posted
Hi, I just found this community recently after being diagnosed with Lyme Disease this past Monday. I've done a lot of reading and I am pretty scared about everything. Especially since I already was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years and years ago. The pain from my fibro has never been as bad as what some people have experienced and I've been able to work and lead a somewhat active lifestyle.
Here is a time line of photos of my bite since last Thursday, 9/13:
9/13, shortly after finding red spot from a couple days earlier.
9/14, Sunday night
9/15 Monday morning, shortly before first doctor's visit.
9/16 Tuesday Morning
9/16, early afternoon.
Anyway, since then the blisters have drained. I went back to the same doctor this morning because people at my job were really concerned about how it looked. At first he didn't seem all that concerned, stating that my symptoms were from the lyme disease. (stiff neck, sore neck, headache, the other night I had a fever just over 101, chills, horrible body aches, and just feeling really really really bad).
He then came over and poked at the wound. It leaked more clear fluid and that's when he became concerned. He ran off to read about spider bites because my wound had necrotic tissue!! and that's more common with spider bites. He came back, was still researching, and then eventually decided it's still lyme, still a tick bite. and that in rare cases it can end up like mine. It was an unusual presentation he said. Another doc came in to look at the wound, looked shocked and was glad to see it since she'd never seen a tick bite like mine.
They did an EKG on me while I was there. It came back normal. They dressed my wound and I am going back on Friday morning to have it looked at again. They measured the redness and the area that was necrotic. No work til Monday. Not that I feel like working anyway. The antibiotics I am on are making my stomach upset and the doc just prescribed vicoden for the pain. The pain comes and goes.
The redness has spread, the wound looks disgusting. I'd post another update photo but right now it's covered up and I don't want to mess with it until later if I decide to shower.
Anyone else experience this problem with a tick bite? Im really concerned right now:( Can't find much info about this happening to a tick bite online.
thank you!
[ 17. September 2008, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Hoodwink ]
Posts: 16 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Oh my goodness!!
You might want to add in your title graphic pics, in case some one has a weak stomach!!
Good job for taking pics. Most people wouldnt think to do that so kudos to you!
What antibiotics are you on and what dose? How long are you supposed to take them?
You are going to want to find a LLMD ASAP. I will send you a PM.
If the wound gets too bad you may need additional antibiotics and possibly IV...although I am no doctor! It looks pretty nasty!
Hopefully someone with personal experience with a tick bite like this will come along.
Oh and you might want to post this in medical section here. You will get more responses there.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
I am currently on doxycycline 100MG, twice a day. I now hear this is not enough. He wants me on it for 3 weeks but I have a feeling I am going to need extended antibiotic treatment.
The doctor is having me come back in on Friday. So we'll see what he says then. He seems pretty clueless to me:(
Posts: 16 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
The ideal dose would be 400mg a day for 4-6 weeks. Maybe can you print out Ddr. B guidlines and bring it in with you on Friday?
Do you know where to find it?
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
Lyme disease erythema migrans may have vesicular and necrotic areas in its center and can be confused with cellulitis or spider bites. Ticks are arachnids and can transmit toxins of danger to humans as well as infections. For instance, the bite by an Ornithodoros coriaceus ("pajahuello") of California, a venomous soft tick, is associated with necrotic lesions resembling those produced by brown spiders, including the brown recluse.
Ricketsial infection also definitely needs to be considered as a coinfection. I have seen numerous medical reports of eschar and tissue necrosis associated with R. bacterial infections from tick bites. It may also be referred to as Tache noir.
Has been associated frequently with R. parkeri, R. conorii, R. africae, R. akari, and may be misdiagnosed as RMSF. It may cross react with RMSF serologies.
Make an apt. with an LLMD right away for proper treatment. In the meantime, you may need IV antibiotics.
Please continue to document with pictures, and include a measuring tape in the picture for size comparison. Also begin to document daily other symptoms such as headache, chills, fever, etc.
** Editing to add... TULAREMIA is another tick-borne infection that also causes ulceration at the site. Very important you get treated properly for all of the above.
-------------------- **Eat Chocolate** Posts: 942 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
We look forward to an update today Hoodwink. Hopefully it will be good news.
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
| 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!
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic