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Original poster

Lyme's disease diagnosis

44 replies

RiverBear · 02/09/2023 19:12

Hello,

Very recently went on holiday to Italy and was bitten 4 times on each leg/foot whilst I was there!! The bites were itchy and the most recent one blistered. My husband had loads of bites but none were as itchy as mine but he did have a couple that blistered.

Arrived home from the holiday two nights ago - The bumps from the bites appeared around 8-9 days ago. Husband's bites improved but mine still itched and were the same size and bruised.

This morning 6 of my bites had the classic bullseye rash. I had a mild headache but no other symptoms. I went to the pharmacist and he prescribed flucoxacillin. Went home and realised (after a google search) that this doesn't help Lyme's.

Contacted 111 and spoke to an out of hours GP (because it's a Saturday afternoon). He confirmed that the rash looks like Lyme's and he prescribed the correct antibotic - dpxycycline. 21 day course twice a day.

What should I expect over the next 3 weeks? When will the rashes fade? Do you think I've caught the disease early enough? Anyone had similar experiences? Should my husband get tested/antibiotics too even though he hasn't got the rash?

Horrible to think that had I not googled the pharmacist's antibiotic that I could have been none the wiser and suffering in a few weeks! Hopefully I'll be ok.

OP posts:
Pleaseme · 02/09/2023 19:15

Rashes will fade gradually. Do stay out of the Sun/ wear proper sunblock. The doxy makes you really susceptible to sunburn.

Bakedbeansandtoast · 02/09/2023 19:29

DD had Lyme's a couple of years ago. Did the full three weeks of antis. The rash gradually faded and symptoms (flu like feeling) went away completely. We live in a high tick area and frequently get bitten and don't get Lyme's so unless your husband has got a rash I don't think he would need to be treated. Take a probiotic to deal with the side effects of the doxy and take it when you can sit up for at least half an hour to stop it burning your oesophagus. DD has no lasting effects, neither do many others that I know who have had it.

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
RiverBear · 02/09/2023 19:46

.

OP posts:
Original poster
RiverBear · 02/09/2023 19:47

Bakedbeansandtoast · 02/09/2023 19:29

DD had Lyme's a couple of years ago. Did the full three weeks of antis. The rash gradually faded and symptoms (flu like feeling) went away completely. We live in a high tick area and frequently get bitten and don't get Lyme's so unless your husband has got a rash I don't think he would need to be treated. Take a probiotic to deal with the side effects of the doxy and take it when you can sit up for at least half an hour to stop it burning your oesophagus. DD has no lasting effects, neither do many others that I know who have had it.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks!Is it strange that nearly all of my bites have the classic rash and that I don't have any other symptoms?

OP posts:
Original poster
RiverBear · 02/09/2023 19:48

Pleaseme · 02/09/2023 19:15

Rashes will fade gradually. Do stay out of the Sun/ wear proper sunblock. The doxy makes you really susceptible to sunburn.

Thanks!

Is it strange that nearly all of my bites have the classic rash and that I don't have any other symptoms?

OP posts:
Joolsin · 02/09/2023 19:49

Blistery bites are tiger mosquitoes.

Scottishskifun · 02/09/2023 19:51

It's definitely wise that your husband goes to speak to his GP about a third of people who contract Lymes disease do not get the rash and it causes serious issues later whereas at the moment you are in the early stages which are very treatable. It's definitely worth him discussing.

Original poster
RiverBear · 02/09/2023 23:42

Scottishskifun · 02/09/2023 19:51

It's definitely wise that your husband goes to speak to his GP about a third of people who contract Lymes disease do not get the rash and it causes serious issues later whereas at the moment you are in the early stages which are very treatable. It's definitely worth him discussing.

I'm trying to convince him.. he doesn't feel likr it's necessary at the moment cause he has no symptoms 🙄 I will keep nagging!

OP posts:
EmmaPaella · 02/09/2023 23:47

It may be mosquito bites. Have you used Anthisan on them? Antihistamine would also help if it was.

Original poster
RiverBear · 03/09/2023 09:07

EmmaPaella · 02/09/2023 23:47

It may be mosquito bites. Have you used Anthisan on them? Antihistamine would also help if it was.

