ticks and lyme what are the ods

[all4one59]

i found a tick on top of my head.  Not knowing it was a tick i just pulled t out.  Finding a big pieceof skin on the tick i just burnt the tick to kill it.  I had someone look at thespot where it was at and there was a 2mm scratch.  Cleaned it with proxide and am waiting to see what it does.  Is there anything that i can do about else i can do about it?  Is there anything beside "lyme" that i have to worry about?  I was never in any woods or fields and washing my hair everynight i must of gotten it the same day i found it.  Your time is thanked and your answered will be looked for.

Thank you,
From houston, tx

[cindy903]

I did the same way Patsy.

What concerns me is the way it was described as a scratch. Mine started like that and then a week later -- bulls eye rash.

I say better safe than sorry like me. Well I had 10 days of doxy, but I drank it down with milk as it was never explained to me that milk prevents its absorption.


Anyways, follow the rules -- get 30 days doxy and you won't be posting here again except to say -- I don't have Lyme (or whatever they get in texas -- similar stuff)

[patsy10]

Welcome.  I would have your doctor look at it and possibly treat you if he or she thinks it is necessary.  I have also pulled them off of my head and found a piece of my skin in the tick's mouth.

I got my ticks walking through a field with tall weeds, grass.

[wonko]

It may be tough to notice if you develop a rash since it's on your head, but keep an eye out for one.  The classic rash associated with Lyme disease looks like a bull's eye, red with clearing inbetween concentric circles.  But any redness or rash could be a sign.

When caught early, Lyme is often treatable with a single, short course of antibiotics.  When it goes undiagnosed/untreated is when it morphs into a different beast and treatment options are confusing and success rates are cloudy.  But you don't need to worry about that at this stage.

I don't know much about how common Lyme is in Texas, but often people are told not to worry because of where the live.  That's nonsense, and I assure you that ticks don't read maps and the disease is turning up in places thought to be safe.

Other than rash, be alert for any flu-like symptoms (achy, feel like you are "coming down with something," fatigued), abnormal joint pain and/or swelling, headache, swollen lymph nodes, or fever.  Those are also early symptoms of Lyme.  If you develop symptoms and/or the rash, really push to get at least a couple weeks-month of doxycycline!  You'll quite possibly spare yourself a real mess later on.

Good luck and I hope you're in the clear!

[cindy903]

Next time save the tick. Labs can readily determine if it has LD.

A scratch does not sound good to me. Can you get to an LLMD or ER and have them take a look.

SO much better safe than sorry. A couple weeks ABX doxy -- make sure you comply -- will knock it out -- just in case! (Folks will differ on how long. Some say 30 days is optimum and I hate to say it but they could be right.) If you can find a sympathetic doc, this is no problem.

Good luck.