posted
I pulled two deer ticks off of me in the last two weeks. I have a seven day supply of doxycyclene, and am not sure if I should take it. I have had no rash, but for the past week a headcold, low grade fever and as of the last two days very sore gums and roof of mouth.
Posts: 9 | From New York State | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
Hi Dawn, Welcome to LymeNet. You'll probably find that most of the people here would say YES, since you had 2 tick bites - treat. So many of us would not have the problems we have today if we had been given proper treatment early.
Keep in mind, the great majority of the people on LymeNet are not drs, but they are sharing knowledge they've gained from the experience of having Lyme and/or Co-Infections.
Where are you located?
This could effect your decision about treatment & also indicate how available a Lyme Literate Med Dr (LLMD) would be IF you have Lyme and don't get adequate treatment.
There's also a possibility of other Tick-Borne diseases (TBDs) like Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella.
For info on prophylactic treatment, go to www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.htm Print "Diag Hints & Treat Guidelines..." It's 32 pages of excellent info about Lyme & Co-Infections!!! Written for drs to use but also for patients to learn. Take a copy to your dr.
Excerpts of what Dr B says:
Last page - APPENDIX RATIONALE FOR TREATING TICK BITES Only half a page, but so very important. Read it several times.
Page 16: Antibiotic Choices Doxycycline Adults: 100 mg qid (400 mg/day) with food; doses of up to 600 mg daily are often needed, as doxy is only effective at high blood levels.
On page 17-18, under "Treatment Categories", TICK BITES - Embedded Deer Tick No signs or Symptoms of Lyme.... Adults: oral therapy for 21 days.
EARLY DISSEMINATED - milder symptoms present for less than 1 yr.... Adults: oral therapy until no active disease for 4 weeks.
It's been said that taking an inadequate dose of antibiotics (abx) can do more harm than good. It kills the weakest bacteria but the stronger ones survive it making treatment more difficult.
Another problem can be that symptoms may clear up & the person THINKS they've taken enough to cure the disease when in reality, the bacteria has gone into hiding. At any time in the future, it can flare up again, but will be much more difficult to treat.
Also, if testing is done too early in the disease, the body has not produced enough antibodies to give a positive test result. There is NO test available that should be used to "rule-out" Lyme disease.
Only Labs that specialize in TBDs should be used. Ex: IGeneX (Calif) www.igenex.com Medical Diagnostic Labs (NJ) www.mdlab.com
"Links for new LymeNet members" has great info on every aspect of TBDs.
Again, welcome & ask as many questions as you need to ask.
[This message has been edited by cbb (edited 17 June 2004).]
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Consider yourself lucky to have found the bites. Many don't. You even have symptoms. Treat. And begin learning as much as possible about the disease, many in the medical community are NOT lyme literate.
Posts: 661 | From NY | Registered: May 2003
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
If you are bit, you have to have treatment immediately. You cannot wait for a rash or symptoms to appear. Less than half of all people with Lyme ever get a rash, so dont even think about that or wait for it. When you are dealing with Lyme disease, waiting and watching is the WORST thing you can do. Right now you have a chance at a full recovery if you get treated aggressively. that means DOUBLE the dose of Doxycycline to 400 at least per day and to be checked for co-infections though a Lyme lab ASAp. You also must get in to see a LLMD which stands for Lyme literate Medical Doctor.
You need to take your medicine for 6 weeks not one week. With 2 bites, I would take it for 2-3 months just to be safe. You must also be treated for co-infectiosn ASAP. Do not wait another minute...take your pills!!!
Please let me know by email where you are aand I will try to help get you in to see a LLMD and to help you with anything else.
quote:Originally posted by Dawn: I pulled two deer ticks off of me in the last two weeks. I have a seven day supply of doxycyclene, and am not sure if I should take it. I have had no rash, but for the past week a headcold, low grade fever and as of the last two days very sore gums and roof of mouth.
After what I've gone through, I'd definitely take the "prophylactic" doxy if I had two ticks.. At 200mg twice a day--that is, 400mg/day. Find a good doctor as soon as you can. Especially since you have some worrisome symptoms! DaveS
Posts: 4567 | From ithaca, NY, usa | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
For how many days would you recomend the 400mg dosage?
quote:Originally posted by HaplyCarlessdave: After what I've gone through, I'd definitely take the "prophylactic" doxy if I had two ticks.. At 200mg twice a day--that is, 400mg/day. Find a good doctor as soon as you can. Especially since you have some worrisome symptoms! DaveS
Posts: 9 | From New York State | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
To the top. Maybe Dawn will get a few more responses.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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3greatkids
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3838
posted
I just got off the phone with the woman who runs a stable where my daughter rides to tell her my daughter was on abx. for a tick bite. Well,she was flabbergasted to hear I would give her abx.for just a bite.
