LymeNet Flash: Which disease does this sound like?

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Posted by Lenny777 (Member # 5452) on :

I have a friend who got bit by a tick on April 2 and by April 4 he was feeling "weird." By the 8th he had fever, bad headache, swollen LN's. Does Lyme hit that fast? What kind of tick disease does this sound like? RMSP?
I gave him the number of my LLMD but I was just curious what you guys thought.

Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :

With those non-specific symptoms it could be Lyme, Babs, Ehr, BArtonella, etc. ANy, all, a combo- !!! But definitely not nothing!!!!

Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :

BUT actually Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis often take a couple weeks to hit!!! So it is more likely to be Lyme~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Lenny777 (Member # 5452) on :

quote:
Originally posted by CaliforniaLyme:
!!! But definitely not nothing!!!!

Yeah his regular "doctor" said it's just a virus and not to worry about the tick. It's going on two weeks and getting worse. I just found out about it today and gave him my LLMD's number. So hopefully he'll get on track. It's still relatively early...at least compared to me.

Posted by liz28 on :

I've only had three of the millions of tick troubles floating around out there.

The bartonella ended up presenting these symptoms, and they were continuous, not relapsing:

swollen neck glands
sore throat
scritchy, red eyes
short fuse
killer sinus headaches
reading/concentration problems
insomnia

The babesia relapsed in unpredictable cycles, and made me feel like I was standing under a waterfall, with dizzy vertigo and disorientation.

The Lyme was/is a powerful relapsing fever, unbearable pain, systemic inflammation, insomnia, memory loss, sore and swollen joints, and when left untreated, meningitis.

All these symptoms showed rapid improvement 2-4 weeks after starting appropriate treatment, so it was clear that a tickborne illness was causing them.

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

I know I a kid who was bit in oct and november could hardly move at with all the symptoms lyme and thats what he had.

Posted by 3greatkids (Member # 3838) on :

You are a good friend indeed.
That was one powerful bite and for the Dr. to be so wait and see.

My daughter was bitten last week.I have sent the tick off to be tested.I practically had to stick my arm through the phone and demand ABX for her.

His approach was wait and see,I said I will wait and see but while she is on preventitive abx.The Dr.said there was only a 1 in 1000 chance her bite would result in disease.I then said I do not want her to be the 1,this is MY CHILD!!!!

I had a summer flu.quite odd,that eventually was Lyme and was treated with a 10 day doxy dose.3 years later,I'm still on meds and trying to heal.

The Rocky is bad and deadly,hope your friend has seen someone by now.

This wait and see approach is bogus,if you get a bite,demand abx.I also told the pediatrician he could take his little red book(advises on treatments/CDC bible)and toss it out the window when in comes to Lyme and ticks.

Good Luck to your friend,hope he will heed your advice.

Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :

Hey 3 great kids- My 13 yr old , against my advice, went into tick habitat. i could not find a tick of rash. but a week later after a busy weekend she crashes and is too tired to go to school and says she "just feels terrible". Duck is useless, would want to wait for tests, and My LLMD doesn't see kids.

So I'm on my own-I started abx but I'm not sure what is best one.

Any suggestions??? Please.

Posted by 3greatkids (Member # 3838) on :

Hey Janet,I am sorry your 13yr. old is under the weather.It is tough worrying about our kids,they have to get out and be kids but these ticks,well,I guess you know.

My daughter is on Amoxy.You could go to medical abstracts and look at the guidelines for reference.That is what is for her age,she is 11(going on 21)!

I finally convinced my daughters' pediatrician to give her the meds.I was pretty firm about the outcome if she was bitten by a tick that was positive.She was given a month supply and if her test for tick is positive,I will ask for a few more weeks.

I also stressed the importance of acting quickly.I asked him what the harm would be,2weeks abx.vs.years.And while waiting for the Igenex test of tick to be returned,she could be on abx.,less worry for me and him.If it was neg. test,then that will be that.I quess,with the worry of them now using ABX.and the threat of resistance,well it makes it harder for us to be heard and taken seriously for tick bites,many find it hard to give abx.for a little tick bite.

We can not let these kids suffer,if there is exposure,tick bite,or suspected tick bite,you really have to be a BULLDOG and make them listen to your concerns and fears.

I quess you have to treat by age?and weight?and with recommended Abx?Try talking to the Dr. again and explaining the seriousness of this if left untreated.if it is Lyme.

Find another Dr.that will listen,that is what I said I would do when talking to my daughters' doc.He then asked me "YOU mean you could come into my office and explain Lyme to a Dr. that does not know anything about it?". I said SURE,when do you want me in there and how many will I be speaking to?
I quess that woke him up a little.

Take care and stick by your GUNS!No one else knows our kids like we do,and how their health is.Has she been tested for Lyme yet with this Dr.?Did he run a test ?

Posted by Kara Tyson (Member # 939) on :

Bartonella h. Otherwise known as cat scratch fever.

Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :

There are many strains of Bartonella!!!!!!!

Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :

Hey 3greatkids-

Thanks for your reply. My daughter was tested at MDL per my insistence, 1/27/05: C6, Lyme ELISA, Lyme western Blot and babesia ELISA. All ok. But she could have been bitten last week. will give abx. Local doc no use. Have an idea for another one who treats bulls eye rashes immediately. Think I'll make a get aquainted appt. Thanks.