A few days ago I awoke with something crusty on my shoulder. I wasn't thinking tick at all. I looked in the mirror and saw a pinkish raised lesion, almost puffy looking, smaller than a Cheerio. I squeezed underneath, thinking it was a boil or something, and there was a small lump underneath. Then I scratched it off. It just left a red hole, and bled a bit.
Since then I have become progressively sick. Pain first in the shoulder blade beneath the bite, spread down. Paresthesias, face feels like it's been slapped. Burning all over. Now terrible muscle pain all over and headache.
I went to urgent care because my PCP had no openings. Useless. Then went to a covering doc at the PCP office yesterday. Noone is listening to me.
I used to send ticks to UMass to see if they were infected. I was treated for neuro Lyme 2001-6. If I had been thinking about a tick I would have saved the lesion that I scratched off.
I am so sick. It could be coincidence. I haven't seen a tick. I could have gotten a spider bite and a virus at the same time. But I don't think so.
My perception is that whatever bit me Sunday night, in bed, injected something and that is what the ball under the bite area was. And when I squeezed I immediately felt pain and sensations.
I now feel worse than the flu but noone is helping me.
I know that testing can't be done for weeks. I would like doxy but most docs won't give enough for long enough.
Is it possible a spider could do this? (Northern MA). I am quite sure that whatever bit me has made me sick, and every day it is getting worse.
Posted by spookydew (Member # 8432) on :
Sounds like you should go to the ER at your local hospital! When if you sign in just give symptoms later when your being examined tell of the lesion. I just think your symptoms are serious but your diagnosis could be causing providers to shrug you off. How are your symptoms currently?
Posted by Brussels (Member # 13480) on :
Don't you guys treat the bite with something antimicrobial? I usually rub Olbas oil (peppermint, eucaliptus, etc) many times after a bite, and if I feel strange I also stick a slice of garlic during the night and leave it there...
Then I would start on cats claw, astragalus, Jap knotweed or some combo of herbs, just in case, or anything in combo that is antimicrobial...
I have no idea about spider bites, but in the past, when I got bitten by ticks that were infected, I could almost find the tick without seeing it: it made me truly feel sick, then I would be looking for a tick... It bugged my brain!
Don't you have any Buhner's herbs around? Or Rife? Or anything you used to use for lyme?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Begin your search for an LLMD so you can get some help.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
windingshores, yes it could be a spider bite. How it the wound healing? Spiders carry all types of bacteria etc.
If that bite wound isn't healing...it needs to be skin tested for strep and staph. I would go to ER for this wound test.
Spiders can be carriers of Lyme & co infections. If the wound is healing, there is still concern that something injected venom in you. Your local ER should be educated on some of the known bacteria from local spider bites.
Maybe, just maybe if you use the word spider instead of tick, you might get better acknowledgement from ER staff.
Pam
Posted by windingshores (Member # 48600) on :
Thanks. I mentioned spider to every provider. I have seen three this week and finally one NP listened. I tested negative for flu, and she is setting up a Western Blot for a month from now. It is unlikely that it was a tick honestly, though some white footed mice were recently killed on the second floor of this house (I live on the first floor).
I know the drill with finding an LLMD but just not sure I want antibiotics. Giving it a day or two.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
If you think it may be viral, try Elderberry extract and Boiron Ocillococcinum.
I just bought Ocillococcinum at Amazon, in case I get influenza. The last time I had symptoms, I took Ocillococcinum each time my temperature went up.
The fever did go up to 103 and 104 Fahrenheit, but ceased after three days, and I felt better.
Posted by windingshores (Member # 48600) on :
Still sick. The only reasonable explanation for this illness after a bite of some sort, is that a nymph was on my shoulder. Urgent care and MD were not helpful with this. MD wants a test in a month. Ugh.
Posted by marie (Member # 3980) on :
Let me know what you find out. I too have some of those symptoms after a dental cavity filling. Still so sick. Paresthesia, chills, joint & tendon pain and tender spots. Other symptoms also. No answer. No treatment.