posted
Newbie here, first post. Looking for advice on diagnosis/treatment of potential case in NH.
My wife was bitten by a female deer tick (still have the tick) on 5/2. We discovered/removed it about 3 hrs after a walk in the woods. I quickly scanned internet for tips on removal/treatment. Several articles said keep the tick and watch for symptoms.
Never went to Dr. No rash. Last night it hit her: fever, severe joint pain. If we see primary care phys. today and begin antibiotic treatment, do we even need to seek out an LLMD? Any recommendations for initial diagnosis?
Thanks in advance for any help! Posts: 9 | From Amherst, New Hampshire | Registered: May 2007
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I would seek a LLMD as soon as possible...
You may want to see if there is a local doctor at least willing to
Start aggressive antibiotic treatment for your wife while searching for a LLMD.
I don't think a Western Blot would be positive this early in the stage.
I am sure there are many others here who know much more than I.
If it were my child who got bit and then started those symptoms
I would be at the pediatricians yesterday insisting on antibiotic therapy...
You can post in the Seeking a Doctor section of this board to get help finding
An LLMD in your area.
Get treatment now!!!
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
If it were me, I would go to the nearest doctor that knows me, and get started on antibiotics. I would also be scheduling an appointment with a Lyme-literate doctor (LLMD), but the wait might be months, and a recent infection stands a good chance of complete recovery with prompt treatment.
Please take her to a doctor now.
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
Please let us know the outcome of your visit. An inwilling ir under educated doc might not prescribe a dose high enough or long enough to eradicate the infection. You really only have ONE chance to beat this without it really changing many years of both your lives. DO NOT MISS THIS CHANCE.
robi
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
quote:Originally posted by Slowmo: Newbie here, do we even need to seek out an LLMD? Any recommendations for initial diagnosis?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Yes get treated, Yes find a LLMD soon!The longer you have lyme the longer it takes to get rid of it,I dont even want to go into Co_infections.
-------------------- 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.
CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
MOST common TBDs- Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis- Bartonella- can ALL be transmitted in a single tick bite-
Anaplasmosis can be seronegative even when acute and fatal so no matter what she should be treated for it- Doxycycline is the only drug besides Rifampin that works for it- since Doxy ALSO works for Lyme and to some extent has anti-Babesial action it is usually the first choice, first run drug re TBDs- 400 mg a day is the adult high weight dosage- if your wife is 100 pounds or less 200 might do it-
if it was ME, knowing what I know now- I would buy animal doxy at teh feed store and self treat IMMEDIATELY- time is SO important-!!!
I was caught a few weeks after at tick bite, rash- and was inadequately treated- for just one month of Doxy- and I am still on this board almost 9 years later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That said, I am doing great and have been for 6 years, but because I was refused more than one month at the beginning I ended up going into dementia at the age of 29 and unable to walk because of MS like symptoms- ANYWAY_ that is meant to scare you into rousting up antibiotics for your wife-
AND I lost all sex drive- (same motive in telling you that!!!)(get her on abx- quick!!)
Bestest wishes, Truly, Sarah
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by robi: You really only have ONE chance to beat this without it really changing many years of both your lives. DO NOT MISS THIS CHANCE.
absolutely
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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D Bergy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9984
posted
I agree with getting treated right away. Many GPs will not treat with the right antibiotics or not long enough or cannot even diagnose the disease. So do not rely on his judgement alone.
See an LLMD real soon. We missed our chance to early resolution due to ignorant GPs and our own ignorance of the disease. Please do not let this happen to you.
Good Luck
D Bergy
Posts: 2919 | From Minnesota | Registered: Aug 2006
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Ditto what has already been said. Very important to see a LLMD for the co-infections if nothing else. It is unknown how many people get more than one infection from a single bite but I've read that something like 2/3 or more of people with lyme have co-infections. I have babesia and bartonella along with my lyme.
I've been told that lyme is difficult if not impossible to get rid of without treating babesia first so if your wife happens to be unlucky enough to get babesia, treatment for lyme will likely not be effective without treatment for babs first. Tests are not reliable so you need a doctor who knows the symptoms and will treat based on that. LLMD's are the only doctors that I know of that understand the various co-infections and how to treat them properly.
Good luck. Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I agree with the sentiment that it's really important to be treated a.s.a.p Although I've had tick bites over the years, I had one last year resulting in the bulls eye rash. My GP had the tick tested. When it came back negative, I was put on THREE DAYS worth of ABX 'as a precaution'.
