posted
Oh my gosh you guys. It was small just like the one I found on me 1 year ago this month. Like a small freckle.
I am reaching out to you because I did something really STUPID. I FREAKED! I don't know why but I put a match close to it - might have even touched it briefly.
DID I PUT HER AT MORE RISK? I'm a wreck you guys. I don't want my baby girl to have this horrible disease I've had for over a year now.
What have I done?!?!?!?!?!!?
I went ahead and placed the small creature in a plastic bag but it looks to be dead.
I really messed up - I'm so scared/worried now.
Please respond and let me know your thoughts.
What should I do from here besides watch for the tell-tale bulls-eye rash that I got?
Thank you.....
Posts: 124 | From Indiana | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
adamm
Unregistered
posted
You need to get her antibiotics.
IP: Logged |
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Yes, you need to get her on antibiotics... and not everyone gets the bulls-eye rash. She may never get it, but that doesn't mean anything. So I would not be only watching for that...
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
| IP: Logged |
TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Not all ticks are infected. Let's hope this one is not.
I'd have the tick tested if it were me. You might be able to have your county do the test. I think some of them test ticks. IgeneX does too.
Talk to your LLMD if you have one.
Try not to blame yourself. You acted out of instinct and love. Now, just do what you have to do to make sure that your daughter gets treatment quickly. Better to get appropriate treatment now just in case.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
dear Michele-
1. please don't blame yourself for a thing. i can't imagine what i'd do if i saw a deer tick on my 6 year old, but trust me, i would NOT react rationally.. few of us would be capable of that, given the circumstances..
2. you don't know if the tick was infected, and if infected, whether or not the infection was transmitted.
3. since you don't know, TRUST that it is better to err on the side of caution. Antibiotics! Now! Enough, and for long enough!
the risk of abx now is NOTHING, repeat nOTHING compared to the risks of not giving antibiotics now.
Do NOT settle of any doctor who tells you otherwise!!
Praying for you and your family-
dilly (mother of a 6 year old child with Lyme who should never have had to go through this hell)
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
match or no match.. if the tick was attatched, you should treat prophylactically.
yes, removing it with a match, scratching it, or tugging with a tweezer, ect. can make the tick spit up into the blood stream, but even if you removed it perfectly, it would still be most prudent to treat.
it is completely wrong to think length of attatchment matters with ticks, or that skilled removal would mean treatment was less necessary. any known attatchment should be treated.
you could easily have transmission even if it wasn't aggravated.
while treating and after, watch for any signs of illness whatsoever, and obviously any rash, or pain at the site. monitor all illness symptoms carefully with LLMD. any symptoms that occur may require more treatment.
don't worry, you are actually way ahead of the game with knowledge of the disease, immediate treatment, and what to watch out for. i believe most ilads educated LL's whould treat a known attachment.
it's those who don't know these things that are in danger. tick bites are going to happen no matter how careful you may be.
knowledge holds power to keep her well.. you can just let her know that the medicine is to prevent her from getting sick, and be sure she feels comfortable enough to let you know how she is feeling. most likely, all will be fine.
don't worry, your good. you're lucky you saw the tick.
best, mo
ps: there's a great remover at agway called "de-ticker II", it removes a tick by gentle grip and twisting motion that causes the least amount of stress to the tick itself, so it is less likely to cause it "spitting up". it's a great tool, but with a known tick attatchment, you would treat just the same.
-------------------- life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage -- anais nin Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
Please let her know that not all ticks carry lyme.
Insects bites are just part of life and sometimes we have to treat them. I hope she can still have love of nature. Being aware and acting when we need to is a good lesson for anyone.
Even if your LLMD suggests treatment (which would be wise) you can let her know that because it's being taken care of very early, she has an excellent chance of this working out just fine.
God Bless you all!
Posts: 124 | From Indiana | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Hi Michele.
I am so sorry to hear this.
Everyone gave you good advice.
The only thing I wanted to add is that it is not legal for any doctor to prescribe meds with out seeing the patient. What I mean by this is that if your LLMD does not have a patient doctor relationship, he/she can not rx meds.
But maybe her Pedi can Rx meds until you can get her to the LLMD?
Good luck, Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
| IP: Logged |
I found a dog tick attached to my three-year old earlier this spring.
I had to take a deep breath...
I was able to pull it off--there was no blood but it did seem to be attached, as if it had just bitten her.
I phoned mhy pediatrician and made it very clear to him that my daughter was not going to go what I went through. He's a wonderful man and phoned in a script for three weeks of amoxicillin.
Today she's absolutely fine. I'm sure this will not be the last time I find a tick on my children (despite all our precautions) but if and when that happens they will get antibiotics for it.
End of subject.
You may want to consider calling your pediatrician and making your concerns clear. You may be surprised.
Wishing you and your daughter the best. Posts: 237 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged |
The only thing I wanted to add is that it is not legal for any doctor to prescribe meds with out seeing the patient. What I mean by this is that if your LLMD does not have a patient doctor relationship, he/she can not rx meds.
But maybe her Pedi can Rx meds until you can get her to the LLMD?
And perhaps the LLMD would be willing to consult with the pedi if the pedi won't prescribe for the child.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
Michele 
Printer-friendly view of this topic