraine yesterday and today and feel generally weak and unwell? My friend thinks my rash looks like it could be. But all the above could just Be circumstantial.

Tick bites itch, they itch when they bite and itch like crazy when they're on you. I have had several tick bites (we have a farm). They will stay on you for quite a long time and become engorged. So the sting sensation and the fact that you didn't see it makes me think perhaps it wasn't a tick. Maybe a plant. But there are different species.
The rash is worrying though, is it spreading? My dog had a tick bite that developed a rash. Turned out to be an allergy not lymes disease and it didn't characteristically spread. We still got it checked. So worth booking an appointment.

I'd go to the GP asap and tell them you think you've been bitten by a tick. Some GPs are unaware of the disease so please press them for a blood test, although I think tests aren't always conclusive.

The usual treatment is antibiotics.

If you need to pay a visit to Dr Google (and I really wouldn't recommend an image search), the NHS website has comprehensive information.

Fingers crossed you're ok.

Oh that sounds possible. The ticks are tiny.

Draw round the rash in biro to check if it's growing.

Doctor for possible antibiotics first thing tomorrow.

Thanks everyone. I wasn't sure if I was just being silly! It was really itchy which is who I thought it was a stinging nettle but it looked different. I just carried on and ignored the stingy itchiness.
I only realized it was rather odd that the irritation appeared 4-5 days after the initial sting!

Also it definitely grew but faded over night.

Lyme disease can cause neurological damage, so definitely worth going to the doc even if you're feeling less rough tomorrow.

Not all tick bites itch. We are in an area with Lyme carrying ticks and I understand they can anethethise you when they bite so you don't notice them. My son and I both carried one unknowingly for a few days at different times and the GP gave us a course of antibiotics. The classic bite rash is like a bullseye. I'd go to the GP.

Thanks. It's the Bulls eye thing that got me thinking about it as its small but it is a clear red the white then red then white rash. I ignored it but now I'm feeling really unwell too I started to worry but didn't want to look silly going to the doctor for no reason.

You aren't being silly at all, DD had Lyme and like you had a circular rash and felt very unwell and feverish after the bite. So I really recommend you check. We never saw DD's tick.

Dd tested positive but it is possible to get a false negative. all I would advise is talk to a GP asap.

If it is, starting treatment early is key (DD was on double strength amoxicillin for many months as we realised later) and bear in mind many Gps haven't come across it so Lyme Disease Awareness were invaluable to us.

I was convinced DD had Lyme only to be told by 2 doctors it wasn't and early treatment is so crucial as it can get so hard to treat if left.

Not to alarm you but it is also really on the increase. Dd got Lyme in Scotland as did a friend and another friend got it in Somerset

I'm in Wiltshire and it seems after googling that last week they started a tick and Lyme awareness!! Typical I get it lol

I've had it and your symptoms sound familiar. Get it seen to. Lyme only causes problems if left untreated.

www.refhelp.scot.nhs.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=696:lyme-disease&catid=87:infectious-diseases&Itemid=104
You don't need a blood test. They can take weeks to become positive and a false negative means nothing. I would treat on symptoms alone. Link above is what we go by in edinburgh

My dH had a rash like this and the GP gave him antibiotics in case it had been a tic. He wasn't unwell though. A friend's dd has Lyme disease and wasn't diagnosed for some years, so she has a lot of problems. Go to the GP tomorrow, it just isn't worth risking.

Tck not tic, doh

TICK. I am off to bed now!

Thanks everyone. Doctor has given me antibiotics to treat Lymes however he wasn't really convinced that it was. I've a blood test at 3pm. All he asked was have I been near any deer and how do I know if it was a bite. he then said come back if I have severe headache with neck ache and visual disturbance which I said I was in bed with that last night.

It sounds very likely to me. And I agree with poster who said it's right to treat on symptoms alone. Also some people don't get the rash so note to others, be vigilant and check for ticks!

I wonder how many people get diagnosed with other stuff when they actually have Lyme disease? As the nymph tics are smaller than this full stop .
So very hard to see and lots of people don't get the bullseye rash. I don't think I've ever had a tick bite but I've been in so many fields of sheep (I live in Wales!) that it would be amazing if I'd never got bitten. How do farmers escape getting Lyme?

OP, take the full course of ABs. Good you went to the Dr.

so please press them for a blood test, although I think tests aren't always conclusive.

My dad had the bite with the characteristic bulls eye rash and had the ABs. He had the blood tests but would have been treated even if they were negative due to his symptoms. Happened around 11 years ago - totally fine now thanks to prompt treatment.