RMSF

[lene54]

I was just diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  I recall a very bad bite last summer.  I showed it to my doctor. He did not seem concerned about it.  I had no idea it could be a tick bite  I guess that is when it happened.  I have been very sick for a year. I have been thru IVIG injections because I had two low IGG subclasses. I had a friend that was in really bad shape and finally found out she had lyme disease.  When she talked to me about my symptoms, she told me over and over I needed to be checked for lyme. I finally took her advice and asked my doctor to check me.  He was shocked to find out I had RMSF.  I was sort of excited to find out what has been wrong with me for so long. He gave me doxycline to take.  It has made me even sicker.  I hope within a few more days I will feel better.  My friend tells me I should have my doctor send my blood work to a different lab, because the one he used usually never come back positive for lyme.  She is afraid I have it and she said if not treated aggressive, I will not get well.  I know nothing about RMSF.  Any information and what to expect would be greatly appreciated.

[lene54]

Thanks for your comment.  I have been seeing an infectious disease doctor too.  I am going to try to find out next week why all the blood work he ordered did not reveal the rmsf.  It seems this is the story of my life.  I'm just happy someone finally found out what has been making me so sick.  Since my last post I have completed 2 weeks of doxycycline.  It was very rough, but I felt better yesterday, and today even better.  I really hope this is the answer.  

[JGF25]

Doxycycline is the first line of treatment for RMSF.  It is usually started pretty soon after symptoms start to occur.  You have been sick it seems for a while.  Are you seeing a regular doctor and if so you may want to consider switching to in infectious disease doctor.  GPs have come a long way in broadening ther scope of treatment but in this case I think the ID doctor is the better way to go.