Hi. I found a tick on my body in May but I didn't realize it was a tick at the time. I flicked it off thinking it was dirt and it bled. A few weeks later I got a rash the center of which was exactly where the tick was. Also major fatique, a swollen gland and achiness. I went to my regular doctor who took one look at before I even mentioned finding the tick said "Lyme Disease." I took 100 mg doxy 2x a day for 30 days. Last pill was July 1st. Since then I have been experiencing joint stiffness, swelling and pain in my hands and feet, also a very stiff knee. I also felt a creepy-crawly, tickly sensation on my lower legs and feet, like a hair is tickling me but there's nothing there. I called my dr. who wants me to have a lyme titer and then a follow-up apptmt in 7-10 days. This seems a waste to me since even if the titer is negative, it wouldn't be conclusive. Any suggestions? Any recommendations for a specialist in the Radnor, PA/Philadelphia area? Thank you, Carol
Posted by snapper (Member # 7779) on :
Carol, I would tell your doctor that you need a higher dose and that you need to treat till all the symptoms are gone. Don't wait for any tests the bullseye rash means you have lyme. Good luck and get some more abx
Posted by stella marie (Member # 7216) on :
Hey there,
I would go to the seeking doc section and post for a LLMD doc in PA. I know of none in that area. I'm sure someone from that area will be along soon to help you.
In my opinion your inital antibiotic was not sufficient.
Please read the newbie links, it takes a while to get through all the material!
Keep reading on this board also.
Stella Marie
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
quote:Originally posted by csperanza:
Hi. I found a tick on my body in May, but I didn't realize it was a tick at the time. I flicked it off thinking it was dirt and it bled.
A few weeks later I got a rash the center of which was exactly where the tick was. Also major fatique, a swollen gland and achiness.
I went to my regular doctor who took one look at before I even mentioned finding the tick said "Lyme Disease."
I took 100 mg doxy 2x a day for 30 days. Last pill was July 1st .
Since then I have been experiencing joint stiffness, swelling and pain in my hands and feet, also a very stiff knee.
I also felt a creepy-crawly, tickly sensation on my lower legs and feet, like a hair is tickling me but there's nothing there.
I called my dr. who wants me to have a lyme titer and then a follow-up apptmt in 7-10 days. This seems a waste to me since even if the titer is negative, it wouldn't be conclusive.
Any suggestions? Any recommendations for a specialist in the Radnor, PA/Philadelphia area? Thank you, Carol
Carol, welcome; I sent you by PM, private message some newbie sites to visit.
I suggestted also...don't do a ELISA TITER. I mentioned in PM to do a western blot igm/igg but you already know you have LYME disease because you were LUCKY enough to have a bulls-eye.
But look into testing for CO-INFECTIONS, other illnesses the tick has that bite you, from Igenex or MD labs.
Look at TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE LINKS, where I showed link on other note, and click on IGENEX and MDL to read about them. Print off IGX's SPECIAL REQUIRED FORM with PREPAYMENT.
Blood tests need to be done in early week and afternoon draws show MORE POSITIVES than morning ones.
Read thru Dr. B's 05 lyme treatment guidelines; print if off so you can be CURED since you have a RECENT BITE vs. those of us misdiagnosed for decades; me 34 years. Best wishes!
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Carol,
Did the rash go away? If it is still there or comes back be sure to take pictures. If you can include a ruler in the picture so the size of the rash can be recorded.
Hope you can find a LLMD soon. Do not think you have had adequate treatment.
Start keeping a diary where you list your symptoms. Record the date of any new symptom. This will become even more important when you start additional treatment.
Many of the different tickborne illnesses have similar symptoms and your response to meds can help in identifying which particular illnesses you have. Very rare to only have Lyme disease.
You could have any of a dozen or so different coinfections. Frequently each coinfection requires a different antibiotic, so it is very important to find an LLMD who can recognize and diagnose all the coinfections.
Welcome to LymeNet. Sorry you are sick, but you have come to the right place for help. Many friendly helpful people here.
Good luck.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Penn92 (Member # 9207) on :
Oh, Lord. Another Radnor person! So sorry to hear you're not doing well. It is certainly Lyme, but maybe you can take Dr. Burrascano's guidelines to your doctor and have him/her treat you according to those?
You also need to get checked for co-infections: babesia, bartonella, mycoplasma and/or ehrlichia. We're going to a LLMD (Lyme-literate MD) in central NJ about 1 hour and 10 minutes away from Radnor because we couldn't get in with the local pediatric LLMD. My 10yo daughter was just diagnosed with babesia in addition to her Lyme - if you have Lyme, you're almost guaranteed to have gotten something else at the same time, so you really need to know what you're dealing with.
I'll PM you with our LLMDs info. Based on reviews from people on this board I've decided, for one reason or another, to avoid the other LLMDs who are closer. Almost everyone here has had good things to say about our LLMD, so until we can get in with the pediatric person (1 year waitlist!!!), we're trekking out to see him once a month.
Also highly recommend Stephen Harrod Buhner's book "Healing Lyme". T/E Library and other Chester County Libraries own copies and I've found it to be very informative and helpful.
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