possible Lyme disease?

[TheresNoTelescreen]

Spent a day in the woods 8 days ago, last few days this has appeared. A Google search suggests Lyme disease but it's incredibly itchy so maybe not a tick bite? Does anyone have any experience of a bite like this?

It does look like the classic bull’s eye rash. You need to see a doctor for antibiotics if it is Lyme. Tick bites can be itchy.

Looks like a very typical bullseye rash. Even if it's not, the potential consequences of not treating Lyme are significant. Take a photo, contact GP urgently or book through 111. Ensure they follow the guidelines for long course antibiotics.

Yes it does look like Lyme - doesn’t mean it is, but certainly raises a red flag. Please see a dr tomorrow, Lyme disease can be nasty and the sooner it’s treated the better.

I would get immediate help for that.

Looks like it, my DD had one last year. Hers was itchy and the bullseye rash appeared over a week later. Sorted with strong antibiotics and no issues.

Wooahh! Classic bullseye rash. Might need antibiotics. Do you have flu symptoms? Definitely see the Dr.

Thanks all for your replies will get medical advice.

Oh and don't let them fob you off if you don't have flu like symptoms. The NICE guidelines say to treat just with the rash, regardless of flu like symptoms. My DD didn't get antibiotics from the 1st GP after a remote consult due to that...the second GP was furious she wasn't given any at first consult.

I've had a cold the past few days but not flu like severity.

I had a rash like this a couple of years ago. Ended up getting a private online appointment as I wanted it dealt with quickly in case it was Lyme. Had three weeks of strong antibiotics but no other symptoms. I think catching it quickly is important.

I had it last year, huge bullseye and itchy as hell.

Pharmacist sent me to GP who said they don’t bother testing, just dose you with antibiotics as if it was definitely Lyme.

Thats impressive, good idea to get it checked out!

I rang 111 they have advised me to ring the pharmacy on Monday.

Can pharmacists prescribe the Lyme disease antibiotics? If not I'd contact your GP rather than a pharmacy as you shouldn't waste any time with this.

My DD actually got antibiotics by visiting a pharmacy, who diagnosed based on the rash. We then called 111 and the doctor who called back prescribed and sent the prescription straight through to a pharmacy of our choice.

Hmm, it depends on your GP. If you have a gp who responds quickly like ours I’d send an online request with a photo and expect a prescription at my pharmacy on Monday morning. But if yours is the kind of GP where you have to phone at 8am 4 days in a row to get an appointment three weeks away I’d go to a minor injuries today.

Definitely get it treated. I got Lyme disease, no bulls eye rash at the time. I ended up hospitalised with such a weird set of symptoms they were thinking brain tumour at one point.

The antibiotics they give you make you very sensitive to sunlight. Wear a hat / coverup plus spf even on overcast days. Also get some probiotics to help your gut health.

You HAVE to go asap to start antibiotics. You are showing all the signs of Lyme disease. At this stage it can be easily treated with the appropriate antibiotics.

If you leave it though, it can be too late and the chronic symptoms of Lyme disease can be quite horrible. Mainly neurological.

Also name sure your GP understands Lyme Disease as if I'm correct, I believe you require a specific antibiotic, not any old type.

Doxycycline. And a fairly long course too. You HAVE to take them with food and stay upright for 30 minutes afterwards too. Hardcore but effective!

Woke up feeling awful, headache and feeling really dizzy so found a pharmacy open that prescribes, they said they can't prescribe for Lyme disease go to walk in centre. Rang walk in centre and they said yes we can prescribe come straight down. Saw nurse for triage and she said it does look like Lyme disease but we can't prescribe without a blood test I need to go to a&e. Really don't want to go to a&e for this.

Unfortunately GP is the ring at 8 nightmare type and with work it's impossible to get through before my shift starts.

Of course they can prescribe without a blood test!!!! Have a look at the NICE guidelines for Lymes.

Lyme is often a false negative on an early test. So they take a better safe than sorry. I’d really push for the antibiotics

I'm out of a+e with antibiotics, thank you all for your advice.

Good work @TheresNoTelescreen

Hope you start to feel better soon

How are you feeling now @TheresNoTelescreen ? Did it go away soon after the antibiotics? Keen for your update as family member struggling with the doxy sickness and hot flushes.