Well just thought I would give an update to what I've been dealing with since my last post. Here is how the bite has been progressing:
Day 7
Day 8
Today the redness has receded even further in from the pen line that the doctor drew this past Wednesday. The pain is a lot less and overall I feel a lot better. The pain in the bite is a burning sensation that comes and goes and the leg itself is kind of in pain too, like a deep lighter throbbing pain. I have fibromyalgia, so it seems like pain I've always had during flares.
Today I went back in and the doctor brought in other doctors to look because my bite reaction was so strange and rare. Two other doctors came in and were arguing a bit with the doctor I've been seeing.
Basically asking about him testing for other types of crap ticks can pass along. They also were a little worried about a staff infection. I mentioned being tested for MRSA and I was told that "People see that on TV and worry..." and basially that was it.
They did, however, get him to have me go and get a lyme teiter (sp?) test NOW. I think they were concerned about me already possibly having lyme and this reaction was a secondary lyme infection type of thing? He mentioned in 6 weeks after this is all said and done to also be tested to see if I have lyme anti-bodies.
Does having the anti-bodies mean I have Lyme disease? I'm really confused about all of that because some people seem sure that Lyme is curable in the early stages and others don't and it's been generally scary and confusing.
I'm going back to the doctor on October 3rd. I figure I can ask about my current Lyme test then and then see when he wants me to have another...if he still does? I don't know.
Posts: 16 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Sep 2008
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
That is one nasty bite !
That rash you have IS DIAGNOSTIC ITSELF of Lyme Disease. No further testing is needed. Infact if this is a recent bite, you will likely test negative because it is too soon.
Maybe if you test positive in a few weeks they would extend your ABX??
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
My doctor did say it would be negative. but can it find antibodies from possible bites years ago?
Posts: 16 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Sep 2008
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Well...... technically.
ELISA testing only gives you a number. I think poisitive is something like > .90 is positive
Then there is an IgM Western blot test- this technically indicates recent infection.
and then there is an IgG Western blot test- it is supposed to indicate past infection.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result. Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
Wow Hoodwink,
That looks like a nasty bite. I haven't been following your story, so I hope you are seeing an LLMD.
I was one that doesn't even remember my bite and never had a bullseye, so never dealt with any of this.
Guess there are pros and cons since atleast this way, there's no question that you HAVE been bitten. I went undiagnosed for five years not knowing what was going wrong inside my body.
This must be painful to boot. I sure hope they are able to get this all under control for you SOON.
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
I'd get the test now, but get the Western Blot. Just tell the doctor that if the first test is positive, then he'll be doing this second test anyway, so why not do it all at once in a single blood draw.
If you test positive now, then it could be from a previous bite especially if it's IgG positive.
Get copies of the results.
I would be setting up an appt. to see an LLMD ASAP. You want someone who treats this all the time to be treating you.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
Anyone who could see that and not diagnose Lyme
posted
Well they've diagnosed lyme. but I guess it's a rare type of reaction. No one on this board even replied to say they've had a similar reaction! The doctors were all very curious.
Posts: 16 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Sep 2008
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
Wow, that's impressive. I'm sorry you're still suffering. It looks so painful.
What antibiotics are you taking?
How often and by what route? oral or IV?
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
I am on 100mg of Doxycyline 2X daily for 3 weeks...which I hear is not enough.
Posts: 16 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Sep 2008
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
My brother had a terrible "insect bite" on his upper thigh a few years ago. He was on several strong antibiotics.
I'm trying to get him to look at your photos to see if his wound looked like this. I know the wound was the size of a dinner plate and the center was necrotic.
He said he felt something sting him, but doesn't believe it was a spider or a tick. He didn't say if it had red rings like a Lyme rash.
PS, You're right about the doxy dose. I've read the dose you're taking is enough to keep the bacteria from reproducing (bacteriostatic) , but isn't enough to kill the bacteria (bacteriocidal).
It's common for the Lyme symptoms to return after you're finished with the antibiotics since you were only supressing the growth. It may take weeks, months, or years for the symptoms to return.
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Hoodwink: Well they've diagnosed lyme. but I guess it's a rare type of reaction. No one on this board even replied to say they've had a similar reaction! The doctors were all very curious.
Someone DID say they had that reaction. Was it on another thread??
I'd be willing to bet that you already had Lyme disease since you said you have "fibromyalgia."
You might want to read my story below.
If you have only recently contracted lyme, then it is IMPERATIVE that you get more doxy than what they are giving you. Otherwise you WILL become chronic.
You might want to consider going to a walk-in clinic and get more. That may cause trouble though since they would KNOW you've already been elsewhere.... or they'll think you're nuts for not having already gone to a dr!
If you get a Western Blot, make sure it's one from Igenex. LabCorp or Quest isn't good enough.
CALL NOW for an LLMD appointment. You are going to need it and it takes weeks or months to get in.
You may indeed have other infections besides Lyme....Do you really think THIS doctor knows how to treat you for those???? [nope]
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
....I'm not a doctor but I'd be thinking MRSA too...no reason a tick couldn't transmit that also, and if it's just in the air and gets into an open wound you can get it.
They tell people around here to cover open cuts when going into nursing homes for example, where MRSAs are common.
If that's what it is the cheap old sulfa drug Bactrim will likely cure it.
Charlie
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
If you're concerned this might be MRSA, a simple culture of the wound is all that's needed to ease your mind.
Type up a "Refusal to Test" letter. Include your symptoms and that he refuses to test you for MRSA. Include a photo of the wound if you can.
Ask your physician to culture your wound. If your physician refuses to culture the wound, pull out the paper and get his signature.
That usually gets their "cooperation".
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
Did you read the replies on your previous post? There was one medical literature documentation of such a bullseye rash, with blisters. And Imanurse replied with info on other things it might be.
If you didn't read this, go back and do it now. You double posted this, on two forums. There was also info on testing and antibodies.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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quote:Originally posted by lou: Did you read the replies on your previous post? There was one medical literature documentation of such a bullseye rash, with blisters. And Imanurse replied with info on other things it might be.
If you didn't read this, go back and do it now. You double posted this, on two forums. There was also info on testing and antibodies.
Thanks for posting that, lou! I thought I was imagining things!! I knew I had seen the same!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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