r/lymedisease

Hello everyone, I got bit a few weeks ago (wasn't sure what it was), the mark wouldn't go away and about 3 weeks ago I got really ill, high temperature, joint and muscle pain and headache and neck pain. I noticed a rash around the bite, it was getting bigger, called the doc and got Doxy for 4 weeks. A few hours after my first pill all my symptoms went away.

It's been two weeks on antibiotics and I've been fine except today noticed my lower legs were feeling painful, muscular pain, not sure if it's related as I also often suffer with mindbody pains (TMS) which are stress related and usually resolve once I realize the source of the stress.

I can get three more weeks of antibiotics when this course is finished but was wondering if it's worth it to add herbs at this stage. I was wondering if the herbs interfere with the antibiotics and if not which ones to take (Buhner protocol or cryptolepsis or teasel.

Would love some advice on mixing herbs with antibiotics.

Thanks!

**Reddit**

Hey, so i (F,22,1.65cm,60kg, no smoking, no medication, no allergie) got bitten by a brake? Not sure if the translation is roght(Bremse on german) it is a insekt wich looks like a fly.
So before 3 days i got bitten and first it was a quaddle like when a musquito bite, the next day it was a light red and now it is red red. I am wondering if it is lyme disease (borreliose)? Because there is a light red halo around the red part.
Site: right leg under knee
Onset: before 3 days
Character: it is hard, slightly swollen, and is slightly iches
Radiation: none
Assotiate symptoms: none (no Fever etc)
Time: as i mentioned before the red part got bigger over the 3 days
I didnt try any medication or so cuz im in vacation rn

Link for picture:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZuC2oKAM5zFvO8L7FbMvQJxFgLa1XDeY/view?usp=drivesdk\](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZuC2oKAM5zFvO8L7FbMvQJxFgLa1XDeY/view?usp=drivesdk)

Edit: yes, it was in fact Lyme!

Hi, I live outside of US and idk if my country diagnose lyme very often, so maybe someone could look into photos of my bite and share their experience? I’m going to third doctor on Monday…

So on Jun 20 I saw a very small round red bite on my thigh. I have a dog and we walk in grass daily. I haven’t seen any insect on me.
And then is started, sory for the official list, but I made it for my doctor.

21.06.2026 (evening)
During exposure to tall grass, a presumed insect bite occurred on the lower extremity. Initially, a small red puncture mark was visible with a central bite site. Mild localized erythema developed around the lesion.
22.06.2026
First medical consultation. Topical treatment with Triderm was prescribed and follow-up was advised if no improvement occurred.
23.06.2026
The lesion progressively enlarged. Erythema expanded to approximately 2–3 cm in diameter, becoming more intense and diffuse, with a clearly visible central puncture point.
26.06.2026
Second medical consultation. Diagnosis: spider bite. Treatment with Advantan (topical corticosteroid) and antihistamines was recommended.
27.06.2026
Maximum severity of the lesion. The area showed a mixed discoloration: central yellowish–purplish area resembling a small hematoma, surrounded by erythema and ecchymotic changes. Central bite mark still visible.
Following days (after 27.06)
Gradual improvement was observed after antihistamines and topical corticosteroid therapy. The lesion began to fade and decrease in size, suggesting healing.
01.07.2026 (evening)
Sudden recurrence of intense pruritus at the site of the previous lesion. Oral antihistamines were taken without significant relief.
02.07.2026 (morning)
Marked deterioration: swelling of the affected lower limb with erythema, warmth, and diffuse extension of the lesion. The area remains intensely pruritic and appears more inflamed compared to previous days.

TL;DR
Presumed insect/spider bite on 21.06 initially improved with topical steroids and antihistamines, but on 01–02.07 there was an acute recurrence with significant swelling, erythema, warmth, and severe itching of the same area, despite prior improvement. Can it be Lyme?

Edit: yes it was Lyme

https://preview.redd.it/vw2t2i76amah1.png?width=936&format=png&auto=webp&s=aa20e2cf799231da4d634f11a9af7069c55edfd0

https://preview.redd.it/2vuxcoh9amah1.png?width=587&format=png&auto=webp&s=577f41d76f3e85afcf8da1dc008a346b11475c13

https://preview.redd.it/nadi9zmaamah1.png?width=526&format=png&auto=webp&s=4fddea1654370031dca5b74d32c0c2b1d774ae50

These were faded & taken maybe like a week or two after the bites to send to the DR. It's been something less than a month now. My friend who was with me in the field on the bench got a classic big fuck-off bullseye bite, even tho I've been doubting myself for it being too faint? One if I soften my eyes seems bullseyeish, the other few were expanding red blobs at my ankle. DR only had telephone appointments so they just took my word.

Got prescribed 3w of Doxy (dispersible, cant swallow tablets). I am disabled so been struggling to be consistent and didn't process label so took iron within 2h of it 2 days in a row.
Like since 2 days ago after taking it midday I got pretty uncoordinated/dizzy/brainfoggy/'loose' vision in a way that sucks for me as someone with already low iron & DCD (clumsy disease). I consistently feel very heavy and sway on my feet making me wanna lay down for safety all the time. Even after missing some doses it hasn't really changed.
It's also the heatwave and I took the last few reasonably temperatured days to go about my life but felt like I came back with a surprisingly quick/faint sunburn on the outside of my arms.
Myasthenia gravis runs in the family but I'm not diagnosed. I also usually have a numbness in my arms already (due to posture -> nerve stress they think) but the numbness + discordination is fucking me up.

Thankfully I have the blood test for it tomorrow but idk if I should still be taking in the meantime until I recieve the results.

I think I just got freaked out associating the taking with the symptoms, but figured maybe this is just Lyme symptoms? Help? Thank you & much love (If you have advice instructions it would be fantastic for them to be as literal/alien friendly/Autism friendly as possible lol)

(There's few times a week my brain can 'switch on' like this so I always feel very vulnerable in these kinds of situations. My professional carer quit for more hours. I've called the drs like thrice this week trying to explain and it feels like they're brushing me off. I feel quite foggy, upset, alone and scared.)

My 8 year old was recently diagnosed with lymes. Never saw a tick or saw a bullseye. He became very sick with a high fever, extreme fatigue, body aches and hallucinations. He looked awful. Docs thought it was a bad virus but said they did think he looked especially rough and to rule things out drew blood cultures, mono and lymes. All came back negative and after a few days he seemed back to normal though he continued to look off. About a week later he developed what they called a systemic lyme rash. It looked like large suction cups on his arm and leg. They said now seeing the rash they were certain his prior symptoms were from the new onset of lymes and his antibodies were not high enough to show a positive lab test.

Started him on Doxy for 14 days.

10 days in he developed severe bilateral thumb pain that turned into full hand and wrist pain. He also was writhing saying his entire face felt like it was on fire. Docs said lyme's usually effects major joints and they didn't believe his symptoms were related but thought he had fifth disease. He had no sickness symptoms. Symptoms resolved in about 24 hours.

He has now finished the antibiotics and talking to his brother yesterday we realized that he had forgotten multiple big events that had happened in his life since the sickness started. Couldn't remember going to the last day of school, his soccer game where he got a medal and his big field trip. All of these events were before the antibiotic was started. Doc said it was reassuring he hadn't continued to forget things and that the memory loss was odd but most likely due to acute illness at the time.

I am feeling unsettled with it all but not sure if I should be. Google is overwhelming. He is active, eating and seemingly well but the memory loss has really bothered me. Has anyone experienced this or have knowledge?