Dr Steve
10-30-2008, 09:35 AM
I somehow managed to get Lyme disease this summer, although I don't
remember seeing the tick(s). However, around the 4th of July I got
two bad rashes on my right thigh. They were definitely bug bites, I
could tell that much, but not like any I'd had before. The rashes
were very red, slightly raised, warm, itchy, and grew a few inches in
diameter, actually engulfing each other. I stupidly brushed them off,
only using a little cortisone cream, and they went away in a few
weeks.
A few weeks later I started feeling sick, lots of muscle aches and
headaches, like the flu without any head-cold/sinus symptoms. Also, I
felt very jittery like I had way too much caffeine, and started
getting anxiety at times when I knew I had nothing to be nervous
about. The muscle aches got really bad in my arms and legs, sometimes
it was like charlie horses or cramps.
After getting into my doctor, it took a few visits before I even
remembered to bring up the bug bites (as I said, I brushed them off).
He tested some hormone levels, mono, and a few other things, and they
all seemed pretty normal. When I mentioned the bites he said
"hmmmm..." and gave me three weeks of doxycycline. I started to
improve somewhat, but about a week after the antibiotics were gone, I
started feeling all the same symptoms.
The doc referred me to an infectious disease specialist, who said that
my description of the bites sound like a pretty clear indication that
it was Lyme (or a "southern variety"), and that while three weeks
usually enough, sometimes it takes longer and gave me 6 more weeks of
doxycycline. I'm about three weeks into that now, and although I've
had a few days of improvement, it's not as much as I was hoping for.
Do you have any experience with Lyme? Care to offer any suggestions,
or what to expect?
Lyme disease is a pain in the ass, but it's really treatable; I'm glad you're seeing the infectious disease guy...left untreated, Lyme disease can cause all kinds of really bad things down the road.
Prevention of Lyme Disease is key...wear insect repellant (20-30% DEET) when you're out in the woods, and do a tick survey when you come in every time. People in rural and suburban areas are most at risk. Not too many deer ticks in the big city, doncha know. Lyme has been reported in 49 states already, and I'm sure #50 is on the way, too.
The first phase of Lyme disease is the "local infection" phase; after being infected by a tick bite (and only certain ticks carry the disease) the asshat borrellia spirochetes (bacteria) burrow into the surrounding skin, causing a very stereotypical rash. This is a picture of the classic LYME rash:
http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070813/070813_lyme_vmed_3p.widec.jpg
it's called erythema chronica migrans, and generally has a light, lacy appearance with a bullseye pattern.
The second phase occurs a few weeks later and consists of muscle pains, feeling bad, fever, etc.
Left untreated, it can go on to the third phase where it just goes nuts and begins to affect the brain, heart, eyes, and joints.
If the doxycycline doesn't do the trick (and doxycycline can make you feel bad...make sure you take the whole 6 week course, or talk to the doctor why you can't...don't just stop it, ok?) they can set you up with daily IV injections (we used to do it for 2 weeks total when I lived in Vermont)of a drug called Rocephin (among others).
Anyway, you're getting the right treatment; you may feel crappy now, but what you're really accomplishing is making sure you don't get the really bad stuff down the line. That's a good thing! Follow up with the infectious disease person and let us know how it goes, ok?
hope this helps!
your pal,
steve
remember seeing the tick(s). However, around the 4th of July I got
two bad rashes on my right thigh. They were definitely bug bites, I
could tell that much, but not like any I'd had before. The rashes
were very red, slightly raised, warm, itchy, and grew a few inches in
diameter, actually engulfing each other. I stupidly brushed them off,
only using a little cortisone cream, and they went away in a few
weeks.
A few weeks later I started feeling sick, lots of muscle aches and
headaches, like the flu without any head-cold/sinus symptoms. Also, I
felt very jittery like I had way too much caffeine, and started
getting anxiety at times when I knew I had nothing to be nervous
about. The muscle aches got really bad in my arms and legs, sometimes
it was like charlie horses or cramps.
After getting into my doctor, it took a few visits before I even
remembered to bring up the bug bites (as I said, I brushed them off).
He tested some hormone levels, mono, and a few other things, and they
all seemed pretty normal. When I mentioned the bites he said
"hmmmm..." and gave me three weeks of doxycycline. I started to
improve somewhat, but about a week after the antibiotics were gone, I
started feeling all the same symptoms.
The doc referred me to an infectious disease specialist, who said that
my description of the bites sound like a pretty clear indication that
it was Lyme (or a "southern variety"), and that while three weeks
usually enough, sometimes it takes longer and gave me 6 more weeks of
doxycycline. I'm about three weeks into that now, and although I've
had a few days of improvement, it's not as much as I was hoping for.
Do you have any experience with Lyme? Care to offer any suggestions,
or what to expect?
Lyme disease is a pain in the ass, but it's really treatable; I'm glad you're seeing the infectious disease guy...left untreated, