u/Hannibalslettuce

Posted on this sub yesterday with photos of the bullseye rash that landed me in the ER and got sent home with twice a day 100mg Doxycycline for 10 days, in the ER PA’s words, “just in case”. (I’m in rural north Georgia and the PA said Lyme “just doesn’t happen” in GA)

After very helpful advice from you guys (and my own determination to stay healthy after years of fighting unrelated chronic illness in countless ER visits) I scheduled a dermatologist visit for a second opinion for today. I drove 2 hours out of the way just for them to cancel on me (Doc I was scheduled with had an emergency)

Feeling pretty defeated and scared I’m not doing the right things I need to. Does anyone have advice of where to go from here with Dr appointments? Not even sure if a dermatologist would be able to help me anymore than the ER PA did.

First photo taken today, (after 2 doses of Doxycycline) second photo was taken yesterday (day of ER visit) and third photo the day before. The initial bites themselves I noticed 4 days ago but could have happened any time as I hike a lot.

Went to the ER the same day first pic was taken. Doctor said “Looks like Lyme’s from a tick bite but Lyme disease isn’t in North Georgia and ticks don’t bite multiple times.” This seemed peculiar as my partner has been treated for bacteria consistent with Lyme and my coworker has been suffering from the disease for years (never left GA btw). We also live in the woods right in the foothills of Appalachia.

I understand the number of bites is unusual for a tick (edit: looking back it was probably a tick nest I came across), but do people really think Lyme disease just isn’t spread in Georgia? She prescribed me antibiotics “just in case”

Second pic is from 3 days after the bites and third is same day I noticed them

Update: I’ve scheduled an appointment for a second opinion tomorrow. Thanks for the help!

Found a bed bug biting me a few nights ago days after doing a walkthrough of a new Airbnb I agreed to clean (wont be returning for obvious reasons).
Should I seek medical attention? The bites appeared as welts 4 days ago (which I popped) then became very sensitive and scabbed over. Today I woke up and they are itchier than ever (haven’t been itching them) and the redness is new.

Currently using cold compress and cortisone cream

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