LymeNet Flash: Help! I'm freaking out here!/rocky mount spotted fever!

This is topic Help! I'm freaking out here!/rocky mount spotted fever! in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

Well since I last posted my son's fever increased that night to 102.5. I spoke with Dr. J's office and he said to watch it for 24 hours and get back to him.

in the meantime that night he broke out in red flat spots all over his palms and soles of his feet and a scattering of spots on his arms, legs and torso.

He had a severe headache and neck pain. Poor kid is miserable. He is only 6.

I decided he needed to be seen A.S.A.P. and called my new LLMD, Dr. B in West chester PA.

He took him in yesterday and believes it is rocky mountain spotted fever and started him on 200mg doxy a day. Sent him for a TON of blood work.

My poor son was just doing REALLY well after being treated for bart/lyme. NO symptoms AT ALL since March.

My LLMD spoke to Dr. J and they both agreed on treatment.

now it is a waiting game. We are supposed to leave for vacation on Sunday. We go to the outer banks every year and plan this a year in advance. The kids literally count the days from the day we leave. This stinks.

Its bad enough that my lyme situation has given me a nasty looking rash on my legs and I dont even want to put on a bathing suit.

and even if he is feeling better as the doctor surmised he would by Sunday the fact that he is on Doxy means he cannot go out in the sun.

It seems like our lyme troubles in this house just wont quit. My daughter is still having trouble on and off and it is really getting her down. She never did make it back to school this year.

Oh well thanks for listening.
pattiecake

Posted by dafje (Member # 7121) on :

Not much help to offer, but just want to say THAT SUCKS.

Posted by JesusisLord (Member # 5776) on :

Pattiecake:

I'm so sorry your little one is having problems.

Prayers are going up for you and your family.

Posted by Monica (Member # 224) on :

So sorry you are all so sick.

Try to look at it this way -- better one ruined vacation than ruined lifetimes. Get the treatment you need to stop these tick borne infections in their tracks.

Maybe we should all move to the cities.

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

Check him for scarlet fever too.

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

thanks to everyone, I know it may sound trivial to worry about vacation and especially to some of you that are so sick you cannot even get out of bed. It is just that we were focusing on this to try and get us out of our bad funk.

And yes first and foremost in my mind is my son's health above all. He is imroving.

As far as protecting ourselves...I use spray on everyones clothing and shoes, I have chickens roaming the yard and do tick checks constantly. I dont let them roll in the grass or walk in the woods. I dont know what else to do besides living in a plastic bubble. It is very depressing.

I never saw this latest tick.
pattiecake

Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :

Why can I always relate to the desperate posts on this board???

I totally understand how devastated you are about the possible loss of a vacation. It is all you can focus on to get you thru and then BAM...more crap. Man...I hate that!

Hmmmmm...If you can make it out there, I have some simple suggestions for your son with his doxy sun stuff.

First-make sure you have either a huge beach umbrella or even one of those tent like canopies. THey have saved my skin while surfing in CA.

Second-buy him a long sleeve rash guard. Do you know what that is? Originally used by surfers, it is a thin shirt meant to be worn in the water. HE will look "cool" in it too. Buy a darker one, they have more sun protection.

THird-buy girls cotton gloves like they wear around easter time for dressing up. Cut off the fingers and viola you have solved the tops of hands sun burn problem. Even on the beach and in the water--I wear them always surfing. Make sure they are pretty tight on him.

Fourth-inc oxide for the cheeks and lips.

Fifth-big ol hat with wide brim for him.

sixth-lots of film to capture these precious moments of how you and your family were able to pull through serious hard life crisis and illnesses and make it to the beach this year.

If you cant do it, then maybe you can plan for something else close to it later this summer, to help stay hopeful?

Hoping for some recovery time over there!
Trails

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

Well I ordered some clothing from Solar Eclipse. THey make spf 50 clothing. I got him a full body surfer suit and a pair of cargo pants and a long sleeve shirt and flap hat. Luckily most of it was on sale.

We also have a cabanna that he can go under.

we will do the best we can. He will hate wearing the clothes. It is hard to tell an opinionated 6yo to wear something hot and uncomfortable.

He is feeling much better tho thank goodness.
pc

Posted by Linda LD (Member # 6663) on :

Pattiecake,

Bless your heart! I am so sorry.

My nephew was going to the beach and his parents stopped at an Atlanta ER who diagnosed him with RMSF. He went on to the beach--but I think his feet got burned.

So cover up his toes--they can be so opinionated at 6--but just keep explaining to him what to expect--I think it helps when they know what to expext and you make it clear.

I found a tick on mine yesterday--between the buns! I'm sending it off to IGX--not testing for LD--just the others. I completely understand how you feel. I don't want to live in the city. I'm putting seven out tonight if I have the energy and the daycare is putting it out on Friday after the kids leave.

I wish I could have guinnes...

