red. Another bright red circle about 5 inches in diameter quickly appeared below my knee on same leg. Itchy couldn't sleep. Red patches slowly faded over 10 days.

Thought it was just allergic reactions to tick. After 2 weeks got killer headache and back of neck pains. Hands became numb. Went to clinic and was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Clinic just sent me letter saying titer test was negative. I will still take rest of doxycycline tablets. I still feel really sick with sore throat and muscle pains. Must be a virus.

Most likely you do have lyme and probably some co-infections the blood tests are poor. Finish the doxy and let you Dr. know if you are still sick. In the meantime try to PM deputy643 on this forum, she runs an advocacy group for lyme sufferers in Minnesota. Also you can PM Jamie our group leader for info on a lyme literate MD.

Good luck and take care, Denise

I'm not sure what is going on. I feel weak and sleepy with pains in buttocks and leg. I have 6 doxycycline tablets which I am taking twice a day. If I was infected with Lyme I would expect the doxycycline to kill the bacteria in two weeks. Since the titer test was negative, my insurance probably will not pay for more testing and the doctor will think I am a neurotic whiner if I go back. I should have kept the tick which was on my foot but I instinctively threw it away from me. I was in a park in western North Dakota sitting on a bench and could not find it when I looked for it a few minutes later. Even though the bacteria are dead there could be reactions by your body to the toxins for some time.

I know it sounds crazy but the fact that you are feeling bad on the doxy is further conformation that you have lyme. The doxy is killling the lyme and you are having a herxheimer reaction which is feeling worse as the bacteria is "dying off" and exiting your body.

I would finish the doxy then wait about two weeks and request a western blot test for lyme preferably from a reputable lab like Igenex or Immunosciences. You should be very positive at that point. I had to educate my Dr.s on the proper tests and he was very open to listening and got my Igenex tests paid for.

This sounds like a recent infection so you want to take care of it as quickly as possible so you don't end up like some of the rest of us with chronic lyme that are having a hard time getting rid of it.

If your Dr. ignores your continued sypmtoms and refuses another lyme test you need another Dr.

Hope this helps, Denise

Take care, Denise