I live in TN on the Cumberland Plateau and ticks are common. It is a constant battle removing them from my dog. (I am now trying a new repellant that seems to be working). About a month ago I had to remove two ticks from myself. The bite site was very itchy but no bullseye rash developed. I am used to getting ticks because I garden, fish, and do outdoors stuff. About three weeks ago my joint pain due to arthritis became very severe with no relief. I began having problems sleeping. In the past week or ten days I am fatigued for no reason. Yesterday I slept all night and slept another three hours during the day.
Today pretty much the same thing. I called my MD's office and they scheduled me for a Lyme Disease test. They didn't say a thing about seeing the doctor. Just come in Tuesday for a blood test.
I know that ticks can cause other diseases and infection besides Lyme's. Is it normal to have a Lyme Disease test before seeing a doctor or considering other possibilities?
Thanks, comments appreciated.
__________________
Keep moving, it makes it harder for the undertaker to catch you. Don
Read the post "Lyme Newbies" at the top of this board.
If you have been infected and have lyme disease, not seeing the proper specialist and not getting the proper treatment can lead to chronic lyme disease, which is then very difficult to treat. If you have been newly bit, the sooner you act the better!
Jen
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to jenj770 For This Useful Post: donsabi (06-04-2012), esker (06-02-2012)
You can't go by whether or not you get the bulls eye reaction. A lot of people who have been infected with lyme will never get the bulls eye reaction. The co infections do not produce a bulls eye reaction. Please go in and get the blood test. Then they will schedule a visit with the doctor for when the results come back.
The Following User Says Thank You to esker For This Useful Post: donsabi (06-04-2012)
I have an appointment 6/5 for a lyme disease blood test.
In recent weeks since the initial bite I have experienced pain in my joints that quieted down. Trouble sleeping that transcended to tired all the time and sleeping a lot. Two days ago I had severe diarrhea. Yesterday I felt pretty good but at dinner became queasy and could not eat much. All through this I have not had any fever but other than that it feels just like flu symptoms that will not resolve. Does this sound typical for Lyme Disease?
__________________
Keep moving, it makes it harder for the undertaker to catch you. Don
I have an appointment 6/5 for a lyme disease blood test.
Hopefully it is through Igenex Lab. Other labs do not know how to properly test
All through this I have not had any fever but other than that it feels just like flu symptoms that will not resolve. Does this sound typical for Lyme Disease?
YES! Flu like symptoms that don't resolve are very typical (for many) with lyme.
Let us know how it goes.
Jen
The Following User Says Thank You to jenj770 For This Useful Post: donsabi (06-04-2012)
I met with the doctor today, 6/5, and he prescribed Doxycycline. He told me that he had an advisory from the CDC to treat all tick bites with Doxycycline for thirty days. He told me that LD is not prevalent in my current area, but I am from an area were LD is. He said that local ticks can carry other infectious disease that I cannot remember the name of. He said my symptoms sound suspicious. My test results may be back as early as Friday or next week. I will post when I hear the results.
__________________
Keep moving, it makes it harder for the undertaker to catch you. Don
I got home about noon with the prescribed Doxycycline. An hour after taking my first dose I feel like I have been run over by a bus. I understand this is a Herx reaction. I wasn't feeling too bad before but since starting the med I have a host of what seem to be flu-like symptoms. I assume that would indicate the meds are working and I do have some kind of infection.
__________________
Keep moving, it makes it harder for the undertaker to catch you. Don
I was just bitten by a tick about two weeks ago. I never developed the bulls-eye rash, but just yesterday, I started to develop some symptoms that are consistent with Lyme Disease. I am from Connecticut, which is Ground Zero for Lyme, and my wife contracted it last year. She also never developed the bullseye. She did, however develop a spotty rash all over her body. Her brother also got it a few years ago. In both of their cases, the muscle and joint pain did progress into their joints, and they did become fatigued. They were both prescribed Doxy. As I said, I started to develop symptoms yesterday, so I got a test today and they prescribed Amoxicillin. I think that my case is not as advanced as theirs was, probably because we are more sensitive to it this year. In all of our cases, we were prescribed the antibiotics for a 21-day course (the length of the treatment apparently depends on how advanced the disease has become). In any case, I wish you a speedy recovery.
I suggest anyone that has gotten bit by a tick, to be seen by a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor. (LLMD). Lyme specialist.
Doctors that do not specialize in the diseases ticks can carry, do not give the correct treatment. A 30 day course of low dose antibiotic is not enough. It "may" put it into remission only to flare out later in life.
Only 30 per cent of people get a bullseye. If you are lucky enough to get one, taking a picture of it is a must. So you can show doctors.
Ticks carry many diseases, it isn't just Lyme. A huge majority of people contract co-infections. One should be tested for them.
But also, testing for any of these, the test are not always accurate. So another reason one should be seen by a LLMD. They go mainly on clinical symptoms.
There are 2 threads above that would help direct you. Lyme Newbies, and How to Share Lyme Doctors Names.
The Lyme bacteria is in the syphilis family. And is hard to eradicate. It has been said, and I have talked to couples. That they are passing it back and forth.
You can put lyme into remission. And any of the co-infections. But once our immune system has broken down...it is hard to keep them at bay.
There is a documentary out...called, Under Our Skin. You should be able to watch it from where you are sitting.
Make sure to detox to help flush out the dead bacteria and the med's we have to take.
Some say the key is to get the immune system up. And some lyme docs say, to kill off parasites as well.
I purchased Under Our Skin the minute it was available and it was an eye opener for my family who did not understand at that time and had not gotten sick thereselves.
I was shocked to find it available on Netflix tonight so very easy for anyone to watch!
And agreed, my main symptoms before we are from co-infections, not from lyme itself and 2 of my children were diagnosed with bartonella, my other one was diagnosed with lyme and bartonella so it is important to realize how important the co-infections are with this.
I am the OP. I got my test results back today and they are negative. Of course I did not get to talk to the doctor I had to talk to his assistant. I asked her then what was causing the symptoms that prompted me to see the doctor. She said she had no idea as nothing showed up in the test report. I find this action and attitude common with doctors today. If a patient comes in with a complaint and the tests performed revealed nothing the patient is dismissed. What about the original complaint?
Older doctors did not have the luxury of all these tests that are available today. They listened to their patients and with their knowledge and intuition formulated a theory of the patients illness. Most of the time they got it right and the patient was treated and cured. Sometimes they were wrong. When they were they tried other treatments until the patient was well or they referred their patient to a specialist. Today if a patients test results show nothing the doctor shrugs his shoulders and walks away.
I accept my test results as being correct, no LD. Then what caused my original symptoms? These symptoms followed being bitten by two ticks but that does not mean the ticks were infected or that they were attached long enough to transmit any infection. I am happy I don't have LD, but what then did I have or still do. I would much rather have a diagnosis than have a doctor place me in limbo.
__________________
Keep moving, it makes it harder for the undertaker to catch you. Don
I'll say it again . . . you're not going to get correct answers about Lyme Disease from this doctor. You were tick bit and had/have symptoms. If you are infected, which is likely, and you do not treat, you could be looking at a more dire situation, which many of us can attest to. You might want to read back over all the responses you have received to your original post as there is a good deal of info. there to direct you as to what you need to do, if you choose. It's your choice - to accept what this doctor (who is not a lyme specialist) says or find a lyme specialist who can advise you.
Tick Bites - No Bullseye 
