anybody had lymes disease?

[scudder]

on my way to the Dr. to get checked out this afternoon. I was out for the weekend a week and a half ago and post shower noticed several very tiny ticks. Pulled them all out (I think) and figured I'd watch and wait. No bullseye rash so far, but a couple days ago started getting headaches, body ache, fever, chills, and general lethargy on account of feeling poorly. What was your experience like? Any tips?

[RED-DOG]

Its better to be safe than sorry

[T.S.Kobzol]

Totally true. Lyme gets missed by tests a lot for some funky reason. Better be safe than sorry. Insist on antibiotics to kill the bug.

Its better to be safe than sorry

[Sarcasm the elf]

It's good that you paid attention, Lyme disease is much more easily treated if caught early. When I got it I had all the symptoms you listed plus joint pain. They will likely put you on a course of doxycycline, make sure to take the meds with food and to avoid overexposure to direct sunlight while you are taking the medication, as one of the main side effects is it makes it much easier to get a sunburn. If you've really only had it for a week, then with any luck you should be fine after treatment.

[G.G.]

I've had it. Nothing but a pain in the ass.

It effects everyone differently. No matter what, stay on top of it even if it seems like overkill.

[tiptoe]

I've had Lyme once (no bulls-eye rash) and erlichiosis (another tick-borne disease) twice, the second time coinciding with the Lyme, a two-for-one event. Each time, a high fever sent me to the doctor's. I'm rarely ill, I live in Connecticut, and I'm outdoors gardening and hiking as much as I can, so tick-borne illness was the obvious suspect in my case. The best defense is checking for ticks after outdoor activities. Treatment was a three-week course of doxycycline, not the most pleasant drug to take but a lot better than long-lasting after-effects from the illness.

[liberty lover]

I suffered with your exact symptoms for about one month starting last July.I finally took my wife's advice and went to our physician.He immediately said it was Lyme and started me on doxycycline.He made it a point that the test misses Lyme a lot and that some doctors are hesitant when it comes to Lyme.His diagnosis seemed to work and I was feeling well in about two weeks with the medicine having to be finished(about 30 day prescription).I hope you are feeling better soon.This was my first post on White Blaze.I love this site and all the great info.

[rocketsocks]

I am some what reluctant to post this,I have never wanted to jump on the Lyme's band wagon,but here goes.In 2004 I was tested and it came back negative,I presented with fever,chills,joint aches and pains,to this day all those symptoms persist,except the fevers.After many tests and 5 hospital stays,it it thought that it is a form of rheumatoid arthritis,combined with a bunch of connective tissue injuries over the years.I still strive for a more definitive diagnosis with regard to the arthritis,and am note completely convinced that it is not Lyme's for so many reasons that this post (time)does not allow.I hope that every one takes this serious(checking your self for ticks and your ego)as this decease does not discriminate.Happy hiking!

[GoldenBear]

Sorry about the long intro, but it's necessary to set the stage for my story.

I had an appendectomy in 1970. For the next 35 years, I averaged less than one sick day every two years or so. Because of good genes, healthy life-style, grit, and some dumb luck (I'd usually get sick on weekends); it became news when I'd call in sick for work -- "You NEVER call in sick!" was a typical response from my boss.

After retirement I took up hiking in SE Pennsylvania.
For those who don't see where this is leading to, check out this map of Lyme disease danger level:
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/489519/TICK-LYME.jpg

One day I woke up with absolutely no energy -- I was almost exhausted going from the bed to the bathroom. "Darn," I thought, "another case of the flu. I'll probably be in bed the whole day."
Next day, same result. "Wow -- this flu is worse than usual."
Third day, same result. Please note: in the previous 35 years, I had never, NOT ONCE, been that sick for three consecutive days. Shuttle was insistent, "You're going to the doctor."
Doctor listened to my symptoms, and admitted they could be caused by many things. Then he got a look of insight, and asked, "By any chance do you go hiking in southeast Pennsylvania?"
"All the time!" I replied.
"Let's do a test for Lyme disease," he said, noting that he had gotten Lyme twice.
Got the results back -- positive test for Lyme. Got a $6 prescription for standard antibiotics.
When I woke up the next day, I felt like I usually felt after one day with the flu -- good as ever. Having read the horror stories of Chronic Lyme, I took the full schedule of pills.

I should mention I never noted any ticks on me, nor any bite marks or rashes. The first symptom I got of a tick attack was complete enervation.

Plain and simple, my experience with Lyme was the sickest I have felt in the last 42 years. Even my torn MCL was only annoying pain, not exhaustion to the point of being bed-ridden for days.
Since then, white socks pulled over my pants, DEET, and permethrin have been a standard part of my walking routine.

If you have ANY reason to think you've gotten Lyme -- and you have ALL the symptoms -- see a doctor ASAP. Fighting it for a week for enough for me, I definitely wouldn't want to fight it for thirty years.

[10-K]

Had it twice. Sucks.

