I have been tick-bit my whole life.?ÿ In light of the increase in tick-borne illnesses the last few years I have?ÿtried to be?ÿextra careful, but I still manage to pick up a half dozen or so "hitchhikers" every year that get their nasty little teeth into my skin.?ÿ
Earlier in the year I developed the bull's eye rash on my abdomen from a bite.?ÿ This wasn't the first time and I allowed my God given immune system to sort things out.?ÿ The rash eventually disappeared.?ÿ That was about 60 days ago.
Last week I was out in the field and realized I was sweating profusely.?ÿ I didn't feel well and packed it in for the day out of an abundance of caution.?ÿ That evening I was gripped with a flu-like fever.?ÿ I would have bet my temp was 104 but it never made it over 100.5.?ÿ I could hardly walk.?ÿ Every bone in my body ached and I needed assistance just to get to the john.?ÿ I made sure my Last Will and Testament was where it was suppose to be...It took about 72 hours before I could get out of bed.
I've had influenza several times before and these symptoms were atypical to the flu.?ÿ A trip to the doc and I'm on a round of massive doses of Doxycycline.?ÿ The blood tests had to be "sent off" and the results should be back in week to ten days.?ÿ I'm back to feeling like myself...but it looks like some tick-borne illness may have invaded my body.?ÿ
Just to be on the safe side I went to the steak house and had myself a great steak dinner.?ÿ I was relieved that everything came out OK.?ÿ ?ÿWe'll see when the test results come back.
The rash was a sign that the little bastard got you; you should not have ignored it.?ÿ I have been on antibiotics several times for similar symptoms, but have never seen the bulls eye rash.
Your description reminded me of advice my doctor gave me a long time ago:?ÿ
If you experience flue like symptoms, and it is not flue season, go see the doctor.?ÿ
The other advice he gave me was to check for ticks every night.?ÿ Check everywhere, think Arlo's physical in Alice's Restaurant: "and they was leaving no parts unchecked" THEN check again the next morning for the tick you missed.?ÿ That extra checking has saved me a few times.
Lyme and other tick borne illnesses are not something to mess around with.?ÿ You cannot tough it out; they will win without medical help.
Glad you are on the mend.
Ken
?ÿ
Yeah, ya gotta check daily!?ÿ I've had the rash 4 times, diagnosed with Lyme 6 times and I figure that's what caused my digestive system to be a wreck.?ÿ
I hit the Doctor the moment I get 'flu like symptoms'.
If the rash looks like this and the outer ring is expanding you have Lyme Disease. I'm suprised Natester has not responded.
Take care bud!
Even if it is flu season, since you work out doors, see the doctor. I've had ticks creeping on me when the air temp was 35 F.
Please, everyone, DO NOT mess around with Lyme Disease. I know a guy who was a wildfire fire fighter, well built, very athletic and a "big" guy. He was bit by a tick carrying lyme disease. Now, he's confined to a wheel chair, barely has any muscle mass to speak of and has trouble doing anything by himself.
It's no joke!
Y??all need to behave yourself, - seems like every week or so you??re trying to check out by some random means...
...It's no joke!
You're right, it is no joke.
Over the years I have developed a "sixth sense" about teeny critters crawling on me.?ÿ I can usually feel them within about 10 seconds of them being on my skin.?ÿ Work ceases until I find the offender and dispatch him on the next level of consciousness.?ÿ But there is always one or two that fly under the radar even though I'm generally covered with DEET and proper clothing.
Once I get home my ritual is to get nekkid right smack dab in front of the washer (directly adjacent to the back door)?ÿwithout visiting any other parts of the house.?ÿ A quick trot to the shower is next for a complete scrub down and inspection that involves odd yoga positions and mirrors.
I haven't had a tick that has "dug-in" on me in years.?ÿ The few "bites" I've had were easily removed with a washcloth and it didn't seem like their hooks were "all the way" in quite yet.?ÿ I guess I have been guilty of thinking the tick needs to be well "dug in" for an infection to occur.?ÿ So much for that hypothesis...
I'm reminded of the luckless young teenage girl that just found out she was pregnant.?ÿ Her disbelief was apparent when she said, "We only did it once!"
Apparently "once" is all it takes.
PS - Doxycycline sucks.
I did a job down in San Antonio and all was good until I had to tromp through the overgrowth to take a few shots.?ÿ ?ÿ I was careful walking around.?ÿ When I came out a did a good look over and didn't see anything.?ÿ ?ÿOnce I got to the motel room I jumped in the shower and did a visual.?ÿ ?ÿNext morning I while getting ready I noticed a spot on my shoulder.?ÿ ?ÿHmmm... at first I thought it was just a mole then I remembered I didn't have a mole there.?ÿ ?ÿSo I pulled the sucker off and it was a tick.?ÿ ?ÿI guess I was lucky he hadn't gotten embedded.?ÿ ?ÿI hate the midwest because of tick, chiggers and the likes.?ÿ ?ÿDefinitely be careful out there.
Earlier in the year I developed the bull's eye rash on my abdomen from a bite.?ÿ This wasn't the first time and I allowed my God given immune system to sort things out.?ÿ The rash eventually disappeared.?ÿ That was about 60 days ago.
If you are an older person, you shouldn't rely on your auto immune system....unless you have taken supplements and dietary regimens to support your health.?ÿ
That's what is going to get most of us in the end.
I've had it twice.?ÿ Doxycycline is rough.?ÿ Gave me blurry vision and felt like I swallowed a set of Chinese throwing stars.
My Father in Law has chronic Lyme which the medical industry refuses to recognize. He is super healthy except for all the joint and back issues that it causes.
Lyme's never goes away according to my doc and what I've read. I goes into a "remission" for lack of a better word. I got hit once and drugged off 3 times that I recall. I don't have a bad case so a little pill work and it goes away for a while. The crappy part is as you get older (whats good about that?) it becomes harder to tell if its the damn bug bite or just old age that makes you feel crappy.
Wait. ?ÿWe aren't supposed to feel crappy? ?ÿHow did I manage to miss that memo? ?ÿCrappy is standard once you pass 40.
...It's no joke!
You're right, it is no joke.
Over the years I have developed a "sixth sense" about teeny critters crawling on me.?ÿ I can usually feel them within about 10 seconds of them being on my skin.?ÿ Work ceases until I find the offender and dispatch him on the next level of consciousness.?ÿ But there is always one or two that fly under the radar even though I'm generally covered with DEET and proper clothing.
Once I get home my ritual is to get nekkid right smack dab in front of the washer (directly adjacent to the back door)?ÿwithout visiting any other parts of the house.?ÿ A quick trot to the shower is next for a complete scrub down and inspection that involves odd yoga positions and mirrors.
I haven't had a tick that has "dug-in" on me in years.?ÿ The few "bites" I've had were easily removed with a washcloth and it didn't seem like their hooks were "all the way" in quite yet.?ÿ I guess I have been guilty of thinking the tick needs to be well "dug in" for an infection to occur.?ÿ So much for that hypothesis...
I'm reminded of the luckless young teenage girl that just found out she was pregnant.?ÿ Her disbelief was apparent when she said, "We only did it once!"
Apparently "once" is all it takes.
PS - Doxycycline sucks.
Sounds like good SOP to me.