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

Linda,
how did he get away with only getting his feet burned? Did they put gallons of sunscreen on him? Any advice is greatly appreciated. He was VERY excited about his new bathing suit with the hot wheels looking flames on it, poor kid. Hot wheels are his life LOL.

I guess he will have to wear them in the house. As for me........Ill be in a Sari.
pc

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

quote:
Originally posted by treepatrol:
Check him for scarlet fever too.

Ditto!

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oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

How do you check for scarlet fever? I looked it up and he does not fit the description.
pc

Posted by dogmom (Member # 4667) on :

pattiecake,
Sorry to hear about your son. I've had RMSF before, picked it up in Pittsburgh. Have your son checked for anemia. Drs found I had pretty severe case of that too after the RMSF. Seems to be a side effect. His spots will peel off and skin will be tender underneath. Mostly as you know by now he'll be really stiff and achy. that stiff neck and headache could be menegitis. Hope you have a great time at the Outer Banks. Sounds like you all need the vaca in the worst way. take care.
dogmom

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

Im in Berks county. Ticks here are horrendos. He has tested highly positive both IGM/IGG for lyme and after his treatment of 6 months he was feeling and looking great.

His spots are not peeling tho they are just fading. That has me curious. They actually look like small bullseyes as they fade because they have a darker ring with a lighter ring center.

Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :

The raised rash on the hands and soles of the feet, fever, neck and headache are also classic coxsackie virus, or hand, foot and mouth disease, usually occurring in the spring and summer months. Does he also have any canker sores or a sore throat? That would round out the symptoms list.

If his RMSF test is negative, this very well may be the culprit. Ask you doctor. It's often overlooked as it is so common. It can be a forgotten possibility as often times the symptoms aren't as pronounced. When they are, they are wicked.

My kids and I had it when we lived in Virginia. We had it in sequence and were all sick as dogs, like you describe. Tylenol for the fever, good hydration and rest are the general treatment guidelines. Popsicles are always good!

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

breathwork,
that was my first thought...hfm disease but he does not have any in his mouth and they are not blister like as the info describes. Were yours blister like? The doctor didnt seem to think it fit.

My concern of course is that it could be regular BB at work.
pc

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pattiecake:
I looked it up and he does not fit the description.
pc

Good! Hope that's the case. I don't know much about it. Ask Lymebrat.

------------------
oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :

My kids got blisters on the hands and feet, teeny tiny ones, mostly they were just red. Only one of them had sores in the mouth. I had sores on hands, feet and trunk...like the ones you describe, but no blisters.

Another distinguishing feature between the two rashes is that RMSF is a petichial rash, meaning that it originates in the blood vessels. When you push on a spot does it disappear for a short time after you release? If so, it could be the petichial rash of RMSF. In coxsackie, blanching the spots, or pushing on them to see if they disappear for second or two, usually has less of an effect on the spots. Fun facts to know and tell!

Starting the doxy sounds like the right approach to me though. It can't hurt and certainly is the appropriate treatment if it is RMSF. Early intervention is critical in RMSF, so you're doing the righ thing. You're a good Momma!

Posted by dogmom (Member # 4667) on :

Patticake,
My rash was not blister like, but raised red patches, they actually blended together. I had a pretty severe case as I have later found out. I think that is why my skin peeled off. It was pretty gross. The anemis from what I've read is not unusual as a side effect of this disease. This was several years ago but I'm not surprised that it's still in the area. Defintiely take precautions ASAP as oppossed to waiting. My Dr back then waited and years later when I got LD it went directly to my brain. It is definitely not something to fool with.
dogmom

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

thanks everyone,
he is still running a 100.6 fever this morning but managed to sleep thru the nite. His head and neck are still hurting.

His blood work did not indicate anemia. Treatment is usually 5 days longer after the fever breaks. So we will see how long it persists.

pattiecake

Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :

Hi PattieCake -

I am so sorry you and your family are going through this.

Please be careful while at the Outer Banks...I know you will be. There are many that believe they got infected while vacationing there.

Take care and I hope you all have some fun despite all of this...

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"If I can stop one/Heart from breaking/I shall not live in vain/If I can ease one Life the Aching/Or cool one Pain/Or help one fainting Robin/Unto his Nest again/I Shall not live in Vain." Emily Dickinson

Posted by pattiecake (Member # 6424) on :

Lymied,
thanks for the word of caution. I totally believe it because one year my daughter got a tick while there. No place is safe. I swear my family sends out tick phernome (sp?).
pc

Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :

I can appreciate the pheremone idea!

I've been a lymie for years...Now both of my kids are diagnosed....18 and 16.....My ex thinks we are all nuts and making it up...silly man...

Enjoy the heck out of the outer banks....I've spent many a relaxing evening with the tide out on the beach there...It can be a piece of heaven...(We used to live in Newport News, VA, and would spend what time we could around Kitty Hawk)...

Again...You are a great mom!

Carol Ann