I post an awful lot about Lyme and tick disease. I sometimes feel like I’m being obnoxious about it and I wonder if others get tired of seeing it.

And then I get a text with a picture of a perfect bullseye rash with the question: “Is this Lyme?”

I hate that Lyme continues to be a battle but I am overjoyed that someone can get early treatment because we are raising awareness to a level people are willing to ask.

So I’m gonna keep sharing because it does make a difference. And I hope if you or someone you know has questions or suspects Lyme that you’ll be willing to ask.

While the bullseye rash is considered confirmation of Lyme, it is actually an uncommon symptom.

Common early symptoms include:

• Other types of rashes – most are solid pink to red but can vary
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue 
• Muscle and joint pain

Common later symptoms include (but are not limited to):

• Debilitating fatigue
• Headaches
• Muscle pain
• Arthritis
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Nerve pain and weakness
• Heart problems
• Psychiatric symptoms: anxiety, depression, irritability, psychosis, and more
• Difficulty with thinking, memory, language and math skills
• Sleep disturbance
• Problems with vision and hearing

If you suspect Lyme or have symptoms without answers, reach out.