posted
Was scanning my body and now see a small bullseye on my leg...
what should I do? I am on 400 mg of Doxy... been on it for 3 weeks.
should I get it looked at ie 24 care center to make sure there's not a tick?
I by the way am clueless re tick size... there are many conflicting points of view regarding size on the internet.
At the center of this Bullseye.. 1.5 inch in diameter there is a small black dot the size of a type written period. Not sure how small these guys are.
Anyhow yet again high anxiety... help?
Posts: 60 | From Annapolis MD. | Registered: Jun 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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This may be fine. Some rashes do appear while on treatment. Since you are on meds, that is good.
Ticks can be a tiny as the period at the head of the straight pin. But, remember, even if it is one, not all carry lyme, etc. And you are already on meds.
Do you have a magnifying glass or a camera lens that you can look though and magnify ? If so, and it is a tick, properly remove it and save it for testing. Clean and sterilize (not the right word) where you removed it. Continue meds and call your doctor in the morning - he might want you to change something.
If you don't have a magnifying glass, or if you do and it looks like a tick, can you call an Urgent Care place on your insurance?
Ask if they have a good magnifying glass which which to view the dot at the center of the circle. If not, ask if they can use magnification glasses which they surely have.
FIRST - practical matters. Would your insurance cover removal of a tick? If it's not a tick, would they cover being looked at?
Either way, get photos of the rash and if there is no tick, still check with your doctor on Monday.
tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
My husband just ran into a similar situation. Not the bullseye but he THINKS he pulled something out that could have been a tick and with four of us sick in the family and he's just about on the mend, he does not want to go through this again.
So he called his LLMD and in his case, the doctor said that he's on Lyme abx's already and that's all he or other dr's would give him anyway. So I guess with you being on the Doxy, you do have a major advantage to those that are getting bitten for the first time with no meds in the house.
I'd still let your LLMD know and keep an eye on it. Good luck and keep us posted as to how it goes.
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
Do you have an LLMD (lyme-literate medical doctor, who follows
the ILADS guidelines?) If not, you need to get one ASAP. Then,
most would say, treat until symptom-free for several months.
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Cooper,
By now, I assume that you've gotten a magnifying glass and taken a good look - or had someone else look.
What's up?
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shopping list for the rest of us: magnifying glass. One for home, one for car, a few to put in backpacks and purses. Some tick removal kits come with one.
posted
Just my opinion, but if you have an attached tick you need to get it unattached as soon as possible.
With all the other infections that ticks carry, I would worry that the doxy is not sufficient to knock those out as well.
Your decision, but I'd get it removed asap.
Best of luck to you.
*Edit* Keebler, I'd also add an inexpensive microscope to your list. I got bit by a nymphal stage deer tick a few weeks ago and it was difficult to determine it was a tick even with a magnifying glass. I ended up buying a kid's microscope just so I could be sure (next morning woke up with a little bullseye, so that confirmed it.)
Posts: 237 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jan 2008
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I'd for sure take a picture of the bullseye with your face in the picture so you can prove you had one.
You can have the tick tested by a lab but if you have a tick in the center of a bullseye, then I would guess it is infected.
Personally, I'd have all of this documented by a doctor for insurance purposes. Have them see the tick in the center of your bulleye if you can get to a doc right away.
Also, make sure you get instructions on how to properly remove it if you haven't yet. Even if you have an ER doc do it, make sure to take proper instructions with you. Many don't seem to know how to remove them properly.
As Adamm said, get to an LLMD if you don't already have one. Sounds like you are on an appropriate dose of abx but you need to make sure to stay on it long enough and have co-infection testing and treatment (if treatment is needed).
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Niere - great idea . . . can you say what the brand/model of yours is so as to save us some time in the hunt?
posted
Keebler--the microscope I got was twenty bucks and ended up being only a little better than the magnifying glass, but it was enough to let me ascertain it was a tick. If I thought it was worth the money I'd be happy to share the brand name but it wasn't. I got it at Target.
I'm currently keeping my eyes open at discount stores (like TJ Maxx) to see if a decent one will show up--I often see Smithsonian children's toys there, especially around the holidays.
If I find one I'll let you know! Posts: 237 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
The hand held magnifying glasses with a built in light are GREAT!! I got a 2nd one today at Office Depot for $9.99. You can see real good with them and I am blind as a bat.
-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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and it was difficult to determine it was a tick even with a magnifying glass. I ended up buying a kid's microscope just so I could be sure (next morning woke up with a little bullseye, so that confirmed it.)
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