Lyme Disease, aka Borrelia burgdorferi

[Cheetah]

Remember to check yourselves for Lyme Disease symptoms!    

 

I formed a couple bullseye rashes, roughly 2.5 weeks after hunting Wisconsin.  They don't itch or hurt.   I never even saw a tick bite me, showered every night, they must have got me in my sleep.  My camo was all sprayed with permethrin prior to going hunting.   Starting Doxycycline now.  

 

Here are some educational links for reference. 

https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/basics/definition/con-20019701

 

 

[Scoot]

Oh man, that really stinks!  This dump scares me a lot!  My son got a tick bite this year and developed a rash.  Didn't appear to be a bullseye rash at all, but we brought him in.  No treatment recommended, but we've been monitoring the site and his symptoms since.  All appears good so far.

Good luck Cheetah-- good thing you're getting treated!  That dump is NOTHING so mess around with.  

[monstermoose78]

8 hours ago, Scoot said:

Oh man, that really stinks!  This dump scares me a lot!  My son got a tick bite this year and developed a rash.  Didn't appear to be a bullseye rash at all, but we brought him in.  No treatment recommended, but we've been monitoring the site and his symptoms since.  All appears good so far.

Good luck Cheetah-- good thing you're getting treated!  That dump is NOTHING so mess around with.  

Agreed I got bite last fall and it knocked me down for weeks but I am all good now 

[ZachD]

I am surprised that didn't just give him Doxycycline scoot

I had one on me over a 3 day weekend buried good in my waistline didn't know if I got it the first day or last day no bullseye but I wasn't  trying to find out called my dr and had a does of doxy waiting for me at the pharmacy.

[bobbymalone]

Seems a bit aggressive to go on doxy just cuz a tick was attached.

[Graybeard53]

Just went to the Dr. myself yesterday for a tick bite. 

Pulled it off a week ago, and it kept developing a red circle. Yesterday the redness started spreading so I went in. 

10 days of Doxycycline for me too. 

[1lessdog]

I was diagnosed with Lyme disease back in like 2000. I was sicker than a poison pup for over 6 weeks. It took them about a month to figure it out. After I took meds for about 2 wks is when I started feeling better.

 

Better to be safe than sorry

[Scoot]

13 hours ago, ZachD said:

I am surprised that didn't just give him Doxycycline scoot

 

The main reasons they didn't put him on Doxy right aware were: 1) it was a woodtick, not a deertick, 2) it was attached for less than 24 hours, 3) the rash appeared to be cellulitis and not a bullseye rash.  The doc was very well informed and offered best clinical practice info based in empirical evidence.  I'm a researcher by training and I checked all of his recommendations with CDC and the available empirical literature and he was spot on.  I'm a totally overprotective dad, I'll admit that!  

 

In spite of the three reasons I mentioned above, it definitely COULD still result in Lymes, so we've kept a close eye on his symptoms.  He's been clean and healthy, so I think we're in the clear.  

[fivebucks]

Maybe I don't know what I don't know but can a dog tick even transmit Lymes disease?  I thought it was exclusive to the deer tick.

[Cheetah]

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases/index.html

[Scoot]

Cheetah, your link takes a person to the CDC page. Personally, I'd take the word of the CDC as the end all be all, but in this case it's not as simple as the info the CDC continues to publish. The topic is actually really highly debated but there are many many documented cases of Lyme's being transmitted through bites from critters other than a deer tick. Wood ticks and even mosquitos can transmit it, believe it or not. In the end almost any insect that bites you can transmit it, although most are highly unlikely. 

[Moon Lake Refuge]

Dogs can get Lyme just like people. I got it when I was young, my daughter got it and my dog had it.  Mine went without symptoms for a bit and some people can have it for months or years without symptoms until it has done a good amount of damage.  Test is not always reliable and can take some time, and on top of that,in my experience at least' DR's seem hesitant to even check for it.  From the DR's I have spoken to about it, a lot like to treat for it even if there is a possibility.  The treatment isn't typically much worse than some people get for typical infections.  Just very glad my daughters was caught quicker or was more mild than mine.  Not fun when you get in the thick of the symptoms.  

[ZachD]

On ‎6‎/‎8‎/‎2017 at 10:07 AM, bobbymalone said:

Seems a bit aggressive to go on doxy just cuz a tick was attached.

