Lyme disease? | Mumsnet

PickUpTheDogAndBone · 2023-08-16T21:15:32+00:00

Teenage DD got bitten by an (unknown) insect a couple of weeks ago. Very suddenly, tonight it has gone like this! If it's like it tomorrow I will of course take her to the pharmacy for advice (or a remote private GP appt as I get them free through work and can access appts quickly). However in the meantime, does anyone have any experience of tick bites? Does this look like one to you??

GrainOfSalt · 16/08/2023 22:19

It looks like it (not a doctor but much experience of ticks) and if so he need a long course if antibiotics so GP not pharmacy

GrainOfSalt · 16/08/2023 22:19

Sorry *she

fourlambbhunas · 16/08/2023 22:20

Definitely looks like the bullseye rash

Britinme · 16/08/2023 22:23

I've had one of those - went straight to the doctor and got a 30 day course of doxycycline. I've had too many friends with undiagnosed Lyme (I live in New England) and serious health issues in consequence.

Original poster

PickUpTheDogAndBone · 16/08/2023 22:27

Oh crap. Ok, thanks all.

I assume it's an urgent GP appt? I've just checked the virtual GP app and no appts until Monday which is unheard of...so I'll need to try and get her into our normal GP.

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Britinme · 16/08/2023 23:18

Definitely urgent. The sooner the better.

Original poster

PickUpTheDogAndBone · 17/08/2023 14:46

So had a phone appt (supported by photos) with the nurse practitioner - they did offer me an appt in person this afternoon but DD is with grandparents on a pre-planned day out so we took the decision for her to still go.

She doesn't think it's Lyme as she's not unwell with it. She's prescribed a topical antibiotic for her to try.

My gut instinct is Lyme, nurse even said the timescales do fit. But I will do as said and watch carefully over next few days.

Are people always unwell at the same time as the bullseye appearing?!

I've attached a couple of pics from today. Any thoughts? Thanks

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Britinme · 17/08/2023 14:47

I was actually unwell (flu-like symptoms and tiredness) the day before the rash appeared, but the day it appeared I felt fine.

Beanie567 · 17/08/2023 14:56

I had the exact same rash with the obvious tick bite in the middle. Yes, you need antibiotics and fast. I only had the rash and no other symptoms but the antibiotics did the trick - there is a diagram online which shows how a Lyme disease rash fades with antibiotics, it’s quite distinctive. My rash faded in exactly the same way so I knew it definitely was that. Thank god I got the antibiotics. Please go back and get some. (By the way, I felt dreadful during the first week of the antibiotics but it did the job!)

ImDoingThisNow · 17/08/2023 14:58

Second opinion and push.

Definitely looks like Lyme's disease. Look for a private clinic if beeded .

ImDoingThisNow · 17/08/2023 15:00

You don't necessarily get all of the symptoms at the time. Please keep the pressure on them. Medical people do not know everything.

Britinme · 17/08/2023 15:03

I have a friend who had bad health issues for years with undiagnosed Lyme. Eventually he had to have antibiotics directly fed into his heart and his health has been much improved since.

MBailey99 · 17/08/2023 15:09

Just showed this to a GP (has been a gp for 35 years) and he said absolutely looks like Lyme disease and would have given antibiotics based on photos alone, but would still have got you in for an appt. He's a bit baffled as to why the doc is waiting for other symptoms to occur...

Original poster

PickUpTheDogAndBone · 17/08/2023 15:31

Hmm thanks so much all!!

I'll have a look when she's back tonight and unless it's miraculously shrunk or gone down I will make a private appt asap.

Thanks again for all your help

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ImDoingThisNow · 17/08/2023 15:35

Make an appointment anyway based on the photo. The rash will eventually go away even if it is Lyme....

I live in a tick area, so people round here are always aware. My friend lost a year of her life due to this and is still tackling it. You can't mess with it.

ConcernedCatmother · 17/08/2023 15:47

Yes it’s Lyme….I have Lyme disease. She needs 30 days of Doxycycline….yesterday. Time is of the essence, late stage lyme is no joke. The NHS gave me some crappy ointment which didn’t work. Wish I had insisted on doxycycline. I ended up going private to a specialist lyme clinic 3 months after the bite and had treatment. It’s still a struggle. Get your daughter her meds asap 🙏🏽🙏🏽

Britinme · 17/08/2023 15:58

Yes the rash goes away with or without treatment, but the borreliosis caused by the tick doesn't. Look up the Wiki article about it. It's really nasty.

Original poster

PickUpTheDogAndBone · 17/08/2023 16:50

ConcernedCatmother · 17/08/2023 15:47

Yes it’s Lyme….I have Lyme disease. She needs 30 days of Doxycycline….yesterday. Time is of the essence, late stage lyme is no joke. The NHS gave me some crappy ointment which didn’t work. Wish I had insisted on doxycycline. I ended up going private to a specialist lyme clinic 3 months after the bite and had treatment. It’s still a struggle. Get your daughter her meds asap 🙏🏽🙏🏽

So sorry to hear that.

It wasn't this crappy cream was it by any chance,

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ConcernedCatmother · 17/08/2023 17:38

Yes! The exact same cream. Please push for doxycycline OP, 3 weeks minimum. I spent months in a Lyme clinic last year having treatment because I had the fusidic cream instead of doxycycline straight away.

vivainsomnia · 17/08/2023 19:08

It's VERY important she gets Doxycycline ASAP. Really. No point debating, seeing if the rash goes. She needs the treatment urgently.

Lyme disease is a very very nasty disease with long term debilitating consequences. You CAN'T treat it once the disease has started the damage. You can only lessen the symptoms.

You've come here to ask, that's great. Now everyone has responded that you needed to get the right antibiotics quickly. Do it NOW.

Gladtoblasto · 17/08/2023 19:12

Agree. In your shoes I wouldn't be faffing about and would be pushing for the right treatment fast.

Original poster

PickUpTheDogAndBone · 17/08/2023 19:49

It's ok, I've heard you all loud and clear!

I'm just trying to figure out HOW to push it...it was 111 I called this morning, they got a nurse to call back who made the phone appt with the nurse practitioner at the GP surgery. We spoke mid-afternoon, I collected the cream around 4.30pm.

I definitely don't want to clog up A&E, but I've had contact with 111 and the GP surgery today who have given their advice.

I'm absolutely not faffing about or not being assertive but I genuinely don't know what to do to push this...I guess call the surgery back in the morning and say I'm not happy and want it reviewed by a GP in person? Call 111 back now? We don't have any urgent care/walk-in centrex anywhere near here so it's 111/GP/A&E.

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Britinme · 17/08/2023 19:56

I went to the ER when I got my rash and they prescribed me a week of doxy, and then I went to my primary care doctor and asked for another three weeks' worth. I did the ER the day I saw the rash (actually my dh insisted and drove me there, being a New Englander all his life whereas I am an import).

DobbyTheHouseElk · 17/08/2023 20:00

Go to minor injuries. I went to minor injuries walk in when I had an actual tick. Was too difficult to get to and remove correctly. ( living alone) Also I wanted it recorded that I’d had a tick. The nurses said I’d done the right thing.

Original poster

PickUpTheDogAndBone · 17/08/2023 20:03

DobbyTheHouseElk · 17/08/2023 20:00

Go to minor injuries. I went to minor injuries walk in when I had an actual tick. Was too difficult to get to and remove correctly. ( living alone) Also I wanted it recorded that I’d had a tick. The nurses said I’d done the right thing.

We live in an area with no MI unit anywhere within an hour's drive. It's GP, 111 or A&E 😬

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