Hi all,
So, this morning I was itching like crazy near my rib cage. I suddenly realized as I was scratching away that I felt a little "something" under my shirt where the itching was so bad. I took a look and yes, it was a tick that had embedded itself. Now, living in the mid-atlantic it's not unusual to find ticks, but this little guy left a mark the likes of which I have never seen before. He couldn't have been on there very long (overnight) but darn if he didn't leave a red mark about the size a pencil eraser.
I'm off to the doctor's in the AM so he can check out the bite. I guess he'll try and decide if it looks similar to a deer tick bite, which of course means concern for Lyme disease. If he puts me on an anti-biotic as a "just in case" for Lyme, then what is going to happen to my already compromised GI system? As we all know, anti-biotics can be hard on anyone's gut, much less folks like us who have chronic GI issues. Plus, with all my mast cell issues and their role in the immune system, I don't know if that may be a factor in how my body deals with the bite as well.
So, has anyone been on one of the antibiotics for Lyme? (I may be jumping the gun on the need for anti-biotics, but this bite looks suspicious.) If so, how well did you tolerate it?
I'm hoping that I'll wake up tomorrow and the bite mark will have disappeared, perhaps meaning it was only a localized reaction. I guess time will tell.
Be well guys and let me know your thoughts.
Thanks!
Julie
Biten by a tick...darn it!
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Julie,
I'm not going to be much help, other than to wish you luck. My niece came down with Lyme disease. By the time the Dr. figured out what it was, she had to have IV antibiotic. I hope you kept the tick. Sometimes they can look at them under the microscope to determine which type it was.
Jan
I'm not going to be much help, other than to wish you luck. My niece came down with Lyme disease. By the time the Dr. figured out what it was, she had to have IV antibiotic. I hope you kept the tick. Sometimes they can look at them under the microscope to determine which type it was.
Jan
While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart. - Saint Francis of Assisi
Hi Julie,
A tick has to be attached for 24 to 48 hours, in order to transmit the disease, so it's possible that it wasn't attached long enough to infect you. Do you happen to recall noticing an itch back that far? Were you able to remove the tick intact? If the head pulled off, when the body was removed, and it's still attached to your skin, it can still be transmitting the bacterium that causes lyme disease.
Here is what Johns Hopkins says about it, (and this is typical of the recommendations at most hospitals, I believe):
http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/arthri ... tment.html
Note that in their treatment recommendations, Amoxicillin should be avoided, since it seems to be the most likely antibiotic to cause a C. diff infection. From an MC standpoint, the other options would be a safer choice, though there are risks with any antibiotic, of course.
Doxycycline, 100 mg orally 2 times/days(d) for 20 to 20d
Amoxicillin, 500 mg orally 3 times/d for 20 to 30d
Alternatives in case of doxycycline or amoxicillin allergy:
Cefuroxime axetil, 500 mg orally twice daily for 20 to 30d
Erythromycin, 150 mg orally 4 times a day or 20 mg/kg/d in divided doses for 20 to 20d
I'm hoping that Polly may find the time to respond to your post, since I believe that she went through this herself, and if I recall correctly, she blames the antibiotic treatment program for triggering her MC, initially, but I could have her confused with someone else.
Tex
A tick has to be attached for 24 to 48 hours, in order to transmit the disease, so it's possible that it wasn't attached long enough to infect you. Do you happen to recall noticing an itch back that far? Were you able to remove the tick intact? If the head pulled off, when the body was removed, and it's still attached to your skin, it can still be transmitting the bacterium that causes lyme disease.
Here is what Johns Hopkins says about it, (and this is typical of the recommendations at most hospitals, I believe):
http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/arthri ... tment.html
Note that in their treatment recommendations, Amoxicillin should be avoided, since it seems to be the most likely antibiotic to cause a C. diff infection. From an MC standpoint, the other options would be a safer choice, though there are risks with any antibiotic, of course.
Doxycycline, 100 mg orally 2 times/days(d) for 20 to 20d
Amoxicillin, 500 mg orally 3 times/d for 20 to 30d
Alternatives in case of doxycycline or amoxicillin allergy:
Cefuroxime axetil, 500 mg orally twice daily for 20 to 30d
Erythromycin, 150 mg orally 4 times a day or 20 mg/kg/d in divided doses for 20 to 20d
I'm hoping that Polly may find the time to respond to your post, since I believe that she went through this herself, and if I recall correctly, she blames the antibiotic treatment program for triggering her MC, initially, but I could have her confused with someone else.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Julie-
Sorry to read of the icky tick! From personal experience with Lyme Disease, I'd consider trying to get a RX for Doxy for 30 days if possible. You live in an endemic area? Do you know anyone with Lyme? There may be a support group in your area if you need more info.
I never saw the tick that got me....if I had I may have avoided all the symptoms. I ignored the rash until my knee started to get swollen-thought it was a nasty mosquito bite. Had headaces, blurred vision, arthritic pain, etc. & took 3 months of high doses of doxy. Soon after my husband had a rash. He started doxy right away & stayed on it for 30 days. Even though we live in NY, our area has been low on the Lyme radar screen.
I would hesitate to go by the supposed time frame for how long the tick has to be embedded to cause infection. (No offense Tex-but this issue is often debated) Since you actually saw it and already have the start of a rash, quick action can make a big difference for you.
Be sure to get a high quality probiotic to take 2-3 hours away from the antibiotics to help your gut. Eating low sugar & low carb will help you avoid yeast issues too.
