How can I be sure it's Lyme

worrying comes with the territory, I'm afraid... as does self-doubt, doubting and second-guessing the doc, questioning the accuracy of tests, etc. Where's that smiley emoticon when you need it?

yep, welcome to LymeWorld. It's a lifestyle, not just an illness. It will test your belief in your own mind, even as your mind is affected by the infection. Got to find your core.

*Results matter* If you took abx and got better, then didn't stay better, an LLMD (in the presence of equivocal Lyme test results) would assume 1) undertreatment and 2)coinfection or 3) rule out another underlying condition.

So, you're doing great, covering all three. More abx, further testing, a doc who seems willing to look deeper. Lyme is well known to be difficult to confirm by indirect testing and darn near impossible to culture by normal means, so the (part) positive test and response to abx treatment are major signposts.

Good luck to you, you're on the right track.

If you had the rash, you have lyme. Being treated early is key. I'd say you're on the right track.

No doubt about it, you have had the bulls eye rash. That is the skin form of Lyme, so you have Lyme - no matter what the blood tests show.

Lyme and Bartonella both are inhibitory to the immune system, meaning that the immune system won't respond like it should to the bacteria, so how can these tests come out accurate?

Take a look at the CDC's own page on Lyme disease, and get your doctor to look it up as well: www.cdc.gov/lyme/
" Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods."

If the MELISA comes back negative, which it likely will, it only shows what many already know - your body isn't producing the antibodies it should be to fight this infection.

If your doc wont' treat you for Lyme, you need to find another one that will. Things won't improve until you get the proper treatments. Please find a doctor that knows more about these infections. We can help if you need.

Hi, I'm in the UK (although got bitten whilst holidaying in canada)o) it's very difficult to find a Lyme literate Dr. I have spoken with the secretary of another private Dr today who said he is literate however, she then advised that he'd seen 6 Lyme patients in a year! That doesn't make me very confident about him either.
I'm currently taking zinnat for a month although have to stop them for 4 days due to them affecting my stomach and bowel.
I'll have these further tests done( costing another £1300) and if nothing comes back I will assume myself that it's Lyme. Hopefully this second lot of antibiotics will help. Thanks so much for the support. This is a really helpful site.