I have chronic lyme and was treated years ago. I had a good run.
Last weekend, I woke up feeling awful. And I said to my husband, I feel like my lyme is back.
A few hours later, I found a tick embedded in my leg.
Pulled it out and sent it overnight to a lab in PA.
It was a lone star male tick.
The tick was tested for 6 diseases. It tested positive for STARI and Rickettsia spp (possible Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
I am on doxy, which I started the day I found the tick.
Is it true that male ticks don't transmit the disease? I am thinking that is a myth.
Is it true that doxy doesn't treat Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Is Stari, the lone star ticks version of lyme.
Since I haven't seen my lyme dr in a few years, I am on a waiting list to be seen. I am also considered a new patient and have to pay the new patient fee, which I am not too happy about.
I have never heard of Stari. Will do my research.
Thank you so much.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I would say that STARI is basically the same as Lyme. The only tick bites I've ever had were from Lone Star ticks, and I was plenty ill.
I unfortunately received another LS tick bite this week. I don't even walk on grass .. and here I am, dealing with another bite.
Could you give me info on the lab you used? Was it cheaper than Igenex? Would they test my tick from Missouri?
So far, I feel fine .. but I have that fear, ya know?
I haven't heard that it made any difference as far as female or male ticks. I wouldn't see why there would be any difference. In my opinion, ANY tick can make us ill .. ANY TICK.
I don't know about doxy and RMSF. What is normally used for it??
STARI is also known as Master's Disease .. It was named by Dr Masters of Cape Girardeau, MO. He was my LLMD's mentor.
Notes, from what I understand and because we have people asking...
Adult male ticks may attach themselves to you or an animal (because they are stupid?), but they do not need to have a blood meal. Adult females require a blood meal to be able to reproduce. Could adult males still pass along disease causing organisms while attached? It is very possible.
QUOTE- "Determination of the tick's gender is important because adult male ticks, although they may attach, do not take a blood meal and therefore cannot transmit pathogens. It is very likely that any ticks you discover embedded on a human or animal are female." Source
"Determination of the tick's gender is important because adult male ticks, although they may attach, do not take a blood meal and therefore cannot transmit pathogens. It is very likely that any ticks you discover embedded on a human or animal are female."
Regarding treatment of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever:
"Rarely, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can coexist, and even be chronic. Fortunately, treatment regimens are similar for all agents in this group [meaning Ehrlichia and anaplasmosis]." (Burrascano, page 5)
Page 25 gives treatment for ehrlichia as follows: "Standard treatment consists of Doxycycline, 200 mg daily for two to four weeks."
Read the rest of the paragraph for info on treating a resistant case.
Beachmom, if the wait is significant to get in with your NJ doctor, and you want to be seen quickly, let me know and I can give you the name of someone in Maryland, near Washington, D.C. that has no wait. You can do telephone appointments so you only have to appear in person once every 3 months.
Hopefully, you will only need 2 appointments and this will be taken care of.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thanks, TF.
So maybe beachmom is in the clear? Or she got infected anyway?
Lucky me .. mine was female. For now, I feel "OK."
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Wow, so many on here have been bitten by ticks in the last few days.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
And I don't even "do grass!"
I took ONE STEP across dirt/clover next to the curb so I could get to the sidewalk from my car.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo:
Could you give me info on the lab you used? Was it cheaper than Igenex? Would they test my tick from Missouri?
beachmom??
Posted by beachmomof3 (Member # 35972) on :
i am sorry. I was away from my computer all night.
My son cracked his growth plate in his ankle.
I used a lab in PA. It is associated with East Strousburg University.
It was less $ than Igenix. I spoke to the lady who tested my tick and she was very nice. You have two options, they will test for 3 diseases or 6.
I don't do grass either. I sent my tick overnight because i wanted that sucker out of the house. Can i post the address for the lab, or is that against the rules?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You can post it here. Others may want to save the info for future reference.
Did you send it with a damp cotton ball? I had mine in the freezer, but then I took it out.
Hope your son's ankle is better soon!!
Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :
So sorry this happened to you Lymetoo.
Can you take herbs ?
I added Japanese knotweed, cats claw, and astragalus to my protocol.
Keep us posted. Scary times indeed.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
No, I can't take herbs. I do have silver and I have a Rife machine.
Posted by Splashi1 (Member # 28173) on :
My LLMD gave me a handout with information about free tick testing, though they say that the program is not intended for clinical decisions or as a diagnostic tool. The will send you results though.
You can go here for more information.
bayarealyme.org
Good luck!
Posted by Splashi1 (Member # 28173) on :
By the way, they will test for-
Borrelia burgdorferi
Borrellia miyamotoi
Babesia microti
Anaplasma phagocytpphilum
Erlichia chafeensis
Rickettsia. They hope to get results back-via email- within 5-7 days of testing.
Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :
Here are the "official" recommendations for treating a tick bite- from Dr. B's guidelines. You can print it out- one page document- and take it to any local doctor to use (cover their back sides), so please don't wait for a LLMD to see you.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)