posted
So I'm sure you guys hate seeing these types of posts but I can't get in to see my doctor for two days so I'm looking for a little advice.
Anyhow, approx 5 weeks ago I went camping in west texas, ozona to be exact, and came home with 4 very small brown ticks on my body. They did not seem engorged. I found them within I would think 24 to 36 hours so I was not that concerned.
I'm fuzzy about the timeline but subsequently I got two rashes on my legs in the same general area where the ticks were found but they look(ed)like ringworm so I bought some cream and started using it on the rashes never putting 2 and 2 together.
I've also had some muscle pain in that leg for a little while now but since I'm training for a marathon I figured it was just a result of a running injury as I've been doing a lot of long strenuous runs lately.
Last night while I was icing my quad where the muscle pain is it clicked with me that the rashes were in the same area. Then I remember the ticks.
So, sorry for the long winded post, but does this timeline sound like LD? I never experienced any flulike symptoms and the muscle pain started about the same time as everything else. Doesn't it take a while to get to the muscle/joint pain stage?
My rashes are circular with a reddish ring but they have not changed in size and they're flat, dry and kinda scaly. No dot in the middle either.
Any advice or help is appreciated. As I said, I'm going to see the doc on Thursday but I'm wondering if I should take action sooner. How quickly can this move to stage 2?
JMC
Posts: 5 | From Austin | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
Yes..take action now. Other posters will be along to explain the "whys". Your doctor isnt likely going to know how to treat you, i dont care how good they are. You need an LLMD (lyme literate medical doctor). Usually a couple of days wouldnt make a difference but you need the right kind of doctor.
Posts: 624 | From Oklahoma | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Not what I was hoping to hear but thanks for the quick reply nonetheless. Since it's only been approx a month wouldn't antibiotics be able to clear it up?
I'd gladly see an LLMD but it appears there aren't any in Texas now? If anyone has any recommendations for someone in Austin please PM me if that's allowed, and thanks!!!
Posts: 5 | From Austin | Registered: Oct 2010
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Post in Seeking a Doc to find an LLMD in your area - hope you can find someone, and quickly.
In the meantime, see your regular doc and take what treatment you can get. Try for a higher dose of doxy - 400 mg daily (200 mg twice daily), for at least 6 weeks. If you can't get 6 weeks, ask for 28 days to cover the entire life cycle of the spirochete that causes Lyme.
(Yes, obviously, to me it sounds like Lyme.)
Also - write your name on a piece of tape, with the date. Tape a quarter to your leg near the rash(es) and take pics. Very important to document. And also important to have something for scale in the pic, and something to identify that this is indeed a pic of *your* rash.
And - Lyme is not the only disease carried by ticks. Please discuss the co-infections with your doctor. Babesiosis (microti and duncani), bartonella, erlichiosis, and unfortunately - there are more. But those would be the first I'd discuss.
Wishing you luck.
The quicker and harder you hit this, the better! Don't let it wait.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Okay, I posted in the doc finder section. Should I be worried about having to wait until Thursday to go see the doc or does a day or two not make much difference? Thanks for all the tips, just took some pics.
Posts: 5 | From Austin | Registered: Oct 2010
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Don't panic - Take your 2 day wait as time to read up and get prepared, so you can go in to your doc's office armed with knowledge and knowing how you would like him/her to help you.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
We LOVE posts like this so we can help someone get proper help fast and not end up like us!
You've got some good advice here - I hope you'll keep us posted.
You sound like a healthy active person - that makes a huge difference, as well.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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onbam
Unregistered
posted
Posts like this are where we can do a lot of good.
However... It's been found in the nervous system after 6 hours in a host. You're likely already in stage 2. will pm
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IckyTicky
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 21466
posted
I think it's from Lyme. If you really think it could be ringworm it's easy enough to tell if you have/buy a cheap blacklight. Take the blacklight into a completely dark room and then turn it on. If it's ringworm the rash will glow a neon green/yellow color.
But I would definitely be thinking more along the lines of Lyme disease.
-------------------- IGM: 18+, 23+, 30+, 31+++, 34+, 39IND, 41++, 58+++, 66+, 83-93IND IGG: 31+, 39IND, 41+ Also positive for Mycoplasma Pneumoniae and RMSF. Whole family of 5 dx with Lyme. Posts: 1014 | From Texas | Registered: Jul 2009
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littlebit27
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24477
posted
I am in agreement with everyone else. And if my mind serves me right I answered your post in seeking (but I could be wrong, I answered like 30 this morning).
It's not that there aren't ANY LLMDs in Texas, just not any really good ones.
The faster the better but a few days to see your PCP will be alright IF they will put you on abx.
Make sure you tell them you SAW the tick and HAD the rash!!!
posted
Thanks everyone, I'm trying to get in today to see my doc. I'll let you know what they say. I should push for 400mg daily of Doxy for 6 weeks if possible? Thanks for the advice and the PMs, it's a lot to digest but I appreciate it very much.
JMC
Posts: 5 | From Austin | Registered: Oct 2010
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