LymeNet Flash: New tick found on my hip

This is topic New tick found on my hip in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by rhpress (Member # 4679) on :

I have been sick with what I thought was sinus for about a week. I started with fever and chills, lots of sneezing and body aches. I have had Lyme for 4 years but just got diagnosed in Sept 2003 and have not had any treatment because of the lack of even one LLMD in Atlanta. Anyway I was in the shower last night and found a new tick on my hip. I removed and saved it and I have an appointment to see Dr. J in NC on the 14th of June is there anything else I can do at this point? I got out my Lyme Disease Foundation Tick ID Wallet Card ( gosh that sounds like something you get out of a cereal box) and identified it as a Lone Star tick, small brown anf full at the time I took it off. I just can't believe I have another one especailly beacause I avoid the woods at all cost. Any advice or encouragement would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Hillary

Posted by Lenny777 (Member # 5452) on :

You could send the tick in to Igenex and have it tested for all of the goodies that ticks carry. I don't think you need a doctor's order to do it...I could be wrong about that part.
http://www.igenex.com/ticktest.htm

Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :

I am a patient of Dr. J's as well. My 15-year-old daughter found a tick on her last weekend, and when I was seen at the clinic this week, I asked about it. They told me their typical response to someone who asks about a known tick bite is to give the person 3 days of 100 mg Doxycycline or Minocycline twice a day.

After what I have been through, I will take no chances with the health of my family.

There are many strains of Lyme, and it could be that you may have been exposed to a strain other than the one you may already have.

I obviously have more than one strain, possibly many. And have been through a very difficult time as a result. So if you have the opportunity to head it off at the pass, do it. Is there a doc locally who would prescribe a short term antibiotic for you? I cannot tell if you have already been seen at the clinic. But, if so, give them a call and report this.

IMO, better safe than sorry.

Posted by flossie (Member # 3384) on :

hello
oh, what a drag.

similar thing happened to me last year. i wasn't on abx at the time (in fact had not yet been officially diagnosed), but was actually at the LLMD office when i noticed the tick. he took it off, saved it, and put me on 2 weeks Doxy (400mg). at the end of the two weeks, i felt odd & had fevers, and did (on my own) a week of zithromax until i could see the doc again. that made me herx, nad when i had the appt, it turned out i had tested positive for acute bartonella.

so...... my opinion is that 3 days isn't enough if you know that you are in an endemic area. if i got bit again, i'd do at least 4 weeks of a tetracycline, aimed at a possible lyme infection, and i'd test the tick extensively for co-infections at igenex. if anything was positive in the tick, i'd treat myself empirically for that co-infection. regardless of the tick results, i'd also test myself for co-infections. at a point where the doc thought they'd have the best luck catching a new infection. for example, my bartonella titers at quest (!) were positive a month after the new tick bite.

good luck, it sucks.

flossie

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

I'm really surprised that Dr. J's clinic would only give 200mg doxy for three days!

I've heard of too many people staying ill after two weeks or a month at even higher doses.

Yes, you can send the tick to Igenex for testing. Just be aware that there is some question now that they may not always find the Bb even in infected ticks.

So, a negative doesn't necessarily mean you are in the clear.