posted
Hi, Everyone, I am new to this and have never posted on a forum before, so please excuse any 'blunders' that I may make. I have questions concerning Lyme Disease and Ticks. My husband and I went camping from 4/26 to 5/03 in a forest in TN. I have never seen so many ticks just from walking around casually. When I found the 1st one, I ofcourse checked my hubby and my dogs.Approx. 7-10 days after we got back I came down sick--flu like symptoms, fever, chills (my skin hurt), nausea. Then my neck became stiff and it appeared to follow down my spine. I felt a bump on the back of my head at the base of my skull and asked hubby to look at it. After a brief look, he said it looked like a scratch with a scab over it. On 5/17 I finally went to the doc and told him I thought I may have lyme disease. He said no, it was just cold. I have been gradually feeling better except for the slight headaches and stiff neck/spine, but not up to par over the last few weeks. This afternoon I fell asleep and woke to a dull, thick, thobbing pain down my neck. For some reason, and I don't know why I felt the back of my head again. The bump was still there, so I asked hubby to check it again. This time he found the tick. The tick was dead and when he tried to pull it out the head stayed in my scalp. I think the head of the tick may have hit a nerve, that is the reason for the stiffness and headaches, right? So I went back to the docs. The doc shined a light on it and said the ticks head was not there. (The ticks head would be UNDER the scalp so I don't know what he thought he would find with a flash light.) He did put me on doxycycl hyc--I take it that is an antibiotic?? Now, has anyone else ever pulled a dead tick out of your skin? I am almost sure I have lyme disease, but the doc does not feel I need any lab work done. I figure the tick has been in my scalp for approx. 4 weeks, is this medicine going to do any good? I must say I am feeling a little anxious over this--though I am probably worrying too much. But, I also feel this so called 'doc' is not doing as much as he should be. Am I wrong? Is there something else I should be doing? I have only been in TN for 5 months and am not familiar with docs in this area. Any help from anyone would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Posts: 5 | From retired | Registered: May 2007
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
I thought I was reading my own story. Sorry, it sounds like you need a Lyme Literate doc and fast. Please post in Seeking a doctor section of this board. Be sure to post the city and state you are in.
Others will come along and suggest a doc.
I am not sure of docs in that area. The guy you are seeing sounds uneducated in Lyme. The majority of docs are. There are a few good ones and I would suggest QUICK action in your case. You may still have a chance to eradicate the spirochete since its only been a month.
I don't mean to scare you, but quick action is necesssary. You may need to travel to see someone. Also, you need to tell the receptionist that this is a fairly new bite and you need treatment RIGHT AWAY. My LLMD have months of waiting to get in.
PLEASE, ACT QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!!!
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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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
PS i sent you a private message. Click the flashing envelope on the left side of your screen to read it.
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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posted
Anytime a tick embeds itself to the skin, disease transmission is possible. Length of time is open for discussion how quickly disease is transmitted, some of the studies suggest only in the matter of minutes.
Doxyclicline is an antibiotic used prophylactically to treat lyme; however, most standard doctors are not familiar with the dosage required and the length of time needed to be effective.
My best advice to you is to read the newbie's guide. It will explain more things in better detail than I could and to post under looking for a doctor section and start aggressive treatment now to prevent future problems.
Posts: 719 | From Delaware | Registered: Jan 2006
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