posted
So about a week and a half ago, me and a couple of friends went hiking overnight in the woods of Ocala National Forest. After the trip, I got home, went to bed, and the next day I found a tick under my belly button. I pulled it using tweezers, making sure to get the whole thing. Then I searched my body for more. I found about 4 more ticks, mostly on my legs. I pulled them all out, and then I immediately searched the net for symptoms and what ticks can do to you.
I read up on Lyme disease and the symptoms, and waited to see if I got any of them. It's been a week and a half now, and I luckily have no symptoms until today, when one of the places where I got bit had a very small rash. Now I was scared, because I had read up on the typical bullseye that you get as a sign of Lyme disease. But this rash is very small, and it's been a small red area for a few days, but got a little bigger today. It's also a small bump. Here's a picture:
Now it's very small, not even as big as a quarter, and all the rash pictures I've seen are huge red rashes. But that's the only 'symptom' I have, I don't have any flu-ish like symptoms at all or muscle pain.
So what should I do? I would like to get treatment, but I have no insurance, and haven't been to a doctor in a decade. And with all the controversy about doctors and Lyme disease, where would I go? There are some walk-in clinics here, is that my best option? I don't want to spend 500 dollars on medicine, but I will if I need to. Is there any antibiotic I can just buy from a store shelf?
Any help would be appreciated!
Posts: 7 | From Apopka, FL | Registered: Apr 2009
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
Five tick bites? One with a rash? I'd go to a doctor and ask for 200 mg. doxycycline twice daily for at least a month.
I don't really know if a walk in clinic would prescribe what you need or not ......
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
So I can just walk into a hospital and ask for a prescription and they'd just give it to me? No check-up or anything? And how much would that prescription cost?
Posts: 7 | From Apopka, FL | Registered: Apr 2009
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
The doxy is cheap. But you will need a doctor visit. The problem will be the doc not wanting to diagnose, or not prescribing enough treatment if he does.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Yes, I think it will be hard for him to diagnose me if I don't have the symptoms, and the rash is pretty small. So I'm kind of stuck? Should I wait for more symptoms to show, if at all? I don't want to wait and then have the disease attack other parts of my body, if I have it.
Posts: 7 | From Apopka, FL | Registered: Apr 2009
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Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
You do have the picture of the rash, right?
I would at least get to a walk in clinic, and bring with you the picture of the rash (just in case the rash fades or goes away before you get there).
Tell them what you told us here, and that you want to be tested and at least put on some precautionary antibiotics.
I don't know if you'd get through, but I would say it's worth a shot.
As for OTC antibiotics, I don't think they exist--would be nice...
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Yikes, FIVE tick bites... it's highly likely one of them carried lyme and/or a co-infection or two of some sort. Not to scare you, but it's VERY likely.
And not everyone gets symptoms THAT soon (a week or two) after a bite. Some do, but some don't. Sometimes symptoms can take a few months to manifest... sometimes even years.
I also want to mention that not all lyme rashes are bulls-eyes or big rashes. Some are filled in circles of varying colors, etc. And some rashes are very small... so that too is confusing. It's not like lyme disease in itself is confusing enough!
I would DEFINITELY keep that picture... and try VERY hard to get on antibiotics, usually Doxy, 400mg a day for a month or two at the very least.
Good luck!
-------------------- 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
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posted
Well, I'm going to try the Walk-in clinic tomorrow. Maybe I should call around first to see if they would give antibiotics for Lyme. Are there any alternatives to antibiotics that would help?
Posts: 7 | From Apopka, FL | Registered: Apr 2009
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gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
Yes, that is true. I had two little rashes that looked like bruises on my stomach for months. Not typical rash at all! and not a clue it could be lyme.
Even after a visit to a dermatologist, I went away undiagnosed.. and got worse day by day not knowing that I had lyme for at least 6 months without treatment or a diagnosis.
If you can get some doxy that would be really a good start, even if it was used as a preventative to deter the onset. (mine was an unexplained high fever, chills, and flu like symptoms)
Good luck!
Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Also, just wanted to tell you to PLEASE tell your friends about the ticks you found on yourself so that they will look as well. Chances are, if you had FIVE on you, they more than likely had at least one (or MORE) on each of them.
-------------------- 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
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
Emergency --that rash means that, without a doubt, you have Lyme. Unfortunately, the mainstream medical community's been lied to about the disease since its emergence, so 99.9% of the docs out there have no idea how to treat or diagnose it. The reality is that Borrelia is one of the toughest pathogens known to man and that even the best tests for it will miss around 30% of cases.
