It's been a very long time since I last posted, but do read frequently. This site continues to be most helpful on my personal journey!
Anyway, my problem is I MAY HAVE BEEN BIT AGAIN.
I have chronic neuro LD (at the moment being treated with Bicillin 2.4mu q3weeks). Ithink thats about to change as I have not been making any progress, in fact gradually declining for the past couple months.
A couple days ago I noticed what I thought was a scab on the back of my head-just above my neck.
On Wed. I saw my PCP (routine) and didn't think to mention this. Temp at 10AM 99.1 In afternoon temp 99.6 not bad but like a fever for me whose normal is 96.6-97.6. I do periodically get these low grade temps in afternoon on occassion especially when not doing well.
That night I HAD to go to bed early, just felt sick but attributed that to sat at my son's football game in the wind and cold.
Then had shaking chills - too tired to check temp. Haven't had that happen for a long time. Also have had severe episodes of tachycardia/palpitations lately.
Yesterday had a "normal bad" day but in the afternoon became abnormal as I started getting Sx's I haven't had since I was really sick - either pretreatment or during bad herx or relapse. My lower jaw was severly deviated to left could not talk well and drooling. This eased after a couple hours but starting aagain this AM.
Also had increased costochondritis (?sp) type pain throught day and night.
So, I go to bed real early again and my neck and head start getting quite uncomfortable. Seems like radiating from 'the scab'. I started picking at the scab without thinking about it - puled it off but dropped it somewhere before I could look at it (I must have had the idea it could be a tick because while pulling on it, it felt like something imbedded).
I, in my struggle to not get too paranoid, dismissed the idea because I really hadn't been outside prior to noticeing it or since the weekend. And said to myself I'm okay I've got Bicillin on board.
My concern started building when along with the rib pain and tachycardia I started having more of a pressure type chest discomfort and difficulty breathing later. I did doze on and off through the night so figure it couldn't be too bad.
This AM where I pulled whatever off is a very tender little lump. Had my daughter look at it and she didn't see anything but red. I imagine it might be hard for her to see well because of my hair. My temp at 8AM was 100.0 and I just feel sick.
Now, the worst part of my morning came when I had finally convinced myself that there's no way it could be a tick bite, I'm sitting on the toilet and what do I see climbing up the wall, right in front of me?
You got it!!!
An adult (male - I think) deer tick. He's sitting next to me in his new zip lock baggy!
I'm going to call my PCP cause at the very least I should have them check that I got the "scab" completely out?
Any other comments/suggestions would be appreciated!
Well my PCP called back just now and said to come check for remnants but beyond that there's not much they are going to do. Later I'll post the other really stupid thing he said!
I'll check for any response before I go...
-------------------- "Courage is the mastery of fear-not the absence of it."-Mark Twain
Still trying hard to be brave...Deb Posts: 82 | From Upstate NY | Registered: Oct 2003
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Think you need to figure out how these devils are getting in to the house! If you saw one, probably are more. Have any indoor-outdoor pets? Have mice moved in for the winter?
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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Welcome back to LymeNet. So sorry you have these new problems to deal with.
I'm assuming you have a LLMD since you're getting Bicillin. I recommend you contact the dr treating your neuro Lyme - ASAP. You need the opinion of someone who sees lots of Tick-Borne Diseases!!
You had an apparent tick bite. Attachment time of several days. Redness at the site of the bite. Onset of symptoms prior to tick removal. All symptoms typical of Lyme and/or Co-Infections (especially Babesiosis which requires different meds from Lyme treatment).
"Co-infection" begins on page 22 of my copy. "Rationale for Treating Tick Bites" last section of guidelines (page 32) has very important info.
I'm not a dr, but I'd say that under these circumstances it is highly unlikely these symptoms will disappear without proper treatment.
Don't give up. The earlier the treatment, the better the results. Keep in touch & let us know what happens.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Well I'm back from pcp's (saw his associate) she checked and said there was nothing there just some irritation - so that's good!
Didn't sound convinced that it could have been a tick or that the Sx had anything to do with whatever was in my head.
I've been much better about taking these visits with a grain of salt but was rather irritated by the fact that the nurse took my vital signs (no B/P)and wrote down a pulse of 82. I said nothing to her but knew it had to be over 100 cause I can feel every pounding beat and what I 've feeling has benn persistently >100 for the past couple days. So, I asked the doc to recheck it because I wanted accurate documentation - she does check and gets 104. I say that's much closer to what I'm feeling.
The nurse writes a temp of 98.9 I'm thinking theres no way its gone down I feel hotter Didn't argue this cause I'm pretty much in a state of temp dysregulation all the time. When I got home I rechecked temp - 100.4 now.
I was surprised given my complaints that the doc didn't listen to my heart or lungs at all.
We did have a short discussion about the fact that I haven't got a flu vaccine and I told her I wouldn't be because I thought it was not good for lyme pts. Icould'nt off the top of my head say why or what peer review source that info came from. I told her I would check it out again with my LLMD.
Any comments on flu vaccine ?, or anyone know of any documented info regarding this. I would like to leave her some info the next time I'm there for my shot.
cbb - Thank you for your warm welcome back (though I really never left just haven't posted for some time)and your concise and intelligent comments.
