posted
I had a tick bite 2 1/2 weeks ago. I am almost 6 weeks pregnant. About 4 days ago I started noticing my knees started bothering me. The last 2 nights it was a little hard to fall asleep because of the discomfort. I've also been running a low grade fever since yesterday. I haven't thought too much of the tiredness because of being pregnant. I am going to my primary care doctor first thing tomorrow. I'd like to know what tests to ask for at this stage and what antibiotics and length of course would be appropriate for my situation. Also, should I be on more than I kind of antibiotic at the same time? Any information would be appreciated! I'm really worried.
Posts: 11 | From Raleigh | Registered: Jul 2008
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Hi Debbie,
GOOD that you caught any potential problem early, that is very important!
Please go to the section here "Seeking a Doctor" and find the name of a lyme literate doctor in your state. The most important advice that I could give you at this stage is to make an appointment with a lyme and tick borne disease specialist (llmd), in addition to any appt that you may have with your regular doctor.
Most doctors are fairly ignorant about lyme and tick borne co-infections; lyme literate doctors can do the most thorough and accurate evaluations and treatment.
Please keep a careful watch of the area where the tick bit you, and document (take pictures) of any rash. It might help to keep a daily journal of symptoms.
About two weeks after my tick bite, I started feeling very fatigued and had a low grade fever too. I think your symptoms could be lyme disease, but you need to see a real llmd to be evaluated.
I hope you get an appointment as soon as possible; personally, if it were me, I would start taking antibiotics based on the tick bite and symptoms as soon as possible.
Many doctors prescribe amoxicillin after a tick bite, and my llmd says that it is safe to take during pregnancy. Perhaps your primary care would do so?
Other first-line antibiotics against recent tick bites include doxycycline, but I am not sure if that is contraindicated during pregnancy. Your doctor will know.
Best wishes to you, keep us posted.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
debbie, so sad to read this and early pregnancy!!
glad tutu sent you info on a llmd to see!!
i have info galore to share with this, and there are posts there about moms being pg who have active lyme disease... it's in what i'm offering you below
it'll be shown in the table of contents that IS done up to the ssdi, ss disability insurance info. ************************************
WELCOME, would you like a FREE copy of my newbie package of 124 pages info galore sent by LYMENET'S PRIVATE MESSAGE system here; includes TREEPATROL'S LINK of his archive of over 1000 links of good lyme info?
I've been completely REORGANIZING it; NOT DONE YET; but up to page 60 since I have now created a TABLE OF CONTENTS WITHOUT PAGE NUMBERS since it changes DAILY! The part NOT organized yet is the last 30 pages of SSDI, ss disability insurance benefits tips/forms!
also, please go to TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE INFO IN MEDICAL; at top being features; mark it as a favorite! over 1000 links of good lyme info. He/I have some duplicates.
most of mine is very DETAILED info on certain things: SSDI/ss diability insurance benefits; FINANCIAL BURDENS; about IGENEX blood testing, symptoms lists for the basic types, NOIR/no infrared SUNGLASSES, etc. and how to use this board!
If you would like my newbie package, please send me a PRIVATE MESSAGE. PMs are the 2 people standing together icon to right of your name. Just ask me to send you lyme package, and I'll get it to you promptly. Thank you! ******************************
we recommend 6-12 WEEKS of doxycycline antibiotics; 2 months symptom FREE before stopping antibiotics.
so glad you found dr. burrascano's 05 lyme guidelines!
call your dr. and DEMAND MORE! you are now in the LYME WAR CONTROVERSY ... another thing you didn't ask for!
please see BELOW LINK about ACTION ALERTS....CALLING 4 WASH. DC PHONE NOS. GIVING THEM YOUR FULL NAME/COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS AND TO "PUT LYME DISEASE ON THEIR AGENDA!"!!!!
IDSA, infectious disease society of america, are infectious drs. who:
.. do NOT believe in CHRONIC LYME;
.. treat from 1 day to 3 weeks MAX ANTITIOBICS, AND YOU ARE "CURED"! HOG WASH!!