 

It was a female deer tick in a county that is in one of the high risk areas for tickborne disease, didn't know how long it was attached for.  Lyme is one of those things that the earlier you treat it the less severe it is and the less you have to be on antibiotics. I think I took 4 doses or maybe it was a single dose.

Im not one to even take asprin or anything but I figured why sit around and wait for symptoms if I had any when I could take 4 pills that cost me 8 bucks and be done with it.

 

Had to do it once in my lifetime just because I wasn't sure I don't think that is too aggressive why wait till you start feeling bad?

 

[Archerysniper]

Hopefully rhe doxy works for you and tou do not get any of the other co infection that ticks carry. My wife is on disability for the last 9 years from this stuff.

[monstermoose78]

Sorry to hear archerysniper.

[Cheetah]

Frustrating road to recovery here.  Doxy went fine, but near the end I was getting nauseous after taking it.  Low energy during workouts is very frustrating.  I feel good when I start, but get drained fast.  Now I formed an rash across my upper body that the doctor does not think is related to lyme, but I've read online about people having similar issues.  She thinks it is a heat reaction, since it flares up after a hard bike ride or sometimes after a shower, but I am skeptical as I have never had anything like it before.  Starting a stronger topical steroid to see if it helps before I have another doctor visit on Monday morning....   She doubts any other tick-borne diseases because the Doxycycline should have taken care of all of them...

 

If anyone knows a tick disease specialist in the MSP area, let me know.  My primary care provider, and the urgent care place I use, both do not have anyone that specializes in this.  

 

 

[RebelSS]

Cheetah, you did know this about Doxy I assume....? A common after-effect in some folk. also, your mention of the nausea starting now, may be a sign you are more sensitive to it....

 

 Doxycyclinemay cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a large skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn.

 

Hope that's all it is...good luck!

[Cheetah]

Yea, I knew about the sun exposure risk.  I made sure to have sunscreen on any time I was outdoors while on the meds, and limited the time exposed. On Monday I'll see what this other doc says about the rash.   Maybe she can tell me if a delayed reaction is normal or not...  I've read online that some people have this issue after being treated for Lyme.   My hope is to get in touch with an infectious disease specialist to see what they think.  

[Cheetah]

Well my most recent doctor visit has not yielded any new information.  The lyme symptoms will probably last a while, I should go back in if they persist by end of July.  The steroid cream cleared up the rash on my chest and shoulders in about 24 hours.   They took more blood samples to check for anything else that might be going on.  

[bottomdweller]

Scoot is right, there are many ways to get lymes, not just insects.  Its been linked to intercourse with a partner that does have lymes, milk, venison.  Regular doctors will say what no way but talk to  a lymes literate doctor, a doc specializing in infectious bites and there are numerous things.  Main thing is if you get symptoms get the antibiotics going.  Dont just go on them because you get a bite.  I live in tick city and have had more ticks on me than I even care to talk about and yes some that dug in for a few days.  Ive never been on anti biotics yet.  Maybe that explains my twitches

 

[Cheetah]

Blood tests are coming back and I can see them online.  Have not talked to the doctor yet, but my aunt is a doc and has given me some insight into this. 

 

Anyway, my thyroid is not behaving properly and it looks like hyperthyroidism.  Extremely low TSH, and high T4.   Some connection to lyme from what I'm reading.   No meds for it yet, waiting for a call back from my doctor.   Symptoms line up with what I've been experiencing though.   

[Scoot]

Cheetah, is the impaired thyroid functioning likely permanent or will it work properly for you again?  I realize you don't have a crystal ball here, just wondering if it gets messed up for a while with lyme disease, then functions ok after a while in most cases?  That's a crappy deal, no doubt!  However, if it's permanent it's a relatively easy fix.  My wife had thyroid cancer and lost her thyroid about 15 years ago- pops a synthroid now and all is well.  

 

Sorry you're having to deal with all of this-- sucks for sure!  darn ticks... makes a guy wonder why the good Lord ever put them on this earth...

[Cheetah]

Scoot, I don't know yet.  Had the first of two "thyroid scan and update" tests done today at the hospital, going in again tomorrow.   Symptoms all started at the same time as Lyme, so I figure it must be linked.   

[Scoot]

Yep sure seems reasonable and likely with that kind of timing. Good luck!  Keep us updated if you don't mind. If you'd rather not that's ok too. 

Heal up fast- fall is right around the corner!  Any trips planned?

[delcecchi]

Cheetah, if your current docs get stumped (and  it is OK with insurance) Mayo is right down the road.  They are famous for figuring out rare stuff