I did call his office - nurse called back while I was typing this - talked to the good doc and called back while I was still typing this (that's how slow I am and why I don't post more often! I must say though the response time from them was pretty fast!). He's calling in a script for Doxycycline right now 2xd for 3 weeks. I'll be seeing him in a little less than 3 weeks.
I forgot to ask if I'm to continue with Bicillin - due next week and about the flu shot but I have time to check later.
I have a history of some pretty heavy duty herxing with the Doxy but I'd much rather herx now then pay later.
lou - Thanks for your response too! As I have not been thinking too well of late that was just what I needed to prompt me to write a reminder to check out a rodent control person ASAP. We very well may have mice that recently moved in. (I do have a dog but his is treated and recently had knee surgery so has only been out on leash past couple weeks - not that necessarily means anything).
-------------------- "Courage is the mastery of fear-not the absence of it."-Mark Twain
Still trying hard to be brave...Deb Posts: 82 | From Upstate NY | Registered: Oct 2003
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For tick prevention, we use Preventic collars. They seem to work much better than front line (or any other collar.) Haven't seen a tick since we started using them.
We also spray our back yard with permethrin. Seems to keep them down there.
There's a bait station for rodents (chipmunnks, mice, etc.) that your pest control company can provide. Doesn't kill them (because new ones will move in eventually; this is for outside of course.) It applies a pesticide to the rodent, which kills off the ticks. I believe they estimate your yard will be 95% tick free within a year.
posted
Thanks Laura-good info-didn't really think about "the new ones moving in thing" - will definately check into the Maxforce. Still intend to see if there are rodents in the house now, cause that thought is just too creepy for me right now!
Our yard is treated for ticks and dog uses frontline but will try to find Preventic collars for him.
Also have the permethrin spray for clothing -guess you can already guess what I'll be doing this weekend (to carpets, upholstery, etc.)
-------------------- "Courage is the mastery of fear-not the absence of it."-Mark Twain
Still trying hard to be brave...Deb Posts: 82 | From Upstate NY | Registered: Oct 2003
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My llmd told me that tick spray should have at least 30 percent deet, or it is basically useless.
He also said "I'm not going to tell you not to get a flu shot" He warned me that I'd probably herx, but, anything that gets the antibodies moving is a good thing.
I had the shot Wed. No reaction other than a little stiffness at the injections site.
-------------------- "Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love". Mother Theresa
Thanks for the input - especially about the flu shot.
I tried doing a search this afternoon but most info was related to vaccines in general. I was getting a bit mixed up. I can understand about live vaccines but I don't think the flu vaccines are made of live viruses.
At least that was the point the doc at pcp office was trying to get across and that when someone is immune deficient it's all the more reason to get it.
Then I read about the problem with there being mercury in the solutions - that certainly would turn many off especially those of us having a hard time clearing metals to begin with.
I remember last year being in my LLMD office and a young woman was there because of a return of Lyme Sx following a flu shot (she had previously been treated with 4 mos. IV abx. and was Sx free for a couple mos - until she got the shot.
It's stories like that that have a tendency to stick in my mind even beyond the science (often which I don't fully comprehend esp. when sick or herxing).
So now you've countered that story therefore reminding me everyone is and responds differently, and I should not be discounting things without getting info from many sources to make my decision.
Brings me back to checking with LLMD since he knows me and MY situation well enough that I would trust his opinion. Can only hope I can get an explaination (that I can understand)either way to bring back to the pcp office, and this forum!
Just like your telling me the warning about herxing you got, can only help me in case that didn't get mentioned and I decide to get it.
Sharing info is great!!!
quote:Originally posted by hurtingramma: My llmd told me that tick spray should have at least 30 percent deet, or it is basically useless.
He also said "I'm not going to tell you not to get a flu shot" He warned me that I'd probably herx, but, anything that gets the antibodies moving is a good thing.
I had the shot Wed. No reaction other than a little stiffness at the injections site.
-------------------- "Courage is the mastery of fear-not the absence of it."-Mark Twain
Still trying hard to be brave...Deb Posts: 82 | From Upstate NY | Registered: Oct 2003
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Hi Lyme DAC! I'm sorry to hear that you were bitten again. Happened to me last April just as I had been off abx for the first time in 4 1/2 yrs!
I'm doing very well now.
About those flu shots.....we have had many discussions here and the majority of us say NO to them. Vaccines are full of mercury and other nice tidbits we don't need. I haven't had one in years, and I haven't had the flu in years. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!
I hope you will consider staying on the bicillin. It could be a very smart thing to do right now.
Welcome back...and don't remain a stranger!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96220 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Welcome back...and don't remain a stranger! [/QB][/QUOTE]
Hi Lymetoo!
I will continue the Bicillin as long as I can get it! I figure any thing to get at a greater variety of bugs ...
Are you still on abx since your last bite? So glad to hear you are better. It's scary for me to think about going backwards but now I have hope that it won't be too bad!
I will try to remain more active on the board ....... recently got MY OWN brand spankin new laptop! Now I just have to get more experienced using it - unfortunately I'm one of the ones whose has major 'slow processing' problems.
What better place to practice the right here among friends! Thanks...
(Expect to see my user name frequently at computor support!)
-------------------- "Courage is the mastery of fear-not the absence of it."-Mark Twain
Still trying hard to be brave...Deb Posts: 82 | From Upstate NY | Registered: Oct 2003
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