This is topic Does it matter WHERE the tick bite is? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/105678

---

Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
 
I wonder often why some people differ so much in their symptoms. I tend to think it's got to do with the strain... I have Lyme and bartonella (and mycoplasma), and 85% of my symptoms are neurological. Another 10% is cardiac, and the remaining is random.

I have friends who have gotten tick bites on their legs and things and suffered years of arthritis--I only had arthritis for a few months. My main problems are always neurological, with horrendous headaches being probably my number one complaint related to these infectons... While other people I know, do not have headaches at all!

I was reading another article about the recent Lyme death, and the man said he sustained three tick bites, always on his head, and he developed an ALS-like illness. It made me think... That's where my tick bite was. On my scalp. My illness is very MS-like. Other friends of mine have gotten bit on the legs and do not get headaches, despite having all the infections I have and more. They had terrible arthritis, instead.

Could it matter WHERE the tick bites you, as far as what type of illness you're going to develop? Do leg bites turn into RA, while head/scalp bites turn into more neurological disease?

Food for thought!


little olive
 

---

Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
 
no. genetics, strain, environment, co-infections, underlying medical issues, and treatment are what matter.
 

---

Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
 
Or.. what happens if you got a blood transfusion and got lyme that way? then there is no "bite."

I have no idea when/where I got bit. I have both joint pain and neurological symptoms and headaches.

How does one get bit on the scalp, I am curious because how can we prevent that then - do you spray tick repellent on your head? I have black hair so I would have a tough chance of finding it on my hair so I just want to know..
 

---

Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
 
I tend to agree for the most part, onbam, but it does make me wonder.

That's very interesting, tosho, I'd never read that, but I wonder what made him say that or if I could find that somewhere

I was bending down in the woods, so it probably latched onto there from a twig or low-hanging branch...or perhaps the little guy just wandered up there. However it happened, he was there three days before I found him, having dark hair, myself!
 

---

Posted by jlp38 (Member # 27221) on :
 
I never saw a tick, but I think I traced it to a rash on both knees. My symptoms are almost all arthritic. I also probably have a genetic/family tendency toward joint problems though.
 

---

Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
 
My family history has a LOT of arthritis in it, as well, which is part of my curiousity. How did I possibly dodge that bullet, especially with a trigger like Lyme?
 

---

Posted by Lauralyme (Member # 15021) on :
 
Does the rash develop at the same site as the tick bite?
 

---

Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
 
Yes it matters. The area in which the infection first enters the body is the first area that becomes infected, including surrounding tissues, and organs, muscles etc. If the tick bite is right on the spine or near any access point to the CNS, you can bet you'll see CNS symptoms sooner than would be expected if the bite were on ones toe.

I'm only talking about Borrelia B. B31 Strain. Other strains have different affinities for different tissues. Some prefer neurons and other nerve cells while others prefer collagen rich tissue cells, such as in joints, the heart, etc.
 

---

Posted by jenn (Member # 21687) on :
 
was bitten on back of both legs..each leg with a definitive bulls eye rash 1 rash had 3 bites the other 4 (Both rashes appeared at the same time w/bites)

From the day the rashes appeared till almost 2 yrs later still under treatment. I have NEVer had any symptoms of arthritis, swelling or any issues with joints/muscle pains in the legs.

Thought that was weird myself?? Only joint pain is in my Right elbow.
 

---

Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
 
Innnnnteresting thread this is
 

---

Posted by Karensky (Member # 21350) on :
 
I pulled 2 ticks from my scalp the day after I spent all day

gardening...I was working under an arborvitae hedge some of the

time and figure the little buggers must have crawled onto me from

there...fatigue has always been the # 1 symptom for me , followed

by the neurological issues ( all of them )...then cardio symptoms...

the least of my symptoms are the arthritic ones...I had them but

they came and went and only rarely were disabling...the weird

thing is...where I pulled the ticks...still itches many years later...

could this be an ongoing irritation that just takes a long time to

go away or maybe a sign of sthg. else ? Anyone else experience

irritation , years later at the site of a tick bite ?
 

---

Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
 
I have terrible scalp itch but it's caused by low grade fungal infection of the scalp. Yet another perk of suppressed immune system. Get some Nizoral (avail in the shampoo isle) and see if it helps!
 

---

Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jenn:
was bitten on back of both legs..each leg with a definitive bulls eye rash 1 rash had 3 bites the other 4 (Both rashes appeared at the same time w/bites)

From the day the rashes appeared till almost 2 yrs later still under treatment. I have NEVer had any symptoms of arthritis, swelling or any issues with joints/muscle pains in the legs.

Thought that was weird myself?? Only joint pain is in my Right elbow.

---