posted
Hi guys. I have suffered with chronic Lyme for years. My symptoms come and go.
I got a bug bite (I believe) on the back of my thigh on Sunday. Usually with a mosquito bite it swells and itches for about an hour then goes away. This one has been red, swollen and very itchy for 48 hours now. Today the swelling went down some and the red area got a little larger.
I never saw or noticed a tick.
Do tick bites, or Lyme disease bites, usually come with itching?
I have no other noticeable symptoms. Just the swelling, redness, and itchiness. It's right where my leg rubs on a chair, couch etc if I'm sitting down. Not sure if that's what keeps instigating it.
I attached a photo here. I am located in central NC. Could this be another bug other than a mosquito or tick? Trying not to freak out. Do not want to take antibiotics if I don't have to. Thanks in advance for the help!
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
I'm a tick magnet. The only bites that ever itched and reacted just like yours in the picture was the Lone Star ticks.
They are very vicious biters. Lone Star ticks carrying it all. Don't believe anything you read about Lone Stars only carry this and that bad guys.
Your skin is reacting to something vile. Is your immune system going to be able to wall it off and not let it go throughout your system?
It's better to be safe than sorry.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Hmm, I've never heard of a lone star tick. I never saw a tick attached to me or anything before I noticed the bug bite.
It is now an even darker red than in the photos and has a pretty pronounced "head" (a small hard lump similar to a whitehead)
Do tick bites usually cause this?
I sent photos to my doctor and he said it is most likely a spider bite
Posts: 10 | From US | Registered: Jul 2019
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I have had spider bites like that. And the intense itch, heat and later ache has been profound. I really react.
It might be good to try to figure out what kind as to how you might treat the spot / yourself.
You might check your bed linens for any crushed spiders. I actually have been successful finding the evidence. I figure you must have been either sitting - maybe sat down on it - or it got you while sleeping.
Whatever, though, some tea tree oil might offer some topical relief. And, of course, since it might have been some other kind of critter, just be mindful - as I'm sure you are, always.
Good luck. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Keebler: - I have had spider bites like that. And the intense itch, heat and later ache has been profound. I really react.
It might be good to try to figure out what kind as to how you might treat the spot / yourself.
You might check your bed linens for any crushed spiders. I actually have been successful finding the evidence. I figure you must have been either sitting - maybe sat down on it - or it got you while sleeping.
Whatever, though, some tea tree oil might offer some topical relief. And, of course, since it might have been some other kind of critter, just be mindful - as I'm sure you are, always.
Good luck. -
Thank you! So in your opinion, is this more likely a spider rather than a tick?
Did your spider bites also develop a hard, white head center?
I'm just very paranoid about tick bites. I never saw a tick and based on photos of Lyme rashes it doesn't seem to be consistent. It's also in a strange spot (your assessment of sitting or lying down makes sense since it is on the back of my thigh)
Unfortunately I can't find anything in my bed. (it's been almost 4 days now) but I will definitely keep an eye out!
Thanks again!
Also, to add, since I've noticed the bite/rash I have had no other symptoms whatsoever that I have noticed.
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Uneducated docs always call it a spider bite. BTW, spiders carry some pretty bad bacteria. Staph is one.
I pulled a Lone Star tick off and I had the very same rash as in your picture. That bite gave me a very large dose of Bartonella bacteria.
Bart is another co-infection known as a vector borne illnesses.
Even spider bites can turn into serious illness. I hope your doc gave you something for it besides some steroid cream.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by map1131: Uneducated docs always call it a spider bite. BTW, spiders carry some pretty bad bacteria. Staph is one.
I pulled a Lone Star tick off and I had the very same rash as in your picture. That bite gave me a very large dose of Bartonella bacteria.
Bart is another co-infection known as a vector borne illnesses.
Even spider bites can turn into serious illness. I hope your doc gave you something for it besides some steroid cream.
Pam
He didn't give me anything. Just said to use hydrocortisone cream. And I never saw a tick (noticed the bite pretty soon after it happened) Wouldn't the tick have had to have been on there a while to cause the infection if it was indeed a tick? I have zero symptoms other than the rash so I think it's going to be hard to convince a dcotor to really give me anything. What should I ask that he gives me?