Now, a year later, when my knee suddenly became arthritic literally overnight, I was prescribed 21 days of Doxy immediately by my GP and told I'd be cured after 21 days. A rheumatologist told me the same thing. I had found this forum by then, and knew enough to get my xxx to an LLMD. So I did find one who continued the Doxy, and tested me for every conceivable coinfection and other potential associated problems. Will get the results back next week.
So "precautionary" ABX for 3 days doesn't do the trick if you've got Lyme, at least it didn't for me. Of course, back then I Wanted to believe I hadn't been infected and if I had been, that the little bit of ABX would cure me, but I didn't know any better. And I lost a year of not receiving treatment.
Thanks to the amazingly knowledgeable and empathic people who post on this discussion board, I've learned a huge amount in a short period of time. You will, too!
To our good health, pippifern
-------------------- To our good health, Pippifern Posts: 36 | From Cape Cod | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
Thanks to all for your advice/links, etc. Just got back from a very long day. PCP, was clueless and sent us to ER to test for lyme and encephalitis. I was happy to leave his office quickly in our doxy quest.
ER doc did not test for enceph. He claimed to have treated a number of LD cases. He said since we are only 6 days from the bite, the test would likely return negative and then insurance wouldn't pay.
He recommended treating under the assumption that it is LD w/ABX (doxy 200mg/day) for 14 days. Gave her ABX via IV and sent us away w/the doxy RX and something for nausea.
His dosage and length don't seem nearly aggressive enough in comparison w/what everyone here says (although, my wife is 130lbs and meds tend to hit her harder than most). Does anyone have a link or reference to a medical study indicating stronger/longer dosages? It's probably in the gazillion pages of newbie materials that I will be digging into tonight.
If I can find the higher dose and longer treatment recommended by an MD in a study, I may see how she responds tonight and then maybe bump up to 300 or 400mg tomorrow, then fight w/the doctor for refills while I search for LLMD?
Thanks again.
Posts: 9 | From Amherst, New Hampshire | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Thanks for the link. Exactly what i was looking for. Lots of other good info in there too.
After reading it, and mulling over all the posts from everyone, I doubled her dose last night (her first abx pills - initial abx was IV at ER yesterday) and will continue 400mg/day doxy until we find an LLMD.
Thanks again to everyone for their input. This site is a tremendously useful and important resource. Thank you!!
Posts: 9 | From Amherst, New Hampshire | Registered: May 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
slowmo,
did i send you my 52 pages of newbie links, advise, etc. the info you wanted was in there towards the beginning after the 2 lyme petitions info.
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posted
bettyg, yes got the newbie links, thanks! Just haven't been able to slog through it all yet.
Thanks to all of you for your help. Wife is on 400mg of doxy/day which means we will be out of doxy after only 7 days based on doctor's RX of 200mg for 14 days. I am calling him tomorrow to see if he'll prescribe more.
I have the name of an LLMD - about an hour and half away (referred by both someone on this board and a friend who's been to him for LD), and will be making contact tomorrow to get an appointment ASAP to get more Doxy and real treatment by someone who understands the disease.
Thank you all again SO VERY MUCH! This site and all of you have been so crucial in helping me to see the scope of the battle we face.
I am deeply moved as I read about the issues everyone here is facing. Please hang in there.
If you begin thinking that there's very little in your life to be happy about, think about the people here that you've helped. People like my wife and me, whose lives would likely have been indelibly altered if you had not been here for us. I would not have known that 200mg/day doxy for 14 days was too little, had I not come here and been taught by all of you.
thank you. thank you. thank you.
Posts: 9 | From Amherst, New Hampshire | Registered: May 2007
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Hi Slowmo
Good luck with your wife & hope she can eventually find a LLMD. Sorry about having to deal with the ER ducks.
Re: The doxy- make sure to take doxy with a full meal & plenty of water. Try not to lay down flat for 2 hous after taking it... Otherwise the doxy can burn the esophogus.
I used to prop myself up on pillows in bed or on the couch when too tired to sit up in a chair.
Also with doxy you want her to stay out of the sun while she's takin it. It can cause a very bad burn.
One last thing~ pick up some good refrigerated aphodophillis at your local health food store & take at least 2 hours apart from the doxy. This will help keep her flora up.
Blessings Dana
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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