You need to do whatever it takes to get enough doxycycline so you can treat with 400mg/ day for 3 months and set up an appointment with a Lyme-literate physician; the alternative is developing an incurable brain infection. Exploit free clinics, track down friends with antibiotics, hit up online pharmacies--go to the gates of hell and back if you need to. Just act now!
I'm incredibly sorry to have to tell you all this. REally--nobody should have to be in this position. I'll PM you the info of the docs in my region, one of whom will probably be able to see you quite soon. For more info on what you're up against and why you haven't been able to get the care you need, I'd check out
posted
I never saw what bit me, but your rash looks JUST like the one I had. My rash was also hot & itchy-soon followed by a swollen knee, tinnitus, & blurry vision in the next couple of weeks. Had a perfect bullseye on my back after starting treatment with doxy.
Try to get some doxy! This is your window of opportunity. I got right on the normal dose of doxy for 3 weeks @ 200mg/day & later took 3 months of double that dose. Had a slew of symptoms come & go during treatment, but knock on wood, it seemed to do the trick. Wish you well...
Posts: 249 | From finger lakes, ny | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Thanks for all your help everyone, I just hope I can get someone to prescribe me some Doxy. Is there anything I can say to convince them? Should I just say I had the other symptoms of Lyme disease to push it? I don't want to lie, but it seems that if I don't get it treated soon, I'm going to be in terrible shape.
posted
just go into the dr office. explain the trip and ticks. show the rash, and ask for tx for lyme.
is ok to say you have been educated on lyme disease and understand tx during initial point of infection is paramount to recovery. Delayed dx/tx can and do cause systemic illness taking at times yrs of tx and can leave residual symptoms.
is best to be educated. you are responsible for your health. who else but you is the best advocate for your health?? Dr's see how many pt's in a day? go in educated and expect tx. not to say you need to be demanding, arrogant, or act nutty. just be informed about what is considered tx--and that has already been mentioned. doxy is needed.
you dont want to be on here later saying...if only i would have gotten tx.
there are plenty of science based info showing that testing for lyme at onset is inaccurate.
good sites for reference given by adamm.
get ya doxy now. keep pic of rash, date it. also start a daily journal---u may need it later
when u get ur doxy rx also be educated on use of pro-biotic to protect your gi tract. this is OTC. would be great if doxy was OTC but no such luck,,,,we would not need this board.
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
So I just got back from the doctor, and got a prescription for Doxy. 200mg a day, for 21 days.
But, when I got home, I noticed the other bites on my legs were starting to grow rashes. So now I'm thinking I'm going to need more medicine. But I'd rather not go back to the doctor to pay 100 bucks for a prescription, so does anyone know any legit websites that sell it? I've seen a bunch, but don't know which one to go with.
Posts: 7 | From Apopka, FL | Registered: Apr 2009
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
UP FOR HELP FOR YOU.
Sorry I can't be of help. I don't know any websites or legit places that sell meds.
I'm sorry that the other bites are now showing rashes. That is awful.
Good luck!
-------------------- 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
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posted
Too bad I didn't know about this website when a doctor told me after 3 weeks of antibiotics to ignore my symptoms and I did.
I too was supposedly caught early. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT $100. GO SEE AN LLMD RIGHT NOW. MY LIFE IS RUINED BECAUSE I IGNORED IT FOR A MONTH AND THEN WHEN I FINALLY GOT HELP I ONLY GOT 100MG OF DOXYCYCLINE TWICE A DAY!
THIS IS NOTHING TO PLAY AROUND WITH!
Posts: 743 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2009
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richedie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14689
posted
DO NOT MESS AROUND! My father had a similar rash and they gave him doxycycline and he was in the clear....but still has weird symptoms they can't figure out. I know what is is!
doxycycline doesn't seem to do a ton for me but I have had this much, much longer than you. Fairly easy to treat if caught EARLY, but HELL to treat if it sets in and goes everywhere.
-------------------- Mepron/Zith/Ceftin Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse. Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin. Period of Levaquin and Ceftin. Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin. Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin. Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia Plaquenil/Biaxin Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Go to Seeking a Doctor section.
Post your state and city.
You need to be seen by a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor.
Make the appointment asap.
Also, doxy can be Rx'd for many things including a sinus infection.
So.....do what you can to continue treatment until you see a LLMD.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Sorry.
Forgot to add to have your friends checked too.
If you had ticks, they probably did too.
Yikes!
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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