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Posted 5/14/2017 2:02 PM (GMT -5)
I spend each weekends in the woods and recently noticed a small rash on my leg. A white circle with a red edge. I'm actually pretty obsessive about checking for ticks and never noticed one in the area of the rash, so I cannot say for certain that it is lyme.

However, I have found ticks on my legs before (thankfully never engorged), and self treated with doxycycline 'just in case'. I intend to do the same again.

From reading the latest guidelines, it seems 4-6 weeks of 400mg doxy is recommended, but I am a little concerned about the cyst aspect. Do i need a 'cyst buster' as well? It seems some people say that the bacteria hide in cysts then re-emerge when the antibiotics have finished. Others say that cysts are formed but the bacteria inside are often dead anyway?

Can anybody clarify? Thanks.
Posted 5/14/2017 2:18 PM (GMT -5)
If you think the infection goes beyond a few weeks, it certainly wouldn't hurt to take a cyst buster such as grapefruit seed extract and a biofilm product such as serrapeptase, natokanise or lumbrokanise.

You also may want to treat longer than 4-6 weeks.

A brand new infection wouldn't be settled down into biofilm or cyst forms.

Also, it would be a good idea to be on a 2nd antibiotic. Are you experiencing any symptoms?

Also, I want to welcome you to the community. Please check the first post at the top of the forum for useful information. We are here to answer your questions 😊
Posted 5/14/2017 2:33 PM (GMT -5)
Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Currently have no symptoms. It is possible that it may not be Lyme. It looks like ringworm but it does not itch. Anyhow, not worth the risk in my opinion.

Does GSE have any scientific proof behind it? I read that it actually interferes with doxy?

Regarding a second antibiotic, would it be better to do one and then the other or combine them?
Posted 5/14/2017 3:07 PM (GMT -5)
If you catch it early enough, which is sounds like you have, the bacteria won't be in cyst form yet, so you should be OK.

GSE does not interfere with doxy. But I don't think you need it. I would definitely err on the side of Lyme though. You don't want to assume it's something else and not treat it. Trust me, you will regret it later.

Less than half of people diagnosed with Lyme ever remember getting bitten by a tick. You are most likely to be infected with Lyme by a tick in it's nymph stage. They are literally the size of a poppy seed (you can Google images for nymph tick). Even engorged, they are only the size of the head of a pin. So it's definitely possible to have been bitten and not know it.
Posted 5/14/2017 4:09 PM (GMT -5)
Many thanks, will proceed with the doxy and see how it goes.
Posted 5/14/2017 4:11 PM (GMT -5)
Purrrsiankitty,
You mention serrapeptase for biofilm. Can you herx on serrapeptase? I ask because I've been taking pretty high doses of it lately along with some other proteolytic enzymes and I feel pretty bad (tired, shaky, etc...). Now I'm wondering if it's from those supplements. Thanks smile
Posted 5/14/2017 4:41 PM (GMT -5)

chrisla said...
Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Currently have no symptoms. It is possible that it may not be Lyme. It looks like ringworm but it does not itch. Anyhow, not worth the risk in my opinion.

Does GSE have any scientific proof behind it? I read that it actually interferes with doxy?

Regarding a second antibiotic, would it be better to do one and then the other or combine them?

Hi Chrisla - If you have a bulls eye rash - (and not ringworm) - then you do have a symptom. Minimum 6 weeks of treatment required. One antibiotic should be fine...if you indeed caught it right away.

If you do get other symptoms...then you need to treat until symptom free plus 4-8 weeks longer. And at that point you will want to add in another antibiotic, a cyst buster.
Posted 5/14/2017 4:50 PM (GMT -5)

BeKindPls said...
Purrrsiankitty,
You mention serrapeptase for biofilm. Can you herx on serrapeptase? I ask because I've been taking pretty high doses of it lately along with some other proteolytic enzymes and I feel pretty bad (tired, shaky, etc...). Now I'm wondering if it's from those supplements. Thanks smile

I believe the biofilm busters will release the spirochetes into the bloodstream - so you want to be treating the spirochetes.

Are you also on antibiotics?
Posted 5/14/2017 5:14 PM (GMT -5)

Girlie said...

chrisla said...
Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Currently have no symptoms. It is possible that it may not be Lyme. It looks like ringworm but it does not itch. Anyhow, not worth the risk in my opinion.

Does GSE have any scientific proof behind it? I read that it actually interferes with doxy?

Regarding a second antibiotic, would it be better to do one and then the other or combine them?

Hi Chrisla - If you have a bulls eye rash - (and not ringworm) - then you do have a symptom. Minimum 6 weeks of treatment required. One antibiotic should be fine...if you indeed caught it right away.

If you do get other symptoms...then you need to treat until symptom free plus 4-8 weeks longer. And at that point you will want to add in another antibiotic, a cyst buster.

Hi, thanks.

It is not a typical bullseye.

White centre with a red edge - no actual bullseye in the middle. Also, I would say it is a maximum of 1.5cm across, possibly less... so hard to know what it is really.

Unfortunately, here in the UK, most Dr's are oblivious to Lyme, so got some meds ordered online just in case they play the old 'come back if you notice any other symptoms' line.
Posted 5/14/2017 5:46 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Girlie,
I haven't started the antibiotics yet - I have an appointment with a doctor (not LLMD) this week and I didn't want to be on meds in the event that they want to do testing. I was afraid antibiotics might interfere. So I started the serrapeptase and other enzymes a few weeks ago because I heard they would get rid of viruses. Now I'm learning that I may be aggravating the Lyme! I guess I should stop them until I start with the antibiotics as well. Thanks for the reply, I had no idea 😞
Posted 5/18/2017 11:19 AM (GMT -5)
I went to my Dr, who immediately diagnosed the rash as ringworm (despite it not itching).

I have used anti-fungal cream for the last 3 days and the rash is definitly fading, and i have also noticed a couple other smaller spots on my body (all a maximum of 1.5cm across), so am using the cream there too.

All in all, it seems to be ringworm, but the fact that I camp every weekend has got me a little worried. Would anyone else take antibiotics as a precaution, or just not bother?
Posted 5/18/2017 11:59 AM (GMT -5)
Please do continue to watch for symptoms. If you are not aware of just what symptoms to be watching for, you can just ask. It's literally most anything out of the normal, even flu or cold like feelings.

Lyme rashes come in all shapes and sizes, so don't ignore this, as it would not be surprising for a doctor to diagnose ringworm instead of the real cause - many people have reported this and they had Lyme the whole time.
Posted 5/18/2017 12:12 PM (GMT -5)

chrisla said...
I went to my Dr, who immediately diagnosed the rash as ringworm (despite it not itching).

I have used anti-fungal cream for the last 3 days and the rash is definitly fading, and i have also noticed a couple other smaller spots on my body (all a maximum of 1.5cm across), so am using the cream there too.

All in all, it seems to be ringworm, but the fact that I camp every weekend has got me a little worried. Would anyone else take antibiotics as a precaution, or just not bother?

If it were me, I'd take the antibiotics. You spend weekends in the woods and had a rash - that could be an EM.
Posted 5/18/2017 1:49 PM (GMT -5)
Do not let it become chronic if you can help it .the other spots may ne ricketsial
Posted 5/18/2017 3:53 PM (GMT -5)
Not to sound repetitive... take astragalus root, 3000 mg per day for 30 days after you suspect a bit. And 1000 mg per day for prevention can't hurt.
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