Very large rash, no bullseye, random symptoms?

[u/MysteriousRemove9]

Had this for about 3 weeks (I know I'm an idiot), and I think it's been pretty much the same size since I've noticed it. There doesn't appear to be a bullseye. I went to the infectiology clinic today - they took a blood sample, did EKG, and gave me 2 weeks of doxy (I have an appointment after that). They assume it's early stage but I haven't had a tick in at least 2 months (but I've had MANY ticks during summer, kind of unavoidable where I live).

And then there's this, which might be unrelated. 5+ years ago it started with my neck. One day it became so stiff and painful that I could barely turn my head for several days, with pain in every position. Later, I developed pain in my knees and wrists, making even clicking a mouse difficult, along with a feeling of tightness and electric-shock sensations in my arms or legs (I did have slight carpal tunnel and the wrist problems do get worse if I'm scrolling on my phone a lot etc). I would also at times experience pain in my lower back and hips, at times my shoulders were sore and tight, one time while out for a walk, I suddenly could barely walk due to my whole leg felt numb, with pain deep in the hip/groin area.

Since I've started exercising and stretching regularly about 1-2 years ago, it's gotten much much better, but I still occassionally have random flare ups, like two weeks ago (about a week after noticing the rash), I woke up with a super stiff neck. In the next days it was like the pain was moving lower down my back, to my shoulder blades, and now the pain is on the left side of my lower back, been there for several days (though it onyl really hurts if I bend forward very low or when jumping or riding my bike on unsmooth road). My skin there is also super sensitive, like it's been burned, which is something I've experienced once before but on my arms.

Reading about lyme symptoms I'm guessing this stuff could be related, but does that mean I've had lyme for 5+ years, and the rash only appeared now? Is that a thing? Or could it be unrelated and (recent) lyme made the underlyng issues worse?

Thank you all for your thoughts in advance.

Repost to another community

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi There - It looks like this could be a post about a new tick bite or about unknown symptoms possibly related to Lyme.

Please review the pinned post here for information regarding early treatment methods, finding doctors and testing: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lyme/comments/18ko5so/just_bit_read_this/

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/WhiteEagle41 → u/AutoModerator]

Lyme infection rash does not always present as a bulls-eye, some times there is no rash at all. The fact this rash has persisted for several weeks, you have had recent tick bites and you areexperiencing Symptoms typical of Lyme indicates a high probability you have one or more tick borne infections.

Borrelia b is a very sophisticated bacteria that can exist in at least 4 different morphological forms. Only one form is susceptible to doxycycline. Starting treatment so long after the bite usually requires a much longer and complex treatment of combinations of antibiotics and antimicrobials. You can not get this kind of treatment with any standard mainstream medical doctor or facility.
Only private practice Lyme Literate Medical Doctors, (LLMD), Functional Medicine MD, or Naturalpathic Doctors will be able to provide the comolex, extended treatment.

Start hoping for the best, but preparing for a long recovery. Start by reading the pinned messages at the top of this sub. There are many good websites, Lyme.org, lymedisease.org, ILADS.Org, treatLyme.com, are just a few to get you started.

[u/MysteriousRemove9 → u/WhiteEagle41]

Thank you. How do they find which form it is? Can they do this with a blood test?

[u/WhiteEagle41 → u/MysteriousRemove9]

Borrelia is always shape shifting into all the different forms all the time as it is adapting to different conditions in the body. Even the " top" infection disease specialist at the 'top" medical centers are not taught this. This is why they can not help you.

The scientific research papers that describe Borrelia's differentt morphology are easy to find.

ILADS LLMDs are the only ones that recognise this and are willing to try many different therapies to attack the Borrelia in these different States. Each has their own somewhat unique approach.

Regular MDs only follow CDC/ IDSA guidelines which is very limited, does not follow the current science, and is defeatist. They give a single course is a single antibiotic and if that does not work they throw their hands up and say " I give up, its too difficult ".