ILADS, intl lyme associated disease society, are our LLMDS, LYME LITERATE MDS, and they:
... believe in chronic lyme AND TREAT US AS LONG AS NECESSARY!!!
... another controversy; various STATE HEALTH DEPTS. FILING CHARGES on our llmds for treating antibiotics longer than 4 weeks!!!
example: see activism; read about DR. CHARLES RAY JONES, KIDS NO. 1 LLMD IN CONN! starting his 3rd year of charges trying to take away his license!!!
*********************
Also, if you are needing a LLMD, LYME LITERATE MD, please post on board in SEEKING DR. forum. Go to FORUM HOME, right corner click, and then chose seeking dr.
We ask that ALL members post in seeking dr. and START THEIR OWN ``NEW'' POSTS vs. adding on to someone else's because we can NOT keep track of who has been answered and who NEEDS to be replied to ok!
Many of you have been sending me a private message asking for llmd names and have NOT posted on the board. I require you to post online because when you show the state and largest cities nearest you; others from YOUR STATE WILL JUMP IN and give you the MOST CURRENT info that they have.
we ask that all new members post in SEEKING DR. area and show cities/state in subject line.
please tell us a little about yourself; it helps in directing you the best way we know how! read 1 of top posts, and then answer the questions i've asked ok; WE THANK YOU!
also by posting on board, your STATE will reach out and give you the MOST CURRENT INFO that we with nationwide lists just do NOT get promptly!!
NO POSTING DRS. LAST NAMES; USE LAST INITIAL ONLY; NO PHONE NOS, COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS, NO WEB SITES ALLOWED!!
We have nationwide lists do NOT have most current info! We do what we can, but we depend on members to share all updates, deletions, phone nos. not working or changed, etc. with us. Then we let the others know promptly who have lists!
So thank you for starting YOUR OWN POST in seeking dr! We/I will help you as much as possible over there! Betty *******************************************
Also, please be VERY SPECIFIC in subject line what you will be discussing. Examples: on doxy and biaxin; need feedback: My western blot igm/igg blood tests from ....lab; list them going DOWNWARD not across.
Fyi: we have over 1000 viewers daily; 200 - 400 posting/replying so we all must manage our time well; so specific titles get our time/replies. NON-SPECIFIC ONES, I SOB, SCROLL ON BY!
When you post or reply, please break up your solid, continuous block text
welcome to the board! many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``THREE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
if you are NOT a wordy person, you can do 2 or 3 total ok. do this for your entire post.
NOTE: you do NOT have to use "", just show the name of person you are responding to, and then type your comment.
IF you need to use "", PLEASE DELETE "BOLD" CODES so it's regular type text we read vs. the DARK, HARSH/PAINFUL BOLDING.
specifically, delete the first 4 characters of 2ND LINE of a ""
[QB] just delete these 4 characters, and BOLDING is GONE! my eyes will really appreciate that; it's one very bad side effect of my having lyme for 38.5 years!! xox
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. I'm also in the early stages of losing my eyesight from diabetes retinopathy. *******************
please go to dr. burrascano's 05 lyme treatment guidelines and print out pages 17-18 ,,, where it talks about dosages for KIDS and adults!!
p.17: Antibiotic Choices & Doses From CBB: Amoxicillin-Children: 50 mg/kg/day divided into q8h doses. My pharmacist did the math for me, & it means: 35 lb child - 800 mg per day 70 lb child - 1,600 mg per day [1 kg=2.2046 lbs]
p.19: Treatment Categories Early Localized - single erythema migrans rash with no constitutional symptoms. Children: oral therapy for 6+ weeks.
According to Dr B's recommendation, your son did not have an adequate amt per day or long enough treatment to eliminate the bacteria. Take a copy to your Dr and see if (s)he will treat according to these Guidelines. Do whatever it takes - beg, plead, throw yourself on the floor and cry if necessary. *************************************************
Please go to SUPPORT GROUPS, left-hand side column by state. CALL the nearest group leader for advise. Do NOT email; many are too sick to reply; thanks!
