Well, it's been almost two years exactly since I first became infected with Lyme and Company. After about 6 months of heavy treatment, I stopped all meds and proclaimed myself "well". I have really done pretty good since then.
However, already this Spring, I have had TWO tick bites. The first I think I caught almost immediately, as it was barely stuck in the topside of my ankle near my foot. That was on March 17th. Again though, a couple of days ago (April 23) I woke up in the middle of the night to find a very tiny but slightly engorged tick on my belly. VERY CLOSE to where my Lyme dx bite was 2 years ago. *sigh*
My question / concern is whether or not I should do anything. I'm guessing that is a STUPID question since I have been through Lyme before and didn't even see the tick last time but became symptomatic over a month after I thought I had a really itchy mosquito bite. *sigh* I guess my hesitation is just not wanting to deal with it all again, if I don't really have to / need to!
It's been 4 days and the bite is still a red bump and seems to be getting a raised whitish area in the center. Not huge by any means but probably a bit more obvious than even the night I removed the tick.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by lymielauren28 (Member # 13742) on :
Get on antibiotics IMMEDIATELY!!! I got reinfected a couple of years ago and took the wait and see approach and it was a HUGE mistake!! Ended up with Bart and Lyme all over again plus RMSF....
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
Make sure to take a combo of ABX. Something like Doxy, Biaxin, and Flagyl.
You can start Samento, Banderol, GSE, and Garlic, just order them and ship next day.
That's what I would do. Start excersizing to boost your immune sys and take hot baths.
Posted by LymeCFIDSMCS (Member # 13573) on :
I'm in the same situation and so sorry it happened to you. I had not even stopped my prior treatment fully though, but after the recent tick bite almost immediately began to have a resurgence of babesia symptoms, and now I think bart (I just pulled the attached tick a wk ago -- I also knocked off a tick trying to attach that had broken skin a few weeks before the recent one that was completely attached).
I just immediately started more antibiotics and herbs the minute I put the tick into a ziplock bag after pulling it off (it was still alive and was trying to escape the zipper seal!! So I had to double bag it and then, after taking pics, smash it).
Because I went back on meds for bart, Lyme, and babs immediately (still taking very minimal Mepron for babs, ramping up), I am assuming testing could be skewed. My doc did order more tests, which I'm waiting to get (she and other doc recommended waiting to do W. blot for at least 2-4 wks), but I also have the tick and am going to send it in for testing. If you saved the tick, put it in a ziplock bag and contact your local health department to see if there is free testing - Clongen labs also tests for Lyme and coinfections in ticks for a fee.
I really do think treating hard and fast as much as you are able is the best way from keeping it from being another round of mega hell. But that's just my personal opinion.
Remember, too, lack of insight can be a TBD symptom -- I try to remember that and ask whether denial about how bad it could be is another symptom or not (argh!).
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
I hear many stories of reccurring tick bites.
Where are you venturing, in your front and back yards? Walking dogs? Going into forests at all?
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
And the other thing for everyone to remember, is that you MUST do ALL the tick bite prevention possible, especially given that this is a really terrible year for them. That means treating clothes with permithrin ahead of time, using bug spray, either natural or DEET type (although the ticks can go on you, even if you are slathered in it), daily, thorough tick checks, long pants & socks, a hat, and tick-proofing your house and yard.
Plus, if you have pets, they shouldn't go outside.
I know, it's a pain, but the pain of the illness far outweighs the inconvenience of prevention.
Posted by nonna05 (Member # 33557) on :
how do you tick proof house/yard/house????
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
Cedar oil...cedar oil...cedar oil
It repels and kills. Ticks and mosquitoes. And fleas and flies and lice and more. (But not bees and butterflies and the good critters.)
During the 2 months we've been using it, we didn't find one tick on our dog. Then no one sprayed her for 4 days and we pulled a tick off her each day.
It protects the yard too.
And it's all natural, not harmful to environment or skin. You can't beat it.
Posted by LymeCFIDSMCS (Member # 13573) on :
I had people spread tons of cedar mulch last year and that helped push back the ticks (esp. around decks and areas where you don't want them) before that I had ticks crawling on the front stoop, and on me on the deck (the horror!).
Additionally, I had someone cut back brush and trees to make them further from my house, and put in a concrete patio on one side to push back the "nature" a little bit. Apparently xeriscaping (putting a big ol' concrete or rock thing as a buffer) does help, since ticks don't tend to stick around these areas but go for damper, grassier spots.
