Posted by ed_uk2010 on March 18, 2018, at 8:52:02
In reply to Re: To Ed_Uk, posted by Jeroen on March 18, 2018, at 7:20:27
Hi,
>i had red spots on my head while i was sick and also i played lot in woods
It is really difficult to say what this could have been now - we would need a photo! Lyme disease is considerably less common in Europe than in the US, so most red spots after playing in the woods would be due to insect bites.
>if its positive....
First, if it's negative, it means that your symptoms are extremely unlikely to be related to Lyme disease. This is because your possible exposure to Lyme disease was a long time ago, so you would have developed antibodies by now.
If it's positive, things are more complicated. In most cases, a positive test means that you have been exposed to the Lyme bacteria at some point in the past. Unless you have typical physical symptoms of Lyme disease, a positive test does not prove that you actually have Lyme disease at the moment.
>what are my treatment options....
I think you would need to see a doctor with more knowledge of Lyme disease first, because a positive test doesn't prove that you have Lyme disease now. It could have been a previous exposure. I think this is particularly relevant because you have taken antibiotics in the past (since the possible exposure).
The doctor would need to do a physical examination and possibly some more tests. Lyme disease affecting the brain can be diagnosed by a lumbar puncture. You'd only have a lumbar puncture if a specialist thought it was needed, however. The lumbar puncture tests for antibodies to Borrelia, and for white blood cells, amongst other things.
If you actually do have Lyme disease affecting the nervous system, this could be treated with doxycycline, which is taken by mouth for several weeks. Intravenous antibiotics are used for severe nervous system infection, but as far as I can tell you don't have signs of that (meningitis etc). European studies show than less severe forms of nervous system Lyme disease can be cured with doxycycline. Doxycycline should be taken with food. The dose used for Lyme is quite high and the course is long. Taking it without food can cause nausea.
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:1097287
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20180212/msgs/1097431.html