I was told that you could contract lyme disease from spider bites--has anyone else heard this? I was also wondering how long one should wait to get a blood test for lyme disease after the initial bite? I was bitten by a spider and got very sick, my leg had a bullet like mark and ended up swelling from the initial bite area (my knee) to my ankle and almost up to my waist. My doctor gave me a blood test which came back negative. I've recently heard that you should not get tested for 6 weeks or so....my doctor tested me within two days. i'm having some serious mood swings, and very bad pains in my neck and back so i'm concerned that i may have been tested too quickly. anyone with any opinions--please share. thank you
connie
Posts: 1 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
I am interested in this answer, too. My daughter was bitten by a supposed spider, but we never saw it.
It was in the same place and she had a similar reaction. This was when she was about 5 years old and she is now 16.
She is complaining of arthritis like pain in her hands and knee. Her pediatrician will not test for chronic Lyme.
I am going to try to get her into my LLMD to be tested.Sorry for your pain, hope its not Lyme! Cindy
-------------------- Cindy Posts: 227 | From VA | Registered: Sep 2005
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Hi Connie. I have never heard of Lyme disease being transmitted by spiders. It is transmitted by ticks (ticks look like spiders).
When where you bitten? A bullseye rash is a definite sign of Lyme disease. The rash alone merits treatment. Only about 50% of people who have Lyme ever get a rash. No test is completely reliable, especially in the beginning. From what I understand, the ELISA or titer is the least reliable and the one most doctors run first.
It is very important to see a Lyme knowledgeable doctor. Besides Lyme, ticks can transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It is important to be tested by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.
Are you in CT? There is an excellent Lyme doctor in Wilton.
Posts: 4682 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Hi Cindy. Please do have your daughter evaluated by a Lyme doctor. She has had the rash and she has symptoms, she should be treated.
Posts: 4682 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I am pretty sure that any bitting insect can transmit it Lyme. Even if they can't they carry other nasty bugs that may need abx as well. I know I got bit by a brown recluse a few months before my Lyme symptoms got to the point where I could get it diagnosised. I am not sure if there is a connection there but I have heard of other people being bitten by spiders and then awhile later coming down with Lyme.
Posts: 649 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2003
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which states, "the arthropod is not the exclusive vector of Lyme disease. In addition to ticks, Borrelia burgdorferi may be carried and transmitted by fleas, mosquitos, and mites. Second, Lyme disease is not exclusively vector-borne."
Interesting....
Posts: 89 | From Northern Virginia | Registered: Oct 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Scientific classification: Arachnids constitute the class Arachnida, in the phylum Arthropoda. The class is divided into 11 orders: the Acari or Acarina (mites and ticks), Amblypygi (tailless whipscorpions), Araneae (spiders), Opiliones (daddy longlegs), Palpigradi (palpigrades), Pseudoscorpiones (false scorpions), Ricinulei (ricinuleids), Schizomida (micro whipscorpions), Scorpionida (true scorpions), Solpugida (windscorpions), and Uropygi (whipscorpions).
In theory it could happen. Say a spider feeds on a bug that is infected its is possible it could pass Bb.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
If you believe that ticks are the only vectors carrying lyme bacteria, you are not aware of the real story on transmission of lyme.
Yes, spiders are carriers of many different bacteria, virus, protoza, toxins etc. Do a search on here and you will see many posts on spiders.
Vector borne illnesses come from any biting blood sucking insect. Ticks, spiders, chiggers, mosquito, fleas, flies etc, etc. Where do you think that insect that bite you was before it bite you?????
Take care, Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Would suggest you get the book "Healing Lyme" by Stephen Buhner. Try WalMart.com or Amazon.com - it costs a little over $10.
It is worth every penny.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I would suggest becoming silver literate. the newbie links imo need to be updated.
Posts: 731 | From Humble,TX | Registered: Feb 2005
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I was bitten by a "spider" when I was first diagnosed with Lyme.
I also had all the symptoms you are talking about.
The rash was very painful. Generally Lyme rashes are painless. They are not all the same.