How soon did you notice symptoms to the Bartonella?
Did yours form a whitehead? I noticed this one was leaking fluid yesterday at one point. Swelling seems to have gone down some today. Redness is just as bad.
It's just so hard to figure these things out. Very stressful. I am very rarely outdoors which is another reason I thought a spider might be more likely. I was on a greenway path for about 10 minutes on Sunday. That's the only place I could have possibly encountered a tick.
Also, everything I have read or heard about with Lyme rashes is that they normally don't itch or hurt (this one has been both since I noticed it) and the very dark red nature of this doesn't seem to match any tick bite photos that I can find.
I'm just trying to be thorough even though it's easy to jump straight to it being a tick. I just wish I had seen what bit me and this would be so much easier
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
A nymph Lone Star or any other nymph tick would be quite easy to miss while it's feeding. BTW, this 24-72 hours of attachment needed to give you Lyme or any other infection is non sense.
Your doctor wants to play spider bite. Ok, but now you are oozing something from the bite. Any doctor knows a spider bite can be serious and lead to infections that spread beyond the bite area.
You are concerned, therefore your doctor should help you. Your gut instinct says something isn't good here.
Today's super bacterias are serious. A simple wound or bite can turn into life changing events.
Tell your doctor you are feeling things deep within the bite and there's something is festering. Tell him to give you an antibiotic that would cover possible spider venoms.
If you come down with flu-like symptoms or anything else that odd for you....then that sets off more alarm bells for you & your doctor.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by map1131: A nymph Lone Star or any other nymph tick would be quite easy to miss while it's feeding. BTW, this 24-72 hours of attachment needed to give you Lyme or any other infection is non sense.
Your doctor wants to play spider bite. Ok, but now you are oozing something from the bite. Any doctor knows a spider bite can be serious and lead to infections that spread beyond the bite area.
You are concerned, therefore your doctor should help you. Your gut instinct says something isn't good here.
Today's super bacterias are serious. A simple wound or bite can turn into life changing events.
Tell your doctor you are feeling things deep within the bite and there's something is festering. Tell him to give you an antibiotic that would cover possible spider venoms.
If you come down with flu-like symptoms or anything else that odd for you....then that sets off more alarm bells for you & your doctor.
Pam
Thanks. That's the problem. I don't have any real symptoms at all, and I don't necessarily want to take antibiotics just in case. I have had bad reactions to antibiotics in the past so that would only be if I knew I had to.
I've showed the photos to several other Lyme communities and have had unanimous responses that it looks identical to spider bites they have had. That being said, I know spider bites can be bad too.
Mentally, I just don't want to jump the gun and assume the worst. The odds are more in the favor of a bad reaction to a bug bite and unless it's obvious, I guess I don't want to assume it's Lyme.
I have the Buhner protocol from past exposure to Lyme, and I started taking a low dose yesterday to at least try to get ahead of the game and be safe.
Posts: 10 | From US | Registered: Jul 2019
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Good you've got herbals. Take them at recommended doses.
I have a exSIL that didn't take a spider bite serious and he ended up with a hole in his belly skin.
You've just had the bite since Sunday, so just act if you get concerned.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- You might also get into the habit of hanging all your clothes inside out - that way you have to check them prior to putting them on.
It's a good practice for everyone, really. Helps me know.
Just yesterday I picked up a light scarf, bunched up on a hook -- I'd turned into it a sort of kitchen apron -- and a small spider dropped out of it just before I put my head through a large hole.
I had not even thought to shake that out but now I will from here on.
A bed check, too, at night is a good idea. And be sure to use the vacuum wand to clean all the spaces around the bed, behind furniture, etc. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Thanks guys! So, since my last post, the redness/swelling went away. The signs of the bite are almost completely done. However, I started having some chills this morning. No other symptoms. No fever. No swollen lymph nodes etc. I went to urgent care. They gave me a very short prescription for doxy.
I haven't taken the buhner herbs in years. Could those be causing the chills?
Should I take the antibiotics either way, and if so, how do I get my doctor to extend it and give me the full 6 weeks? (or is that not needed)
I have reacted badly to antibiotics in the past so I really don't want to take them unless I have to.
Thanks for all the help
Posts: 10 | From US | Registered: Jul 2019
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