Found the "bullseye", now what?

September 16, 2009 2:21 PM

After a week of what was diagnosed as some form of Viral Syndrome Meningitis, I just found a big target-shaped rash on the back of my leg. Looks just like the pictures. This started on Sunday of Labor Day weekend after camping. Now that I'm pretty sure it's Lyme Disease what should I ask for and do first? I'm about 10 days into the infection.

My doctor is on vacation so I've been getting bounced around. I have an appointment with her back-up who I saw last Wednesday. When I saw him then the rash was a solid purple, like a bruise. It's sort of migrated to the edges forming a target with a dark center and outer ring. I'm almost positive this is Lyme Disease and he wants me in the office at 8 in the morning. I know I want antibiotics but what else do I want and need to know? I understand there's an advantage to catching this early. How do I maximize that advantage? Throw away account at [e-mail] for anything you'd rather not share.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (6 comments total)

You maximize the advantage by showing up to the appointment. Your doctor will tell/prescribe you what you need, and if you're suspicious, get a second opinion. What else are you asking about?
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 2:25 PM on September 16 [1 favorite]

You should be fine with just antibiotics. I've had Lyme twice (not a recurrence, but actually two separate bites and rashes and subsequent infections) and antibiotics cleared me up fine both times.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:46 PM on September 16

Go to the doctor and get the antibiotics. If this is indeed Lyme disease, you need to arrest the symptoms quickly.
posted by KokuRyu at 2:50 PM on September 16

It certainly sounds like you have caught it early, and that antibiotic treatment will clear it up without residual problems.

Really basic questions to ask.
Its been 10 days already. Have we caught it early?
What are the chances that chronic auto-immune problems might develop? Is there anyway to minimize that chance?
And how do we know that the disease is gone? If all the symptoms diseappear do I need any followup tests?

Most likely you will not need anything more complicated.

Good luck!
posted by SLC Mom at 3:52 PM on September 16

Don't read too much on the internet. For basic, acute onset Lyme with a rash, you need a few weeks of antibiotics and you're cured.

That said, were you bitten by a tick? Are you in an area with lots of ticks? Is it possible the rash is something else? Not every rash that looks like concentric circles is Lyme.

Don't go in so convinced it's Lyme that you won't even listen to the doctor consider other possibilities, unless you're someone who works outdoors, have a lot of outdoor hobbies, or you actually pulled a tick off of yourself.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:05 PM on September 16

I know I want antibiotics but what else do I want and need to know?

You need to know you want a diagnosis, not antibiotics.
posted by gramcracker at 9:14 PM on September 16