If you do a bunch of research on Lyme rashes and spiders in PA, you'll probably be convinced that you were bitten by a tick and you have a Lyme rash.
You need to get on antibiotics right away for at least 2 months profalactically (sp?) and get tested in 4 to 6 weeks or so. The general lab tests that regular MD's order are not very sensitive to the many strains of Lyme that are now out there. It's best to find a Lyme Literate Doctor (LLMD) to diagnose you by your symptoms.
There's never any guarantee that you will get a positive test. There have been people that had blood drawn and sent to 2 labs on the same day and one was positive and one was negative.
Post on the "Seeking a Doctor" section of this board or go to the "Support Groups" link at the left of this page to find help near you.
Also, take a picture of the rash!!! If it goes away and your tests come back negative, you'll have no proof to show that you were bitten and need treatment with a regular MD. It will also help a LLMD diagnose you.
Good Luck,
Corgilla
-------------------- "I'll never forget good old Whatsisname." Posts: 694 | From PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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Also, it's lyme disease, not lymes disease. For some reason using "lymes" rubs some people the wrong way so we try to correct this usage as soon as possible.
Take care,
Corgilla
-------------------- "I'll never forget good old Whatsisname." Posts: 694 | From PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Connie
Did you see spider? Keep it if you still have it-- Take pictures of bruse-Important-
You say bullet shape - Do you mean Bullseye like a target?
From what I have read tests can be done 10 days after bite--
Connie- the tests are Very Poor--
Important Dont use tests to rule out disease- Use symptoms ONLY-
The Western Blot(test) done by Igenx(lab) seems to be the most accurate but still very poor-- In my openion tests almost useless-
2 out of 6 relitives that I have in Pen. have Lyme--not good odds--
It is Very Important not to waste any time--Lyme is a strong germ and is very hard to kill-- once it gets going(days)
If you take antibiotics(ABX) quickly (days not weeks) after being infected lyme you can kill it much easier--
Read the Newbee page on this site-- DR-B pages are good and easier to understand - print out pages -
Keep a list of symptoms -dates ect-
My sister in Pen. started taking Doxicycline(abx) 400mg a day for 40 days-- she started ABX 3 days after seeing bullseye--
So far she is OK a year later--
After you do some more reading if you feel you might have lyme I sure would start taking Doxi--
Dont be scared of ABX be scared of having lyme and not killing it when you had the chance to --
Any side effects from ABX and Nothing compaired to lyme symptoms--
Lyme Ruined my life-- Dont let it ruin yours--Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Agree with Duke, spiders can transmit Lyme and other diseases. Glad to see this post as I have wondered about my mother-in-law for years. She has had the most excruciating headache for years with no let up. Has seen dozens of docs.
Years ago she was bitten by a Brown Recluse on her face. It swelled up horribly and she also had blood poisoning?? from the bite. A thin red line was traveling toward her heart. Does this sound Lyme suspicious?
Another friend was bitten by a spider after she already knew she had Lyme; her health went steadily downhill after the bite. She thinks the spider transmitted more Lyme and co-infections and she's very knowledgeable in our Lymeworld.
Posts: 422 | From Luck home | Registered: Sep 2005
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Areneli
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6740
posted
It is possible. Anyway, a tick is a little spider; Tick is not an insect.
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
I was wondering about this as well because I was bitten by what I think was a spider about two years ago but didn't get a big rash...it was just a big red bump on my neck. It occurred overnight...I didn't have it when I went to bed and had it when I woke up, which is why I figured something had bitten me. I had tons of spiders in my house because the woods and a creek were right behind me. Plus I had mice. I also was recently bitten pretty badly while in the woods of Maine this past August by a mosquito after which point my symptoms became worse.
However, I never recalled a tick bite, which is why I have been questionning my diagnosis. However, I have had plenty of opportunities to be bitten since I mountain biked, drudged through the fields at Gettsyburg, hiked all over the place and did tons of yard work for many years.
Posts: 331 | From virginia | Registered: Nov 2005
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