People seeking doctors in certain states might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Over 1500 people belong to these state groups. Many of the groups are small but quite a few have 20 or more people on them.
Type your state name and lyme as one word, e.g. newyorklyme
For SC, SD, ND and WY, put a hyphen between the statename and lyme, e.g. northdakota-lyme
The groups are moderated so you have to apply, and we don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately. ***************
I want to make sure we have whoever on our NATIONWIDE LLMD list, which I have also with 12 other folks.
If you call any of the names where we do NOT have complete info, please ask the following and furnish me when you are done so we can add it to our nationwide llmd lists!! THANK YOU!
if you end up calling any above WITHOUT COMPLETE INFO, would you get the following IF possible from them??
we need full name SPECIALTY street addy city, state
phone no. fax no. web site or email if possible
cost per hour for 1st visit cost for followups
do they take insurance? what kind? treat by IV or ORAL?
thanks for helping us add to our drs. of around 300 nationwide who are LLMD! ************************************** ********************************************* checks--not paypal--for Dr Jones jblral Frequent Contributor Member # 8836 posted 09-07-2008 11:33 AM ________________________________________ I've been informed that Dr Jones defense is asking for CHECKS not paypal, at the following address:
HOW TO DONATE TO THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND:
Make Donations payable to: "Pullman & Comley Trust Account-for Dr. Charles Jones" Mail to: Elliott B. Pollack c/o Pullman & Comley, LLC 90 State House Square Hartford, CT 06103-3702
Note "gift" in the memo field
Apparently, the person with access to the paypal account is away on vacation, and the money can't be used until that person returns with the code. For immediate use of the money, they need it in checks to above address. ________________________________________ Posts: 294 | From: California | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged
Dr Jones on YouTube--watch & donate jblral Frequent Contributor Member # 8836 posted 09-07-2008 12:32 AM ________________________________________ This YouTube site, featuring Dr. Jones in an excerpt from "Under Our Skin," was created by Andy Abrahams Wilson (creator of the documentary itself) - in an effort to help Dr. Jones meet a critical, imminent fundraising deadline to retain his legal defense team. This is a wonderfully generous act on the part of Andy and Open Eye Productions!
Dear Folks,
We've created a YouTube site with an excerpt from UNDER OUR SKIN featuring Dr. Jones. There is information at the end of the clip and in the description on YouTube about how to donate. Please feel free to distribute widely! The site can be accessed at www.YouTube.com/DefendLymeDoctors
Hope this helps! Andy
URGENT LETTER FROM DR. JONES 7/8 ellenluba Frequent Contributor Member # 1707 posted 09-07-2008 02:35 AM ________________________________________ CHARLES RAY JONES, M.D. Madison Towers 111 Park Street , 1st Floor New Haven , Connecticut 06511 Tel (203) 772-1123 Fax (203) 772-0682
July 7, 2008
Dear Friends,
Urgent! I must raise $90,000 by July 14, 2008 and an additional $110,000 by August 10 in order to retain the legal team which has been representing me. If these sums are not raised, I will not be able to continue defending the charges brought against me by the Connecticut Department of Public Health for my treatment of children with Lyme disease, and I fear that I will be forced by the Connecticut Medical Examining Board to resign my license to practice medicine and to retire. This must not happen!
I understand all too well the considerable hardship that Lyme disease has imposed on too many families, and regret the need to appeal to you yet again for donations to my legal defense fund. Yet the prospect of surrendering this critical fight is more daunting: If I do not continue to oppose these charges, how many more physicians will be left vulnerable to similar charges for their treatment of Lyme disease? How many more sick children will be abandoned?
I recognize that the figure of $200,000 appears overwhelming. However:
* If 10,000 families contribute $20, we will be able to meet our goal; * If 4,000 give $50, we will be able to meet our goal; * If 2,000 give $100, we will be able to meet our goal; * If every member of the Lyme community gives something, we will reach this goal!!!
