LymeNet Home LymeNet Home Page LymeNet Flash Discussion LymeNet Support Group Database LymeNet Literature Library LymeNet Legal Resources LymeNet Medical & Scientific Abstract Database LymeNet Newsletter Home Page LymeNet Recommended Books LymeNet Tick Pictures Search The LymeNet Site LymeNet Links LymeNet Frequently Asked Questions About The Lyme Disease Network LymeNet Menu

LymeNet on Facebook

LymeNet on Twitter




The Lyme Disease Network receives a commission from Amazon.com for each purchase originating from this site.

When purchasing from Amazon.com, please
click here first.

Thank you.

LymeNet Flash Discussion
Dedicated to the Bachmann Family

LymeNet needs your help:
LymeNet 2020 fund drive


The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations.

LymeNet Flash Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply
my profile | directory login | register | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Is a tick bite common or even noticeable...

 - UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!    
Author Topic: Is a tick bite common or even noticeable...
neardeath
Member
Member # 7099

Icon 1 posted      Profile for neardeath     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I have went over this in my head again and again and can't remember ever getting bit by a tick or having any thing close to a tick bite is this common?

I have found a Dr I am gonna go to in NC.
I just have no hope if you want to read my story again I typed it out in a better readable form.

Since there isn't a smoking gun to lymes disease I really don't know and can only hope that it is the disease because if something else is in me it's killing me very quickly.

I know this disease crosses with a lot of others but I wanna relay my signs and symptoms that started in late July of last year.

fatigue

flushing

rashes on neck upper chest

flushed red skin upper body ears face

hot flashes

hot feeling in legs and butt and all over

like lo grade fever

weakness

swollen lymph glands arms chest(nipples)
and upper inner thighs

itchy skin

joint pain knees elbows back spine neck wrists etc

severe headaches back of head

loss of appetite

frequnet urination

foamy urine

protein in urine

low serum albumin

headaches after eating

headaches in the AM

Headaches after intense exercise

feeling of catabolic (body breaking down)

weight (muscle loss and fat gain)

Feeling wired-like an electrical surge

painfull urination on and off

prostrate and bladder problems

pains deep in my upper and inner thighs

sore throat on and off

excessive thirst at times

reduced appetite

low back pain

bone pain (especially lower back/spine)

neck pain

stiffness

muscle pain and cramping

pain in right side and lower abdomen

bloated abdomen and stomach

high red blood cell mass not low

calves and ankles are soft and easily compressed or watery at times

congestion after eating

ALL these symptoms come and go and are like a flare up meaning when the flare up they all seem to come around.

I have had no prior medical conditions other than my history below.

I was falsely diagnosed with Mono in September based on an epstein barr blood work,lymphoma from a CAT scan and after months of testing and biopsy gone wrong a benign thyroid goiter with nodules.

This was scheduled to be taken out but was not due to the symptoms I was complaining of were not concurrent nor any blood work with thyroid cancer which was initially diagnosed due to a biopsy.

I am currently seeing a specialist for my blood-high RBC count and for the high protein in the urine and low serum albumin but expect no help there so I want to see a Lymes disease specialist.

thank you for your time.


Posts: 18 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
hatsnscarfs
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6562

Icon 1 posted      Profile for hatsnscarfs     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
It is quite possible to be bit by a tick and not know it. Here's my experience.

I found a tick on my upper arm last summer after coming home from Martha's Vineyard. It was probably there a while since I was wearing long sleeve shirts the whole trip. The tick was also in a hard to see spot. I did not feel a thing. I just happened to notice the tick which was engorged by that point. It looked like a black sesame seed.

Not feeling anything was strange since I react horribly to anything else that bites me, immediate problems, swelling, itching etc. After I removed the tick with tweezers there was just the tiniest red dot. It was not raised at all and did not bleed.

The dot stayed the same for approx 6 months. It did not swell or change the tiniest bit. It looks just like dozens of other tiny reddish dots on my arms and hands. The only reason I know it is a tick bite is because I removed the tick. If I hadn't seen the tick I would not even notice this insignificant dot. I've shown it to many people so they will know that a tick bite doesn't always have a bullseye and can be absolutely un-noticeable.