I haven't, all.l I've used is germolene. The rash is still spreading and itchy at the moment but it's a classic bull's eye pattern so I think it's most likely Lyme's.

OP posts:
Original poster
RiverBear · 03/09/2023 09:09

This mornimg the rashes have spread but they might be less red.. should i see any improvement in the first week of antibiotics or will they just continue to spread and fade?

OP posts:
Scottishskifun · 03/09/2023 09:30

RiverBear · 02/09/2023 23:42

I'm trying to convince him.. he doesn't feel likr it's necessary at the moment cause he has no symptoms 🙄 I will keep nagging!

Show quote history

I would send him a link to lymes disease and long term it's not one to mess about with compared to the hassle of 10 mins GP appointment. It can be fatal and is very difficult to get diagnosis later on as blood tests don't tend to be conclusive etc.

Katisha · 03/09/2023 09:55

I had this a few years ago. It took two courses to antibiotics to see off the bullseyes and that was the end of it.

Original poster
RiverBear · 03/09/2023 10:23

Katisha · 03/09/2023 09:55

I had this a few years ago. It took two courses to antibiotics to see off the bullseyes and that was the end of it.

How long did it take before the rashes started to fade? I'm only on day 2 of my 21 days of antibiotics and the rashes are still spreading...maybe I'm being too impatient

OP posts:
Summerslimtime · 03/09/2023 10:37

Have you got a pic?

Original poster
RiverBear · 03/09/2023 11:36

Summerslimtime · 03/09/2023 10:37

Have you got a pic?

It won't let me attach a pic cause it's over 6mb 🙄

OP posts:
Katisha · 03/09/2023 13:03

@RiverBear i don't actually remember but i do remember the bullseyes came back after i'd finished the first course, hence the need for two courses, which i seem to remember is standard dose anyway

Original poster
RiverBear · 03/09/2023 13:06

@Katisha Ah ok, so hopefully mine will start to fade towards the middle of my 21 day course! We shall see.
Did you use anything to help the itch? If it itched for you at all that is.

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KnittedCardi · 03/09/2023 13:11

It would be really rare to have several bites that all come up like that for Lyme. You usually only get one attached tick, and you would have seen it. Certainly several! Tbh I would suspect you have just had a reaction to mozzie bites. Also tick bites don't blister, but mozzies do.

Were you in a woody area, or field? If you were just round and about in a town or beach, it won't be a tick.

Not to dismiss you, but DH had confirmed Lyme (with no rash) and we removed the tick.

Original poster
RiverBear · 03/09/2023 13:30

@KnittedCardi only one of my bites blistered, and thats the only one without a bull's eye rash. We weren't in wooded areas or fields, that's why I'm so confused about the bites. But surely an allergic reaction would have passed by now? It's been 10 days!

@Summerslimtime See the attached pics. You'll see that I've used a pen to mark the edges, some lines are within the red circles as that's where the edge was yesterday.

OP posts:
HRTadvicepls · 03/09/2023 14:40

You can get a bullseye rash as a reaction to mosquito bites, it's not Lyme though. Unless you had to actually pull out ticks it's unlikely to be Lyme.

KnittedCardi · 03/09/2023 14:42

Yep. My money on mozzies or fleas.

Original poster
RiverBear · 03/09/2023 14:49

@HRTadvicepls @KnittedCardi Oh I wasn't aware that mozzie bites can cause a rash like this! I can't find much online about bull's eye rashes that aren't related to Lyme's.
Is there anything I can put on the rash or should I just ride it out?
Will still take the antibotics just in case.

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Summerslimtime · 03/09/2023 14:54

They do look awful, you poor thing. My bites go similar. I don't think they're tic bites, but as I'm a worrier I would take the tablets.

Original poster
RiverBear · 03/09/2023 15:00

They're terrible aren't they! So very itchy! At least they're on my lower legs so I can hide them from view 😅
Yes I was doubting tick bites until the rash appeared and then got worried so I'll be taking the tablets. Hopefully the rashes will improve asap... how long do yours normally last @Summerslimtime?

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