So I'm pretty certain I have Lyme disease despite a negative blood test. However, I think my bit came from a spider vs. a tick. I am starting to get into some research now that LD was brought to my attention but I wanted to see if anyone knew if contracting Lyme Disease from a spider has yet been proven or even possible.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It is possible but I'd sure not spend anytime chasing down the answer or trying to prove to any regular doctor that this is even possible.
It is. Just leave it at that and move on to get a proper assessment with a LLMD. If your bite is recent, of course, vacuum thoroughly all the corners of your home just in case there may be more spiders.
If by chance you were recently bitten by a spider and can identify they type, that might help to some degree as there are some spider bites that can cause lingering illness.
If you have a rash now, take and keep photos. If a rash in the past, see rash photos in the "Diagnosing" set below (of course, lyme can infect with no visible rash at all but when a rash occurs, it can look like the classic bulls eye - or something entirely different).
Lyme can also lie dormant for months and years so it's hard to know just when it might have been acquired or how, excactly. Mosquitoes can also carry lyme but, again, no regular doctor will know that. -
[ 05-14-2013, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
WHY you need an ILADS "educated" or "minded" Lyme Literate doctor (whether MD or ND, or both) - starting with assessment / evaluation.
"Some dr.s can pay the fee to join ILADS and not necessarily follow or understand all the guidelines with patients. They can claim they are ilads trained and NOT follow guidelines." (detail from a poster here who had trouble with a doctor who had claimed to be LL and an ILADS member but, after some time and money spent, it was clear he was not, not at all). -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I've heard of it happening, but not sure if it's been proven. Maybe some spiders eat ticks?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If a spider feeds on any creature that carries lyme, I can see how that could be transmitted to its next target. The spider and tick would never have to meet yet, if an infected tick gets caught up in the spider's web and becomes dinner, it might be possible that lyme could be transmitted to the spider that way, too.
Just a couple excerpts from a Goolge Search: Borrelia, spider
. . . Borrelia is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted via a vector, usually a tick. There is evidence that other arthropods such as fleas, biting flies, mites and spiders also carry it, but so far there is only limited � mainly anecdotal � evidence of transmission to humans by non-tick arthropods. . . .
Haha! Thanks for the input! Can't wait to read the info on the links!
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Through muscle testing my body insisted more than once that my initial lyme exposure was from a spider.
I know there was a second exposure (nest of nymph ticks), which broke the camels back.
Pam
[ 05-15-2013, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: map1131 ]
Posted by jlf2012 (Member # 36002) on :
This is interesting, because about 15 yrs. ago I had a terrible spider bite but never remember a tick bite.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Many times over the years, people on this site had a bite that was dx by a MD as a spider bite. Later they dx with Lyme & co.
That typically comes from ignorance of ticks across the 50 states and the attitude from docs that "we don't have lyme disease in KY" (or any other number of states) so it's a spider bite.
Pam
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Which raises the question .. Do you know FOR SURE that a spider bit you, Bdawg?
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Were there ANY positive bands on your test? Also, not everyone gets the classic rash (or any rash). You could have been bit by a spider AND a tick.
"Many times over the years, people on this site had a bite that was dx by a MD as a spider bite."
That's what happened to me. Several health practitioners said my rash looked like a spider bite.
I live in a place with tons of spiders and mosquitoes. I've never seen a tick.
It hurt like hell and was very swollen. One doc I've worked with for several years was POSITIVE it was from a spider.
I was scared it was getting infected and showed my regular PCP when I was there for a physical therapy referral.
She diagnosed it on the spot as an erythema migrans rash.
I took doxycycline for a month, then did the test (you can't do the test too early or it will be negative).
Even with my CDC positive test, the first doc still thought it was a spider bite when I shared the results.
Even with the evidence, the first doc didn't think I had lyme and was questioning where I had the test (she was saying "everyone" tests positive through Igenex, well, I had actually done the test through Labcorp).
Even if you DO get a positive test, people sometimes don't believe.
Don't rely on the test. It's a clinical diagnosis.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Yes, you can contract Lyme from spider bites. I just attended a Dr. K conference this weekend where this was briefly discussed. You can also get it from horse flies and mosquitoes, etc.
Posted by Bdawg (Member # 40675) on :
Been a weird 8 months. I was bitten in the face early October. It was a bullseye rash for about 10 days. Swelling. Then started having extreme headaches(never had migraines before.) I soon developed mouth ulcers and felt "fluish" so the first week of December I started going to the doctor. Since then I have been to him and 2 other specialists so far and tested for everything from 3 kinds of flu, 3 kinds of hepatitis. Lupus, Bechets syndrome, thyroid....list goes on. I have been forced to try every med you could think of and nothing works. Oh and did I mention all of the tests including Lyme have ALL been negative. That said I see an infectious disease specialist next Thursday. Fingers crossed he gives me a diagnosis and meds. I went from 100% healthy to barely able to stand.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Bdawg .. But did you SEE a spider? I'll bet your doctor misdiagnosed the bite.
Infectious disease dr will give you two weeks of antibiotics.. maximum.
Find an LLMD.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Have you posted in "find a doctor" yet?
A lot Infectious Disease doctors don't have a clue about Lyme. If he/she looks at your test and says you don't have it, the doc could be very wrong.
The tests aren't reliable. Even the state of Virginia just passed a bill about it.
"The groundbreaking law requires patients to be notified that a negative Lyme test doesn't necessarily mean they don't have Lyme disease."
Lymetoo! I did. I was in a restroom at my place of employment. In my peripheral view I thought I saw something and as quickly as I saw it I felt a small sting on my face(near my hairline) and I did the old smack and fling haha
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
OH.. thanks for the info! I really wanted to know because so often doctors get it wrong!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I did. I was in a restroom at my place of employment. In my peripheral view I thought I saw something and as quickly as I saw it I felt a small sting on my face(near my hairline) and I did the old smack and fling haha