Got bit by a deer tick! Freaking out!

Had to remove a deer tick which had bitten me today.  Now I'm totally freaking out about it.  I've been having a lot of anxiety anyway and now I've convinced myself that I will get Lyme's disease.  I called my doctor's office and all the nurse told me was to clean the area and put antibiotic ointment on it.  Also said to check and make sure I don't develope a bullseye rash, fever, or have muscle aches.  I'm already having health anxiety so chances are I'm going to end up thinking I have these symptoms now.  I guess I'm just hoping someone can assure me that everything is going to be alright.

[dbishop]

Dear Unwell247,

I for one can understand convincing yourself that you have symptoms even if you don't. This is something that many people don't understand. But I can tell you that I have probably been bit by at least 50 deer ticks and not once has it developed into anything more. The thing to watch for the most is a dark red center with a white circle around it and then another red circle around that. Just be careful not to be scratching on or around the area as that can cause it to look like that. I have found that the best way to ease the anxiety for me about this one is to put calamine lotion over the area and leave it alone until morning. This will do 2 things. First it will help soothe any itching or irritation at the bite site and secondly it will cover the are so that you won't be constantly looking at it and imagining the circles showing up when they aren't. Sleep with it that way and then in the morning take a luke warm wash cloth and dab the area to remove the calamine lotion and look for the "bulls eye" which I described before. Best of luck to you. Find something to distract your mind such as watching a movie or making a dessert from scratch or something.

[Unwell247]

Thanks for taking time to respond.  I felt this sense of impending doom as soon as I saw the tick on me.  Now, I know chances are that I'll be fine, I just think with my luck whatever can go wrong will.  I know the nurse I spoke to at the doctors office thanks I'm totally nuts now.  See, I just started taking medication for anxiety a couple weeks ago.  Actually I'm on 2 different medications and they are mostly due to health anxiety.  Now this happened and I'm freaking.  Thank you for the advice as I will definitely try to do as you say.  Guess I'll just have to wait and see but I'm a very impatient person.

[amanda4306]

I have been bitten by alot of ticks (I live in the country) and really it is no big deal although I know it's hard not to worry about it sometimes.  As long as you don't get any of the symptoms that the nurse described you should be fine :) One thing I have always heard is that if the head is still on the tick when you pull it off then that is a good sign- that could be an old wives tale though.  Still- as long as it doesnt become red and inflamed and have a red circle around it or anything then you seriously probably have nothing to worry about :)