If the tick had been on my back I doubt I would ever have noticed it since I didn't feel a thing.

Your symptoms sound a lot like what the rest of us have experienced.

hatsnscarfs


Posts: 956 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Nal     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
No, you do not have to recall a bite to be infected. When my symptoms broke out almost 6 years ago, I had no recollection of any tick bite at all!! I started out with flu type symptoms and then things really went down hill from there. Ive been fighting this for so long and just received a diagnosis last week from an LLMD. I had the Igenx test done and tested positive for Lyme and a co-infection called Bartonella.

Ive had/still have many of the symptoms you are describing!!!! Please don't give up on this. You have to keep searching for answers until you find them!! Seeing an LLMD is a very positive step forward and hopefully he/she will have answers for you.

Keep up the faith!

Nancy


Posts: 1594 | From Colorado | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
NP40
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6711

Icon 1 posted      Profile for NP40     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
My son doesn't rememeber being bitten, no engorged tick, no rash, etc. Guess what ? After his third lyme test he finally tested positve.
I believe on average, only half of lymies remember being bitten, or ever having a rash.

Posts: 1632 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
neardeath
Member
Member # 7099

Icon 1 posted      Profile for neardeath     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Ok thank you ALL.

I can't beleive I am excited about or looking forward to being diagnosed with the disease if that is really the problem I am hopeful and will accept it as the many cross diseases have no cure.

As you all know it is very very very frustrating.

I am currently at Duke in Durham NC so I will fill you in on what the docs say and will be heading to the lyme Dr with in the next 2 weeks in Charlotte NC.


Posts: 18 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
ShadowHawk
Member
Member # 6263

Icon 1 posted      Profile for ShadowHawk     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
NearDeath,

When I read that first post I can relate to every one of those symptoms. They sound so familiar it's not funny.

I remember my bite. Couldn't miss it for the world. I woke up with a big EM rash on my left arm, inside my elbow joint. I was on the road, going from Connecticut to Michigan. I removed the tick and went to the ER as soon as I arrived in Michigan. Of course I was laughed at and informed that there was no such thing as Lyme...at least not in Michigan there wasn't. Fortunately I was smart enough to demand at least some antibiotics...Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to demand enough. Anyway, I took my antibiotics and went merrily on my way, never to think about Lyme disease again.

About 9 months later I had all of those symptoms you listed up there. The Dr. could not find a cause for the life of him. Kept saying something about CFS but would then say it didn't quite fit. Eventually I improved a bit, but have been battling versions of those symptoms for close to 15 years now.

I never would have suspected it was the Lyme Disease if I hadn't run across some info. about late stage Lyme while searching about my symptoms online. It only took me a few minutes of reading Dr. B's treatment guidlines to realize where the past 14 years of my life had gone. I went straight to my doc and got him to prescribe me heavy doses of Doxy for two months to help while I searched out a good LLMD.

I found a doc here in Kansas City (whoever would have thought?) and I've done surprisingly well with him and the Doxy with the added benefits of Benicar. He's also been quite helpful in getting my pituitary problems dealt with and I keep getting better every week.

The point is, you need to find someone who knows what Lyme really is and is actually qualified to make a diagnosis. You may or may not have it, but you'll never get a proper diagnosis if you go to a Dr. who doesn't know what s/he's looking for.


Posts: 67 | From Kansas City, MO | Registered: Sep 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
patdetweiler
Member
Member # 7030

Icon 1 posted      Profile for patdetweiler     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Don't put any faith in a Lyme titer blood test (ELISA or IFA) and make sure and get a Western Blot and a copy of it so you can check if any of your bands are specific for Lyme. It only takes one specific band.
Posts: 79 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code� is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
   


Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | LymeNet home page | Privacy Statement

Powered by UBB.classic™ 6.7.3


The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:

The Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey
907 Pebble Creek Court, Pennington, NJ 08534 USA


| Flash Discussion | Support Groups | On-Line Library
Legal Resources | Medical Abstracts | Newsletter | Books
Pictures | Site Search | Links | Help/Questions
About LymeNet | Contact Us

© 1993-2020 The Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Use of the LymeNet Site is subject to Terms and Conditions.