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Lyme? Which symptoms show up first?
Last wknd I removed a tick on the back of my shoulder that had likely been there about 3 days. I know this because for a couple nights I could feel an itchy sensation on my rear arm, but didn't think to look. On the 3rd day or so, I go to itch the spot and feel something weird. I look in the mirror and there was a tick, fully engorged. My wife removed it, but stupidly we both didn't think to save it and flushed it down the toilet. I immediately thought of lyme and figured the cats brought the tick inside. We're from southern Maine, but I know lyme is up in this area.
For the last day or so, I have noticed some sore joints (knees, ankles, shoulder). I should mention that I work out at the gym and push some heavy weight around, but I've done this for a long time and have never noticed joint pain before so I don't think it's from that. No other symptoms that I've read about like flu-like, tiredness, fatigue and most importantly no rash. It's now been 8 days and the spot where I was bit looks to be nearly healed over, but still noticeable. I'm not sure if the achy joints would come on that quickly or if there are other symptoms that come on sooner/later. I know everyone is different.
The weird thing is my wife was recently complaining of achy joints (knees) last week and was attributing it to her new blood press med and when she stopped, the pain has since gone away. I don't take meds, so maybe it's a coincidence or I've got sympathy pains for her:) or maybe there is another "bug" going around lately.
Anyways, I'm not sure if I should go see my PCP. Not sure if they can do much since it's only been a week. I know not everyone gets the rash, but what else should I look for, either visibly or symptom-wise that would be a red flag? Seems like a waiting game at this point. I wish we saved the tick. Arh!!! Thanks
For the last day or so, I have noticed some sore joints (knees, ankles, shoulder). I should mention that I work out at the gym and push some heavy weight around, but I've done this for a long time and have never noticed joint pain before so I don't think it's from that. No other symptoms that I've read about like flu-like, tiredness, fatigue and most importantly no rash. It's now been 8 days and the spot where I was bit looks to be nearly healed over, but still noticeable. I'm not sure if the achy joints would come on that quickly or if there are other symptoms that come on sooner/later. I know everyone is different.
The weird thing is my wife was recently complaining of achy joints (knees) last week and was attributing it to her new blood press med and when she stopped, the pain has since gone away. I don't take meds, so maybe it's a coincidence or I've got sympathy pains for her:) or maybe there is another "bug" going around lately.
Anyways, I'm not sure if I should go see my PCP. Not sure if they can do much since it's only been a week. I know not everyone gets the rash, but what else should I look for, either visibly or symptom-wise that would be a red flag? Seems like a waiting game at this point. I wish we saved the tick. Arh!!! Thanks
Blood tests for Lyme are not recommended until about 30 days after the bite. The body takes about that long to make enough antibodies to show up on a test.
Two days of Doxy won't do much of anything. You definitely need 30 days worth. The IDSA (well, actually just Gary Wormser) recommends a single dose of Doxy for a very recent tick bite. Unfortunately, this is primarily his opinion and no proper studies have been done to know if this is a reliable way to prevent Lyme. Since you had an embedded tick for three days a week ago, the single (or in your case, double) dose is probably useless if you indeed have Lyme.
I have heard of people getting symptoms of Lyme while the tick is still attached, but usually these are flu like symptoms. I would not dismiss your joint discomfort. Do whatever you need to do to get 30 days of Doxy. It is worth whatever hassle is necessary. You do not want a late stage, debilitating and difficult to treat case of Lyme. Trust those of us who have/had one! We are not being alarmists, we are just trying to spare you what we have suffered.
Don't agonize over the tick too much. Testing the tick doesn't give you a guaranteed answer. Ticks actually transfer Lyme spirochetes from their gut into their bite victim. The tick could have already transferred all the spirochetes to you and would then test negative.
Keep us posted!
