I just found a tick...what would you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doxycycline is harsh. I took a 10 day course when I had Lyme disease. I was tested several times and never showed positive on a test. The tests catch less than 50% of cases. The rash was enough to confirm and RX antibiotics. The side effects from the antibiotics were so bad. I felt like I was going to vomit for weeks.

Deer ticks carry Lyme. They are very small. When I scratched one off, it looked like a tiny scab on my leg. I didn't think anything of it. My doctor couldn't figure out what was causing the aches and a bunch of tingling and numbness. I went to see my old doctor, who's out of network. He suggested it could be Lyme. That's when I remembered the weird, almost heart-shaped red mark on my foot. It's tricky to catch. At least you know you were bitten and the approx size of the tick.

Did you know it was a tick and not a scab at the time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doxycycline is harsh. I took a 10 day course when I had Lyme disease. I was tested several times and never showed positive on a test. The tests catch less than 50% of cases. The rash was enough to confirm and RX antibiotics. The side effects from the antibiotics were so bad. I felt like I was going to vomit for weeks.

Deer ticks carry Lyme. They are very small. When I scratched one off, it looked like a tiny scab on my leg. I didn't think anything of it. My doctor couldn't figure out what was causing the aches and a bunch of tingling and numbness. I went to see my old doctor, who's out of network. He suggested it could be Lyme. That's when I remembered the weird, almost heart-shaped red mark on my foot. It's tricky to catch. At least you know you were bitten and the approx size of the tick.

Did you know it was a tick and not a scab at the time?

No, I didn't put it all together until 10 days later, when I saw my former GP.

[Anonymous]

I'd take it to a vet and have it tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd take it to a vet and have it tested.

She doesn't have it.

[Anonymous]

I recently found a tick on my six year old, which I knew was there for at least 3 days. 2 days after we removed the tick, he vomited a few hours after dinner and had a slight fever. He rarely gets sick, and his brother did not get sick so I knew it wasn't bad food. I took him to our family doctor the next day because we were going out of town in a few days and I wanted to ask for antibiotics in case a bulls eye rash or more symptoms appeared while we were out of town. I also told her about him vomiting. She said she would not do anything without more symptoms or a visible rash. She said if i am concerned then we shouldn't go out of town. Think I should change doctors? Who on this forum has a doctor who is willing to prescribe antibiotics without all the symptoms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently found a tick on my six year old, which I knew was there for at least 3 days. 2 days after we removed the tick, he vomited a few hours after dinner and had a slight fever. He rarely gets sick, and his brother did not get sick so I knew it wasn't bad food. I took him to our family doctor the next day because we were going out of town in a few days and I wanted to ask for antibiotics in case a bulls eye rash or more symptoms appeared while we were out of town. I also told her about him vomiting. She said she would not do anything without more symptoms or a visible rash. She said if i am concerned then we shouldn't go out of town. Think I should change doctors? Who on this forum has a doctor who is willing to prescribe antibiotics without all the symptoms?

I mistyped above. He actually vomited the day after we removed the tick. Also I should mention he has only been on antibiotics once before for an ear infection, so there is no history of over use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently found a tick on my six year old, which I knew was there for at least 3 days. 2 days after we removed the tick, he vomited a few hours after dinner and had a slight fever. He rarely gets sick, and his brother did not get sick so I knew it wasn't bad food. I took him to our family doctor the next day because we were going out of town in a few days and I wanted to ask for antibiotics in case a bulls eye rash or more symptoms appeared while we were out of town. I also told her about him vomiting. She said she would not do anything without more symptoms or a visible rash. She said if i am concerned then we shouldn't go out of town. Think I should change doctors? Who on this forum has a doctor who is willing to prescribe antibiotics without all the symptoms?

I mistyped above. He actually vomited the day after we removed the tick. Also I should mention he has only been on antibiotics once before for an ear infection, so there is no history of over use.

Please, take your son to another doctor, ASAP. Search for "Lyme literate" doctors and your area. Lyme can be an awful, debilitating, long-term illness if not treated promptly. Run, do not walk, to another doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently found a tick on my six year old, which I knew was there for at least 3 days. 2 days after we removed the tick, he vomited a few hours after dinner and had a slight fever. He rarely gets sick, and his brother did not get sick so I knew it wasn't bad food. I took him to our family doctor the next day because we were going out of town in a few days and I wanted to ask for antibiotics in case a bulls eye rash or more symptoms appeared while we were out of town. I also told her about him vomiting. She said she would not do anything without more symptoms or a visible rash. She said if i am concerned then we shouldn't go out of town. Think I should change doctors? Who on this forum has a doctor who is willing to prescribe antibiotics without all the symptoms?

I mistyped above. He actually vomited the day after we removed the tick. Also I should mention he has only been on antibiotics once before for an ear infection, so there is no history of over use.

Please, take your son to another doctor, ASAP. Search for "Lyme literate" doctors and your area. Lyme can be an awful, debilitating, long-term illness if not treated promptly. Run, do not walk, to another doctor.

The antibiotics aren't risk-free.

I wouldn't keep a doctor who RXd heavy duty antibiotics without indication.

[Anonymous]

Alternative point of view here. I'm from CT, home of Lyme disease, and my dad would pick multiple ticks off our golden retriever every single night (except in winter) while watching McNeil-Lehrer Hour. All 4 of us in our family got bitten, bulls-eye rash and all. We all just took Cipro or whatever for a couple of weeks and were totally fine. I know there are some people who say their Lyme has been debilitating, but most everyone I grew up with in woodsy country CT is like my family and we're all fine, tick bites and all. No worries. Watch for the rash; if you get it, head to the doctor for antibiotics. People who get "false negatives" for Lyme don't have Lyme; they have fibromyalgia or something else and are jumping on the bandwagon.

[Anonymous]

That's a good point, PP. Most people are treated and recover just fine. Some of us take a little longer to recover, so I think there's some valid concern. It took about 18 months for my symptoms to almost disappear, and I was treated in about a week of seeing the rash. It's been 4 years. I still have some nerve damage and suspect it isn't going to get any better. Most of the nerve issues and joint problems have gone away.

I believe prophylactic antibiotics are harmful, even after my experience.

[Anonymous]

The CDC recommends going to the doctor after a tick bite if you develop a fever or rash within a few weeks of a bite. A doctor who gives you antibiotics without any symptoms is not following the standard of care.

[Anonymous]

I would have a beer and eat a burger. Seriously, you are likely panicking over nothing. I grew up in the country and don't bat an eye at a tick. You're worse of taking antibiotics repeatedly when unnecessary and raising your tolerance.

[Anonymous]

My husband found a tick..clearly engorged. He has not sure when he got it. We saved the tick and our Dr sent it out for testing. Turns out it was not the type that causes Lyme. Our Dr also said they do not prescribe antibiotics just based on a tick bite with no symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have a beer and eat a burger. Seriously, you are likely panicking over nothing. I grew up in the country and don't bat an eye at a tick. You're worse of taking antibiotics repeatedly when unnecessary and raising your tolerance.

The bacteria learning to adapt and tolerate antibiotics are a much larger issue, which is why none of us should be taking them without indication.

[Anonymous]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/08/when-lyme-disease-lasts-and-lasts/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1


New York Times article.