posted
Hey there! I’m a 28 5’1” 150 pound female, non smoker. On Rexulti, trintellix, Lyrica, metoprolol, protonix, and Emgality.
I helped my husband do some yard work at my in laws this past Wednesday (4/8) and they have some grassy areas out by their place. Last night I found a tick(99 percent sure it was a deer tick) in the bed, alive and crawling. I’ve noticed some symptoms over the past 24 hours before I even knew that I was possibly bitten. But I’ve had very bad body/joint aches(worse than my usual) neck pain, no appetite and bad fatigue. I tried searching both myself and my husband for any obvious bites. I found a few bumps on myself but I’m not 100 percent sure if they’re related or not. What are the odds of getting Lyme disease/when should I get tested? Thanks!
Posts: 1 | From Boulder | Registered: Apr 2026
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kgg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5867
posted
First off, you need treatment now. Early treatment helps prevents chronic Lyme. I would ask locally at a support group, who to see that would treat a tick bite appropriately. Appropriately, to me, is 4-6 weeks of antibiotics. Then be re-evaluated to see if you need more.
The best time to get tested is about 4-6 weeks after a bite. Believe it or not. By then the body has mustered an antibody reaction that will show. Prior to that 3-30 days, false negatives are common. Because again, the body has not reacted enough for antibodies to show. They are testing for the presence of antibodies.
But! That does not mean early treatment is not appropriate. In Maine, there was a study done that showed only 39% of tick bites result in a bull's eye rash. Don't know why, but people looking for a rash to prove they have Lyme are lacking proof.
Just because you did not see the tick, doesn't mean that you shouldn't be treated. Or that you did not get bit. 50% of Lyme patients do not remember seeing a tick or a tick bite.
Refuse a single dose of Doxycycline as a treatment. It was long ago shown to be wrong, but docs are still using it today. Especially in the ERs.
Posts: 1856 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
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You need to be evaluated and treated by a Lyme-literate doctor (LLMD). Non LLMDs have no clue about this horrible disease or its complex treatment!
A LLMD is one who has treated Lyme disease and the co-infections which come with it for many years and has gotten patients well. A good one will follow Dr. B's Guidelines, the "gold standard" for Lyme treatment.
Unfortunately, LLMDs are far and few between. You need to go where they are. At least half of all Lyme patients travel out of state for their care.
Most LLMDs do not accept insurance due to the politics surrounding this horrible disease. Read poster TF's explanation, "Why Lyme Doctors Don't Take Insurance":
I was told doctors in CO do not treat aggressively enough, because CO is extremely tough on any doctor who does. The medical board is relentless on them.
When calling for an appointment, ask if they have any cancellations or a waiting list. Patients have been able to get in sooner by doing this.
The doctor is the key to the diagnosis and for getting rid of this horrendous disease. I can't emphasize that enough - the doctor is the key.
Maybe they can help. They would know better about CO.
Read the books written by the top LLMD, Dr. H, titled, "Why Can't I Get Better?" and "How Can I Get Better?". They are an excellent source of information.
Also read "Cure Unknown" by Pamela Weintraub. View "Under Our Skin" and "Under Our Skin2: Emergence". Check your local library or buy them used on online.
Hope this helps. God bless.
Btw - I know you are new to Lymenet, but you should not use your real name, because this is a public forum with all sorts of people on it. Read this link about it:
You would have to contact one of the moderators to change your username.
Also please break up your posts into 2-3 sentence paragraphs, as there are people on Lymenet who cannot read large blocks of text due to neurological problems from Lyme.
To do this click the "Edit" tab, make your changes, then click "Edit Post". Thanks.
Posts: 9020 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
Welcome to LymeNet Francesca. 💚 (You might what to change your screen name for security purposes)
A tick is a sewer of infections, it can transmit bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungus, ect. It is imperative you start an anti microbial treatment to reduce the risk of a severely debilitating and disabling CHRONIC lifelong medical condition.
I am not a doctor, I am a patient who is now disabled due to a delayed diagnosis.
Document everything going on in your body. Take pictures of your body. Start a journal of any warning signs. Please take Dr Richard Horowitz’s MSIDS (multiple systemic infectious disease syndrome) questionnaire;
You will get push back from non-educated doctors in the field of Lyme disease. Expect this!
Start with making an appointment with your primary doctor to start an antibiotic protocol. Ideally a 4-6 weeks treatment period is recommended by ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Disease Society).
ALWAYS Take a high quality probiotic whenever you are on an antibiotic, usually found in the refrigerated section of a pharmacy. This is to replenish your gut microbiome.
Your primary will probably refuse this length of treatment. You can then go to an Urgent Care facility for another round of treatment. If you hit roadblocks in your quest for full treatment, the next step is to connect with a LLMD.
We can help you locate a LLMD in Colorado also. Get your finances in order as the 1st appointment with very expensive and not insurance covered in most cases.
Hopefully the tick did not bite you. . .but you cannot take the chance in case it did. You cannot NOT do nothing.
Please ask us any questions and keep us updated on how things are going. Healing wishes 💚❤️
Posts: 3221 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2016
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Phoiph
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 41238
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