Two days of Doxy won't do much of anything. You definitely need 30 days worth. The IDSA (well, actually just Gary Wormser) recommends a single dose of Doxy for a very recent tick bite. Unfortunately, this is primarily his opinion and no proper studies have been done to know if this is a reliable way to prevent Lyme. Since you had an embedded tick for three days a week ago, the single (or in your case, double) dose is probably useless if you indeed have Lyme.
I have heard of people getting symptoms of Lyme while the tick is still attached, but usually these are flu like symptoms. I would not dismiss your joint discomfort. Do whatever you need to do to get 30 days of Doxy. It is worth whatever hassle is necessary. You do not want a late stage, debilitating and difficult to treat case of Lyme. Trust those of us who have/had one! We are not being alarmists, we are just trying to spare you what we have suffered.
Don't agonize over the tick too much. Testing the tick doesn't give you a guaranteed answer. Ticks actually transfer Lyme spirochetes from their gut into their bite victim. The tick could have already transferred all the spirochetes to you and would then test negative.
Keep us posted!
Good for you! Don't worry about the tick being gone. It is what it is, and it's a natural thing to throw it away. The road ahead is the one to watch. Let us know how it goes and how you do, okay?
ok, called a local lyme doc and they agree that the dose regimen is not enough. Unfortunately they are booked solid until April for new patients, but she said she would speak with the doc and see if he can see me now since the bite was very recent. At the least, maybe they can give me a 30 day Rx. This is so frustrating since I may or may not have it and wouldn't know for awhile if I did. Plus the inaccuracies of the diag tests doesn't help. I am kicking myself for not saving the tick. Arh!
The tests for Lyme disease are notoriously inaccurate, esp. early in the infection, because those tests look not for direct evidence of the Lyme bacteria in your system, but for your immune system's reaction to the infection. These basic tests for Lyme are supposed to be one data point in the diagnosis, not the final word, because everyone's immune system is different, and in some people, the antibodies that the basic tests measure are not yet present in sufficient numbers to register a 'positive' on the test.
The test is supposed to be only one of the factors in deciding whether to treat for Lyme, not the one and only factor, yet in this age of instant pregnancy tests that are 99% accurate, docs and patients alike lean heavily on the test results. There are other tests but they are not commonly used by doc who are not specialists in Lyme and its associated infections carried by the same ticks.
Lyme is supposed to be a *clinical* diagnosis, taking into account the patient's history (tick seen, rash present) and aided by test results -- but in this modern age, the test results often are treated as the last word, when they are not that accurate. That's how many of us have ended up with chronic and persistent Lyme infection, because once in place and burrowed in, Lyme has means to evade the immune system.
The test is supposed to be only one of the factors in deciding whether to treat for Lyme, not the one and only factor, yet in this age of instant pregnancy tests that are 99% accurate, docs and patients alike lean heavily on the test results. There are other tests but they are not commonly used by doc who are not specialists in Lyme and its associated infections carried by the same ticks.
Lyme is supposed to be a *clinical* diagnosis, taking into account the patient's history (tick seen, rash present) and aided by test results -- but in this modern age, the test results often are treated as the last word, when they are not that accurate. That's how many of us have ended up with chronic and persistent Lyme infection, because once in place and burrowed in, Lyme has means to evade the immune system.
What you got was not enough.
Yes a Lyme doc will give you years worth if needed. Hopefully you wouldn't need that long but you don't know at this point.
Lyme docs give probiotics and other supplements to help with side effects. Its better that then what I and others face as chronic Lyme patients. It affects me neurologically from a Lyme co-infection and can get devastating and harder to cure.
Hang in there. We are here to help.
Yes a Lyme doc will give you years worth if needed. Hopefully you wouldn't need that long but you don't know at this point.
Lyme docs give probiotics and other supplements to help with side effects. Its better that then what I and others face as chronic Lyme patients. It affects me neurologically from a Lyme co-infection and can get devastating and harder to cure.
Hang in there. We are here to help.
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