She told me she had been pulling ticks off of herself and her children so far this summer and she was not worried.I began to explain the symptons of Lyme and she immediately stopped me and said she knew all about them.Evidently NOT.You do not argue with this woman and she will not listen to advice.
So,I would do abx. Yes,yes,yes.You are very lucky to have seen ticks and smart enough to come to lymenet.Go FOR IT.
I think, I will hear from stable lady down the road, I hate to say,she will be seeking info about Lyme.It is tough to crack hard heads and I hate to see people suffer. People just don't take this stuff seriously,and she has seen what it has done to me,Picc line,etc.
I would treat every bite with respect and abx. now.
quote:Originally posted by cave76: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, JUST MY OPINION. I'M NOT A DOCTOR!
What I would do and what I would tell my family and friends is to start on abx (preferably doxy @ 400mg a day (if tolerated) AS SOON AS A TICK IS ATTACHED.
Don't wait for the test, Don't wait for symptoms and don't wait for ANYTHING!
After the tick comes back (negative) I would stay on abx for about 2 more months IF I had started the minute the tick was pulled off!
No fooling.
But it's up to you to decide. I hope it's the right decision.
BTW. that's also what several llmds (and other people *in the field* ) have told me t they do.
cave76
Posts: 9 | From New York State | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
I don't know where my last message ended up, I will try again... I have started on a 400mg dose of doxy. I am thinking 21 days, because that seems to be the recommended prophylactic. My fear is that I do not have lyme, and that down the road I will get bit again, dosen't ones system become immune? This is a very strong dosage.
Posts: 9 | From New York State | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
This may be old info, but I'll give it just to be sure you know.
Antibiotics (abx) kill good bacteria along with the bad so it is necessary to take acidophilus (from the health food store) to replenish the good bacteria.
If you printed Dr B's "Diag Hints & Treat Guidelines...", you'll find info on acidophilus on pages 24 & 29.
He recommends 2 acidophilus with each meal, but if you're taking abx with your meal, plan snacks to take the acidophilus. I always take my last dose of acidoph a couple hours after supper so it has all night to work before I take another dose of abx. Works for me.
BE SURE that there is 2 hrs between acidoph & abx - before & after - or it won't be able to work. The result is a systemic yeast infection.
Be sure to read what Dr B says about Nutrition & supplements, eating as little sugar as possible, drinking lots of water, etc. All these factors are important in treating Lyme Disease.
If you are treated by a LLMD, they know how to manage the abx. They also check for co-infections, which is very important.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Dawn: I pulled two deer ticks off of me in the last two weeks. I have a seven day supply of doxycyclene, and am not sure if I should take it. I have had no rash, but for the past week a headcold, low grade fever and as of the last two days very sore gums and roof of mouth.
It's your "headcold" and "slight fever" that suggest the ticks might have been infected. When I was bit, I got aches and pains, chills and low-grade fever. I thought I had the flu, and it was June, so I thought that was a bit unusual. But it never developed into respiratory problems. I was bitten in Dutchess, Columbia, or Putnam county, since I was in all three places --all three even one weekend.
Ask a LLMD if there is chance you will build an immune system response to antibiotics if you take doxy and don't have an infection. I am guessing you would not. What's worse is taking a partial dose of what is needed to eradicate the infection. The bacteria come back. Also, without antibiotics and with active infection, your immune system will get impaired. Most late-stage Lyme patients have messed up immune systems --as tested BEFORE they started antibiotics.
Another point: If you are bitten by more then one Lyme-inected tick, your spirochete load goes up with each one. Higher spirochete load is associated with worse symptoms down the line.
Given that you live in New York state, and you have a "headcold," and TWO ticks bit you, I would definitely start treatment. By the way, if you are infected, it is no longer prevention, it is treatment.
If you or anyone you know does get bit again, save the tick-- place in damp cloth, ziplock bag, no alcohol, and send to IGeneX for DNA testing. Costs $50. PCR testing for ticks is more accurate than for humans. Less blood to check in a tick, whereas in a human, you are hoping the blood draw picks up DNA evidence swimming about in a sea of blood.
Do yourself a favor and err on the side of caution. You sound like me 5 years ago. Bit in New York State, passed off symptoms as a virus, now I'm in this battle for life. The "headcold" is still there.
Posts: 548 | From Diagnosed 2003 | Registered: Jan 2003
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