I can't use any insecticides due to chemical sensitivities (and DEET makes the blood brain barrier more permeable, so it's something to consider when fighting brain-affinitive pathogens). Last year I was using Buzz Away (natural version, which does have studies backing it up as tick and other bug repellent, according to website I'm looking at now) which seemed pretty good, but I wasn't wearing it this year when above incidents occurred -- underscoring the need for vigilance with this.
I also bought a tight silicone swimming cap to contain my hair for situations when I really want to discourage ticks *and* look like I'm on my way to the Olympics, but I have no idea if this even works -- I know ticks can crawl under a lot of things but the fit is really tight and finding them under a mess of hair seems the hardest thing in a tick check. But if I'm going to be bending over with hair close to edge brush or something, it just makes sense.
They also make screen covers that go over the head or clothes, but I don't know how effective these are.
I think you can buy cedar oil to refresh old cedar mulch too, so I'm going to try that this year as well as spreading more mulch.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Hi KIM! Sorry to see you back for that reason! GRR!!
get on abx right away .. you may only need to take them another few months .. as opposed to years if you let this opportunity slip by you!
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
There is a sticky in Medical Questions about prevention. Everyone should read it, print it out, and implement it.
I am horrified repeatedly hearing how many chronically sick Lyme patients are NOT vigilant about preventing further tick bites. People don't realize just how prevalent these buggers are and how vigilant they need to be. But people will never get better if they don't do this.
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
Amen to that!
Grass is off limits for my family and I tread only on a really need basis and loaded with tick spray. We are super infested and last year dog walkers reported pulling a dozen ticks off at a time. Meanwhile before that they pulled off 1-2 on occasions. I can't imagine the load this year.
Last year my sister, who is in remission from Lyme, laughed when I told her not to go on the lawn. I told her the ticks are everywhere and very prevalent. She tucked her socks in and mowed the lawn. Guess what was crawling up her white shirt within 20min? A female deer tick!
After that event her family has also declared grass off limits. It's a shame, but we are living in a different era and the rules have changed.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
Hey Tn Kim! I'm sorry that you have had to come back. Since you have treated with Dr. K previously, I would call them and see if they can go ahead and get you started on some abx before you have an appt.
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
Thanks everyone! I am pretty sure I am starting to be symptomatic again! Calling Dr. K. today! *sigh*
Posted by jlf2012 (Member # 36002) on :
Where do you get cedar oil? Can you use it on yourself instead of deet?
Posted by Tricky Tickey (Member # 26546) on :
Oh Kim!! Wondered how you were doing! Yikes!! Good thing your LLMD is close by. Hang in there, girl.!
Posted by nonna05 (Member # 33557) on :
OK Cedar OIl....HOW < WHERE < WHEN?TIMING> IN/OUT???///////Land, city, in house, on body, ????
Sorry ,but Just got to know... I'm praying that I can just get better enough , ASAP, to go to cabin for just a few day's.. (glorified garage with heat and plumbing)
Couldn't go unless I am at least 30 % better/ get some mail ,bill's, packages, etc out and done...Boy could I use prayer for that...
This type of backlog, thing's left undone or pilling up, not put away, just to much stress on me.. Have tried so hard and just can't do it.
KIM:If you've been through this ,to that degree, WHY MESS AROUND????
I say get on meds ASAP and not mess/wait a minute.
Sorry to see that you had to deal with this again. What worked for you before?? Were you chronic?
Take care... I pray that if it got started ,that you take your meds and it goes away quickly. Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
THank you Tricky Ticky! So that is YOU, Arkiehinny? LOL!
nonna ... I spoke with my LLMD's office yesterday and they scheduled me for June 4 ... yes, a whole month out! *sigh*
So far they didn't even call me in any abx so I am going to call them back today and see WHY!!
Posted by Tricky Tickey (Member # 26546) on :
Yes, Kim, it's me!!!! Hope this is just a temporary set back. Maybe you could take some cat's claw between now and then.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
The first I think I caught almost immediately, as it was barely stuck in the topside of my ankle near my foot. That was on March 17th. Again though, a couple of days ago (April 23) I woke up in the middle of the night to find a very tiny but slightly engorged tick on my belly. VERY CLOSE to where my Lyme dx bite was 2 years ago. *sigh*![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)