@cg then please accept a double dose. Something very amiss regarding Lyme discease and the medical prpfession in the UK, when I lived in the US 25 years ago our neighbours warned us about it and there where many public info posters. Here the authorities / GPs seem to be in denial
Still a mixed bag. My eldest had a classic rash, and whilst we couldn’t remember a tick bite, the locum who saw him took the ‘no chances’ route and prescribed a course of antibiotics on the spot.
My wife took him back in for the second blood test and one of the partners was very dismissive – it wasn’t likely to be Lymes, it’s very rare, no point giving him anything, don’t know why he did etc etc.
Few weeks later had a phone call from the senior partner. Second tests showed a very high probability it was, and he took the case on personally, wanted our corroboration of his surgery accounts, insisted on walking through all the possible pitfalls and warning signs we should be aware of for the next year or so, whilst re assuring the initial antibiotics would almost certainly have been the right action and at the right time. Basically couldn’t do enough.
Whilst I understand there is/was a culture of antibiotics as a panacea that GPs are trying to get out of the national mindset, it seem to me with a suspicion of Lymes it’s nothing to lose and potentially a lot of pain to avoid. Anecdotally, in my part of Hants at least, cases are on the rise (mild winters to blame?) so I wouldn’t take any chances with seeking treatment.