I am confident that we can succeed, but I need the help of each and every one of you. Time is of the essence and you must respond today. In return, I pledge to you that I will not give up this fight.
With my greatest appreciation,
Dr. Jones
Charles Ray Jones, M.D.
HOW TO DONATE TO THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND:
Make Donations payable to: "Pullman & Comley Trust Account-for Dr. Charles Jones" Mail to: Elliott B. Pollack c/o Pullman & Comley, LLC 90 State House Square Hartford, CT 06103-3702
Note "gift" in the memo field --------------------
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
I did not answer your question about appropriate length of course of treatment before;
That depends of course on what your llmd finds. Often tick bites can carry more than lyme, and treatment of any co-infections such as babesia can lengthen treatment time.
What I have heard from others that have started treatment soon after a tick bite is that treatment with abx like amoxicillin for lyme can last a couple of months (as opposed to late-stage lyme, where treatment can last a couple of years).
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
Sometimes it takes a while to find and get to an LLMD.
So, if I were you, I'd go to my ob or primary care doc and get a script for ammoxicillan which is fine for pregnancy, infants in children, to cover you until you can get to an llmd.
OR if your doc is willing they could consult with an LLMD or Dr. J.
Here is some good news-- I was infected unknowlingly before pregnancy and I had 2 kids an breastfed them while sick.
One got much sicker after a tick bite (she's now in treatment for lyme/babs). But both kids were normal at birth, have met all developmental milestones and are really basically ok.
Since you saw the tick and caught your situation early, you are in a very good position. If you hadn't noticed the tick, you would chalk up joint pain to pregnancy and never know.
Of course, I've got to say, I'm not a doctor and none of this is medical advice.
Posts: 524 | From Hudson Valley, NY | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Omnicef and zithromax are being taken together for women who have had lyme and are wanting to conceive for the entire pregnancy as a precaution. Ceftin is also used in place of Omnicef.
I was also bit during pregnancy (month 8) and I passed it via the placenta to my daughter. I was treated with 1500mg of amoxicillin for 30 days and it was not enough. I didnt' find lymenet in time and consulted with OB/Gyn's and Infections disease doctors through our hospital. All told me 30 days was enough.
However, even with Lyme she is a bright, happy child who is in treatment. So keep your head up. You are doing the right thing.
Posts: 183 | From Texas | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Thanks so much for the responses. I'm scared. I just went to my general practice doctor and she said she didn't think I have lyme and made it sound like my only option was doxycyline, which she didn't recommend since I'm pregnant. I called one lyme specialist 3 hours away and a new patient appt. wasn't available for a month and I'd have to put down a $500 deposit just to schedule it. I did not do this yet, but am looking for other options. There is another specialist that is half an hour away this takes my insurance. His office is closed today though.
Posts: 11 | From Raleigh | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Keep us updated on how things are going. I know it can be VERY scary. I trusted my Ob/gyn and our hospital and it bit me in the rear. I wish I would have done more research like you are doing. I was just so trusting...
Call the second LLMD that you mentioned on Monday and if he can't get you in try the first one. Also, I have had lots of luck getting antibiotics from places like Care Now (the walk in clinics). You might want to try and see if they will give you a month of something just to get you through the wait period for an LLMD.
Posts: 183 | From Texas | Registered: Nov 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
hang in there. I'm sure you and your new baby will be just fine. It's normal to worry. Keep that LLMD appointment, and make sure your OB/GYN is aware of the seriousness of Lyme and pregnancy. Do some research, print out the literature on gestational Lyme and bring it to your OB/GYN. You should be on Amoxicillin, Bicillin, or Ceftin to protect the baby. Moms to be get blood levels checked regularly to make sure the dose is high enough. When the baby is born, you need to have samples of the cord blood, placenta and urine, blood sent to Igenex for testing. Do some searching on here in the search box type "lyme and pregnancy" you will see the info. Congratulations! I'm sure with treatment and the proper precautions you and your baby will be fine!
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otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. I'm also in the early stages of losing my eyesight from diabetes retinopathy. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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