Tick bite

[A-Train]

So, after countless days and miles tromping around Harriman, the Catskills, NJ, Dutchess, Rockland and other high risk lyme areas, I finally got bit by a tick on Saturday less than 20 miles north of NYC in November. Wearing shorts without underwear is stupid!

Anyway, unfortunately I did not notice the tick drilling himself into me until this morning while getting ready for work, thus it was probably on/in me for a day+. I'm waiting for my doc to call me back but I thought I would get some opinions.
Obviously no symptoms yet but I think I should start taking Doxy not to mess around, as I've seen too many bad cases go untreated.

The area is red around it and I'm a bit concerned I didn't dislodge the entire thing. Put some cream on it and tried to clean it out.

Any thoughts? Thanks

[makoboy]

Did you save the tic after you removed it? In CT we can send them to our local health distric for testing to see if they carry lyme disease. As far as prophylactic treatment, I would let your Dr be the judge of that. Lyme is nothing to screw around with, but the excessive use of antibiotics is one of the reasons we have so many drug-resistant strains now.

[A-Train]

Did you save the tic after you removed it? In CT we can send them to our local health distric for testing to see if they carry lyme disease. As far as prophylactic treatment, I would let your Dr be the judge of that. Lyme is nothing to screw around with, but the excessive use of antibiotics is one of the reasons we have so many drug-resistant strains now.

I hear you; I never ever take prescription meds unless it is a last option. I just don't wanna mess around seeing so many hiker I know get terribly sick.

I do have the tick. I burned him and he is sitting in my candle now

[Jeff]

I have a hard time identifying deer ticks that carry lymes. They are so small.

The larger ticks (where you can see their legs moving) are much less of a problem relative to disease.

[tenbeer]

Trust me take the doxy. Research the drug. It is a childs strength antibiotic that you take for an extended perioid. Better than lymes. Been there done that.

[burger]

Don't do anything. Taking unnecessary antibiotics will only promote bacterial resistance (which is bad). Most tick bites don't result in lyme disease. I've pulled way over 100 ticks off of me within the last few years, many of which had been there for over a day, and I didn't get sick. If you start to get any lyme symptoms (fatigue, joint pain especially in the neck, fever, etc.), go to your doctor. Otherwise, just enjoy the fact that it was warm enough for ticks to be out in late November!

[A-Train]

I have a hard time identifying deer ticks that carry lymes. They are so small.

The larger ticks (where you can see their legs moving) are much less of a problem relative to disease.

I saw his legs moving. Does that mean it isn't a deer tick? The tick is about as big as a match head.

[CrumbSnatcher]

I saw his legs moving. Does that mean it isn't a deer tick? The tick is about as big as a match head.

i thought deer ticks were smaller than the tip of a match, thought that was a dogwood tick?.
that sucks A-TRAIN. im hoping for the best.

[Manwich]

Coming from somebody who had untreated lymes for 8 years and had to spend 6-months on a doxy regimen... take the freakin' doxy.

[Jester2000]

I saw his legs moving. Does that mean it isn't a deer tick? The tick is about as big as a match head.

http://www.path.sunysb.edu/labsvs/tickpics/TICKpic.htm

I think they key here is apparently to stay the hell away from pennies.

[Jeff]

Jester,

Great link....thanks!!!!

[A-Train]

Jester,

Great link....thanks!!!!

Yeah, thanks Jester, now I know it was a deer tick!

Seriously, thanks!

[Toolshed]

So we do get a lot of them on the kids and pets here in SEPA. Lyme isn't transmitted until 24-26 hours, so it has to be a deer tick aqnd then it has to carry Lyme and then it has to feed on you at least for a day (I don't think it usually starts feeding for almost a day - It isusually still cementing it's mouth to you.

So, a Good doc will tell you to monitor the spot and wait. IMMHO, I would avoid any doc that starts you on antibiotics before knowing the diagnosis or before you have begun to shown any symptoms.

Part of the problem with efficacy of antibiotics is the overuse and misuse of them.

So having pulled many ticks off kids heads, groins, backs, crotchs and legs, I can tell you that most docs will simply tell you to wait and watch. the first few times I was really worried until I could quickly tell the difference between a dog tick and a deer tick (we get a lot of dog ticks here - even more than deer.)
I always use a lighted magnifier and needle tweezers (available at medical supply shop) This really helps for those times that you have to dig at mouthparts. I have one magnifier that makes a needl look lie a telephone pole. It works wonders.

[A-Train]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm having the tick sent to the lab to be tested and the doc is gonna get me on a couple days antibiotic in the mean time. It was not all the way in me, but was making his way. Still concerned a leg or part of the head is lodged in. Hoping to go at it with better tweezers tomorrow.

If it helps I haven't been on prescription meds for years.

