It is also possible that your previous infection was never completely eradicated, and the new bites stirred up the dormant infection. This is especially likely if you were having joint problems before the recent bites.

Testing is problematic. If you are indeed recently infected, you may not show antibodies for six weeks. However, some people never show antibodies, just like some never have the EM rash.

The best thing is to see a knowledgeable Lyme doctor as soon as possible. A good, Lyme Literate MD (LLMD) can start you on treatment based on your history and clinical symptoms.

You can go the the section titled seeking a doctor to request names of recommended doctors in your area.

In the meantime, here is some basic reading material.

Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines

International Lyme and Associated Disease Society

All I can tell you is my personal experience in this matter:

I was bitten by a tick summer of 2001, got sick w/flu symptoms, headaches, brain fog, joint pain etc. that came on gradually and came and went all year. I was misdiagnosed for over a year. (Never got a bullseye, never thought about the tick) Neither did the physicians I went to.

The following summer I pulled another tick off of my stomach and within twenty-four hours I had an episode where my legs/arms & face went numb, and a horrid headache to go with it. Very scarey stuff that came on very suddently.

What followed over the next few days were numbness, fatigue, total brain fog/confusion/memory loss, seizure like episodes, killer pain in my knees, nightsweats, palpitations, and muscle twitching.

It was after this second tick bite that I finally got diagnosed with Lyme and Babesia and started to get some help.

So, yes in my case anyway, the symptoms came on very, very fast and scarey, too. after being bitten again.

I believe it says something about the spirochete load in Dr. Burrascano's guidelines. I think that is what happened to me.

Looking back now, I've had some of these same symptoms come and go since I was a kid. (brain fog, joint pain). I think your body can handle a certain "load" until it gets overloaded, then the symptoms really come out in full force.