From what I have been reading these last 2 years, it is not unusual for those with Lyme to develop gluten intolerance/celiac symptoms.
Keep in mind that Lyme testing is very unreliable, and you should be diagnosed clinically...rash, symptoms, etc.
Good luck-
Sue
Sorry to read of the icky tick! From personal experience with Lyme Disease, I'd consider trying to get a RX for Doxy for 30 days if possible. You live in an endemic area? Do you know anyone with Lyme? There may be a support group in your area if you need more info.
I never saw the tick that got me....if I had I may have avoided all the symptoms. I ignored the rash until my knee started to get swollen-thought it was a nasty mosquito bite. Had headaces, blurred vision, arthritic pain, etc. & took 3 months of high doses of doxy. Soon after my husband had a rash. He started doxy right away & stayed on it for 30 days. Even though we live in NY, our area has been low on the Lyme radar screen.
I would hesitate to go by the supposed time frame for how long the tick has to be embedded to cause infection. (No offense Tex-but this issue is often debated) Since you actually saw it and already have the start of a rash, quick action can make a big difference for you.
Be sure to get a high quality probiotic to take 2-3 hours away from the antibiotics to help your gut. Eating low sugar & low carb will help you avoid yeast issues too.
From what I have been reading these last 2 years, it is not unusual for those with Lyme to develop gluten intolerance/celiac symptoms.
Keep in mind that Lyme testing is very unreliable, and you should be diagnosed clinically...rash, symptoms, etc.
Good luck-
Sue
Hiya Julie!
I also live in the mid-Atlantic region (MD) so I am used to tick bites. I find that I develop a large, itchy, local reaction to any tick bite, which my doc thinks is an allergy to tick saliva. As you know, the typical rash from Lyme is quite different.
Anyway, about 10 years ago I had a deer tick bite with a large local reaction. I decided to treat myself, so I got some doxycycline and took it for about 4-5 weeks. (I am a doc, and I decided this would be the quickest way to take care of any possible Lyme disease). It was shortly after I stopped the med that I came down with MC. I firmly believe that the doxy precipitated my MC. Later, when I finally got a titer to test for Lyme, it was negative. So I probably didn't have Lyme after all. But of course the MC is here for life. Sigh. Perhaps it's a moot point since you already have MC.
Just wanted to toss in my 2 cents worth. Let us know what you decide to do.
Love,
Polly
I also live in the mid-Atlantic region (MD) so I am used to tick bites. I find that I develop a large, itchy, local reaction to any tick bite, which my doc thinks is an allergy to tick saliva. As you know, the typical rash from Lyme is quite different.
Anyway, about 10 years ago I had a deer tick bite with a large local reaction. I decided to treat myself, so I got some doxycycline and took it for about 4-5 weeks. (I am a doc, and I decided this would be the quickest way to take care of any possible Lyme disease). It was shortly after I stopped the med that I came down with MC. I firmly believe that the doxy precipitated my MC. Later, when I finally got a titer to test for Lyme, it was negative. So I probably didn't have Lyme after all. But of course the MC is here for life. Sigh. Perhaps it's a moot point since you already have MC.
Just wanted to toss in my 2 cents worth. Let us know what you decide to do.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
my d husband had one suckin on him when camping in inverness one year...it wasnt until he came home, had a shower he then noticed it. That little critter was huge, been having a good old feast on his body..it was a sheep tick i think...We got it off by using a lighter apparently they let go when you burn them...He also went to the doc and got an antibiotic ( doxycycline) just in case it had infected him with some disease..cos he was sure it had been there a while it was really fat....he was fine after that...im sure you will be fine julie...
Angy ;)
Thanks for the responses all!
I saw my PCP and together we decided to play it safe and start the doxycycline. It just didn't seem worth the risk of taking a "wait and see" with Lyme. He agreed the bite looked a little weird but also felt it could be as you said Polly; a localized reaction. He also mentioned the issue of how long a tick has to be attached before possible transmission of the disease. He agreed with Sue's comment that this is really an unknown and still much debated. He also suggested a probiotic, which I've yet to pick up, but I'll start on that as well.
Like you Polly, I live in MD, so ticks are common. I hate to think how many ticks I've picked off myself and the kids over the years without the least bit concern. But, watching a family member as well as a neighbor, deal with Lyme does give one a new perspective. Lyme has the potential to be devastating, so a few weeks on an antibiotic is nothing I'm going to fuss about...it certainly beats the alternative.
Again, thank you all for your thoughts. Your advice and shared experiences were very helpful.
Julie
I saw my PCP and together we decided to play it safe and start the doxycycline. It just didn't seem worth the risk of taking a "wait and see" with Lyme. He agreed the bite looked a little weird but also felt it could be as you said Polly; a localized reaction. He also mentioned the issue of how long a tick has to be attached before possible transmission of the disease. He agreed with Sue's comment that this is really an unknown and still much debated. He also suggested a probiotic, which I've yet to pick up, but I'll start on that as well.
Like you Polly, I live in MD, so ticks are common. I hate to think how many ticks I've picked off myself and the kids over the years without the least bit concern. But, watching a family member as well as a neighbor, deal with Lyme does give one a new perspective. Lyme has the potential to be devastating, so a few weeks on an antibiotic is nothing I'm going to fuss about...it certainly beats the alternative.
Again, thank you all for your thoughts. Your advice and shared experiences were very helpful.
Julie