[Rocket Jones]

A couple of years ago I had an alergic reaction to a tick bite. Got the red ring around the bite within a couple of hours. Wasn't Lyme, but was worrisome for a bit. So pay attention for the usual symptoms, but know that sometimes there are different reactions.

[take-a-knee]

Did you save the tic after you removed it? In CT we can send them to our local health distric for testing to see if they carry lyme disease. As far as prophylactic treatment, I would let your Dr be the judge of that. Lyme is nothing to screw around with, but the excessive use of antibiotics is one of the reasons we have so many drug-resistant strains now.

Completely and totally untrue, do not listen to this advice. Short of breaking into a pharmacy tonight, get yourself on some doxycycline NOW. If your doc won't give you a script, refuse to pay him and find one that will. Bacteria develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics, doxy has been around for decades and is hardly commonly used. NSU and rickettsial infections are the most common uses, neither of which are "common".

[Manwich]

I agree with take-a-knee. I was on doxy for 6-months and besides my mental illness I'm pretty damn healthy.

[makoboy]

Completely and totally untrue, do not listen to this advice. Short of breaking into a pharmacy tonight, get yourself on some doxycycline NOW. If your doc won't give you a script, refuse to pay him and find one that will. Bacteria develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics, doxy has been around for decades and is hardly commonly used. NSU and rickettsial infections are the most common uses, neither of which are "common".

Why bother having Dr's then? They do go to medical school for a reason. As for being totally untrue, perhaps the CDC is enough of an authority for you... http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiot...ast-facts.html

[Manwich]

Why bother having Dr's then? They do go to medical school for a reason. As for being totally untrue, perhaps the CDC is enough of an authority for you... http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiot...ast-facts.html

There's much debate about whether or not Lyme's Disease is even a disease. I had a doctor that kept diagnosing my Lyme's as early onset arthritis and a possible thyroid problem. I asked if Lyme's was a possibility and he rejected it outright on the basis that I didn't get a spot from a recent tickbite.

A second doctor speculated lymes and I was treated only for a month. After a month of what appeared to be a clean bill of health, I got worse. The doctor refused to continue to treat for lymes and sought alternative explanations, insisting I pay $3500 for bloodwork and other testing. His diagnosis was Malaria, of which isn't very possible as I haven't left the US recently.

On recommendation of my best friend, who too sufferred from lymes disease, I was treated by his same doctor who is one of the biggest lymes specialists in the country. She did some blood workup and it turned out I had Lymes with a Babesia co-infection.

Know what Mepron is? Know how much it costs? Know how much it costs without Insurance?! No? Then don't get Lymes disease and then Babesia.

Know how badly doxycycline screws with your stomach over the course of 6 months? No? Then don't get a later stage infection of Lyme's.

[makoboy]

There's much debate about whether or not Lyme's Disease is even a disease. I had a doctor that kept diagnosing my Lyme's as early onset arthritis and a possible thyroid problem. I asked if Lyme's was a possibility and he rejected it outright on the basis that I didn't get a spot from a recent tickbite.

A second doctor speculated lymes and I was treated only for a month. After a month of what appeared to be a clean bill of health, I got worse. The doctor refused to continue to treat for lymes and sought alternative explanations, insisting I pay $3500 for bloodwork and other testing. His diagnosis was Malaria, of which isn't very possible as I haven't left the US recently.

On recommendation of my best friend, who too sufferred from lymes disease, I was treated by his same doctor who is one of the biggest lymes specialists in the country. She did some blood workup and it turned out I had Lymes with a Babesia co-infection.

Know what Mepron is? Know how much it costs? Know how much it costs without Insurance?! No? Then don't get Lymes disease and then Babesia.

Know how badly doxycycline screws with your stomach over the course of 6 months? No? Then don't get a later stage infection of Lyme's.

I will never dispute the seriousness of Lyme Disease. I know several people who have had it. Some have turned out just fine, others will most likely have issues for the forseeable future. What I also know is that I have also pulled several ticks off myself, 7 last summer alone. I take precautions, DEET, Permethrin, and check myself to the best of my ability after every day in the woods, but I live in a high-tic area. I am fortunate enough (and somewhat surprised) to have never contracted Lyme.

My sole point is that the mere presence of a tic is not a reason to get on a course of antibiotics. If you ever suspect that you might have Lyme, there are two tests that can be run. The first is called an ELISA test and lends itself to a false positive. So if you test Neg, it is highly unlikely that you have Lyme. The second is a Western Blot, which leans to a false Neg. Test positive on both and then I would say definately get on the meds.

Being in the woods frequently puts hikers in a high risk group for Lyme, just as IV drug use puts people who shoot up at risk for other dieases. Any time Lyme-type symptoms start to show the possiblity of Lyme Diease should be put on the table. That being said, running out and demanding a Dr give you meds just because you found a tic is excessive, expensive and unessecary. Would you go get meds for West Nile every time you get a mosquito bite?