Get some doxycycline.

If you have any left toss it when it expires because it can cause kidney damage once it's old but you can take a double dose as a prophylactic if you think you might have contracted lyme again.

[scudder]

We did a blood test and will get results next week. Meanwhile, I've started a 3 wk course of Doxycycline. Sometimes there are false negatives if it hasn't developed long enough. 1/3 of cases do not present the bullseye rash. Early treatment is a good thing to do, and the drug is CHEAP . Doc said I could get some relief in as little as 4 days- this thing is kicking my butt and I rarely have downtime due to illness. Little country Drs office has seen 5 cases this year with patients coming from Albemarle , Greene, and Madison counties (all Southern SNP land)

[bigcranky]

Had it in 2005. High fever, chills, lethargy, no energy -- pretty much the same symptoms. Went through several rounds of doctors all of whom insisted that I could not possibly have Lyme disease, though finally after spiking a 106-F temp the E.R. doc did prescribe the proper treatment (doxycycline for two weeks). An infectious disease specialist later did a bunch of more accurate tests and it turned out to be Lyme disease. Huh, really, doc? Had no idea.

Go see your doc. Be insistent. Gently, but be insistent.

[DaveSail]

Yes , you have ALL the symptoms ! If you get on Doxy quickly , ( Few days ? Week ? ) , you may escape having it for life .
I wasn't so lucky . Left leg swells and gets all red about once a year . If I have a bottle of Doxy on hand , I can avoid the E.R .
Twice , an " Ankle Ulcer " , ( large blister / bubble ) formed over the outside ankle - bone . First in 2010 . Partly treated then ,
but has returned . Expensive skin - graft failed . Horrible , constant pain . Oxycontin won't touch the pain . A couple of weeks
ago , trying to demonstrate to the nurse the degree of the pain , I took a knife and said PRETEND or IMAGINE I was to cut
your arm ? ( Did not get near her with the knife , just an example . ) I said how long do you think you could stand the pain ?
They called the cops , I was handcuffed , arrested , finger - printed and charged with assault !! Now I have to go to court !
They did nothing to fix the big hole in my ankle . I am still paying 8 or so doctors / hospitals going back to 2010 . All for failed
treatments ! David V. Webber

[ShoelessWanderer]

Had lyme's, not a huge deal if caught early, which it sounds like you have. Even if your test comes back negative, doesn't mean you don't have it, sometimes it can take 4-5 weeks to show up on a test, so get the treatment either way.

[scudder]

Six days into treatment, symptoms are abating, I think we got on it early enough that it won't go chronic.
I just got my (probably false) negative blood test results today, but am staying on the doxycycline.
I'd like to thank all who responded to this thread, and encourage folks to seek medical attention quickly if there's any question about Lymes.

[Cherokee Bill]

Also, and especially in Virginia, be aware of bite from the Lone Star tick! Look it up!!!!!!!!!!

[Whack-a-mole]

I had Lyme disease in 1992 in Charlotte NC. I had read a lot of articles on it, as I spent a lot of time outdoors and frequently pulled ticks off me. When I went to the doctor with all the symptoms listed above, he refused to believe I had Lymes and did everything to avoid treating me for it. After about a month I almost forced him to to a test and he did and it came back positive. By that time the disease had set in and regular antibiotics did nothing to slow it down. It took a weeks worth of IV Rocephin to knock it out. For what it's worth, this disease is similar to syphilis, and the long term results if left treated are very bad, so don't blow this off and think you will be better with time and no treatment!! By the way, I literally fired this doctor in his office. By the look on his face I guess no one had ever done this to him.

[Wise Old Owl]

Had it twice - Dox for 1 month.

[stranger]

Allergic to Doxycycline...is Amoxocillian the alternative?

[rocketsocks]

I had Lyme disease in 1992 in Charlotte NC. I had read a lot of articles on it, as I spent a lot of time outdoors and frequently pulled ticks off me. When I went to the doctor with all the symptoms listed above, he refused to believe I had Lymes and did everything to avoid treating me for it. After about a month I almost forced him to to a test and he did and it came back positive. By that time the disease had set in and regular antibiotics did nothing to slow it down. It took a weeks worth of IV Rocephin to knock it out. For what it's worth, this disease is similar to syphilis, and the long term results if left treated are very bad, so don't blow this off and think you will be better with time and no treatment!! By the way, I literally fired this doctor in his office. By the look on his face I guess no one had ever done this to him.

Good for you Whack a Mole,I too fired my doctor,Told him,"I don't give a Tinkers Damn what he thought"after his comment that "You must be ok,because you had the strenth to get here"and walked out.I too was treated with Rocephin,and was allergic to it,made made me want to run through a brick wall with a serious case of the icthies.Still looking for a doctor that isn't affraid to buck the Insurance companies,as my situation is somewhat different than mosts.The thing that pisses me off the most about all that,is the amount of time that was wasted with this dick!