My boyfriend was bitten by a tick over the weekend… it was attached for no more than 16-18 hours. The tick was still flat and not engorged yet. So far, he does not have a bulls eye or other symptoms except for a headache yesterday. (But, he gets them a lot anyway so who knows if its related.) He does not have a very strong immune system.
So, I’m wondering if he should see his primary care for a few weeks of doxy or try to get in to see my LLNP to ensure he gets more than 2 weeks of abx.
I’m planning to send the tick out for analysis.
I hate to take the wait and see approach but there is a good(?) chance that he did not contact any TBD... and I hate him to go on doxy when its not necessary. UGH, I hate the uncertainty and inadequate testing/treatment of this disease.
Not sure what to do so any advice is welcomed! Thanks!
Posted by derk diggler (Member # 31903) on :
ill just say what everyone is gonna tell you ,,,,YES 30 days of doxy right away, otherwise welcome to hell buddy
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Derk is right, don't risk it. Mine was attached for 17 hours, and it was flat as well. Weird headache the next day. Two weeks later it hit me hard--so sick and LOADED with co infections and of course the lyme. Get him to an LLMD pronto. At least the LLMD can properly treat for lyme.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
TREAT, definitely treat. Early precautions could save you a lifetime of illness.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I wouldn't waste the money or believe the results of the tick testing. Can't test the tick for all vector borne bacteria or even the 100 strains of lyme.
30 days of doxy is nothing compared to what might be. His immune system isn't strong? Think of all the other bacteria(besides) lyme that tick could have put into his system.
How many people could/would have been healthy if they had taken precaution and recognized the sx. Fear the tick!
If any flu-like sx appear in the next month, any type of achiness, headaches, neck pain, temperature, fatigue....be sure to continue on doxy until you get a LLMD involved.
Pam
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
Oh man... treat anyway. This should not be something to gamble on.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by map1131:
I wouldn't waste the money or believe the results of the tick testing. Can't test the tick for all vector borne bacteria or even the 100 strains of lyme.
30 days of doxy is nothing compared to what might be. His immune system isn't strong? Think of all the other bacteria(besides) lyme that tick could have put into his system.
- Ditto
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Treat. Don't take the risk to end up in our shoes. It sucks.
400 mg doxy daily for 6 weeks, or a lifetime of misery....?
It will hit some coinfections also, so that's good.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
I agree with all of the above.
The tick DOES NOT have to be engorged to pass infection.
For me, one was attached less than 5 minutes. I got a bulls-eye 2 weeks later (not everyone even gets the rash).
Doxycycline ASAP. It's not worth the risk.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Always treat the bite...
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
If you don't want to take the Doxy -- you could always try high dose astragalus and high dose garlic. I would do that as a minimum.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
My tick bite in 1995 was attached overnight & it was also flat.
In 2002 I started to get progressive headaches.
2005 head burns
2007 started stomach pain & neck burns.
2010 trouble breathing & by 2011 BAM!!! Full blown Lyme.
Treat now or forever regret it. I would go all out & do Doxy, Biaxin, & flagyl for a min of 3 months if you can get the meds.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I know someone who is POSITIVE they were infected within 3 hours of their bite.
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
Treat! But my doc would say azythromycin not doxy.
Posted by Carmen (Member # 42391) on :
Absolutly treat and no less than 8 weeks.
Posted by Lore (Member # 42610) on :
Treat like yesterday....assume the little bugger had rancid spit! Tick + bite = treatment/ always! Posted by KH111 (Member # 25829) on :
Don't bother testing the tick.
I got our tick tested at Igenex, cost $400, and it all came back negative. However our son ended up positive for lyme, bartenella and mycoplasma and was tested through Igenex!!
Posted by happydaychick (Member # 37799) on :
Thanks for your input!! He is starting zithroymcin, garlic, and probiotics until he can see his doctor.
I'm wondering if he should take grapefruit seed extract to help prevent biofilm formation and candida?? I know there is no way his primary care would prescribe flagyl or anything to prevent biofilms.
Interesting info about the tick testing... I thought it had some value! There is just SO MUCH misinformation out there!
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
I have also heard the stories about the 1-3 hour attachment of ticks & subsequent presentation of Lyme.
Two other interesting cases come to mind as well. A lab worker working with ticks accidentally drops a tick on a halogen lamp.
Those lamps get REALLY hot & upon contact the tick exploded and some got in his eyes. He washed it off with water, but within the oncoming weeks got Lyme like symptoms.
Another individual saw a tick on himself & it did not even fully attach. He was able to flick the tick off of him, however he got Lyme in the passing days.
I would not trust tick testing either. Makes you wonder how much false information we have with all the tests and studies done. They are finding new infections & organisms in ticks each year.
Did anyone hear about the newly discovered Powassan virus? It is said to transmit within minutes of a tick bite.
I got our tick tested at Igenex, cost $400, and it all came back negative. However our son ended up positive for lyme, bartenella and mycoplasma and was tested through Igenex!!
- Similar story for me.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Glad to hear you are treating. It's too risky not to.
I would also add artemisinin (to cover babs), and yes, GSE for sure...that's a cyst buster, not for biofilm. Best for biofilm is Boluoke imo.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
The 16-18 hours of "attachment" is nearly worthless info, but the "still flat" & "not engorged" is very encouraging. Still, if he was bitten in a Lyme-endemic area (& most of New England *is*), & it's an Ixodes [i.e: deer] tick?, he NEEDS to be on doxycycline (preferable- due to it's effacacy against some co-infections) or amoxicillun, for a MINIMUM of 4 weeks... preferably SIX.
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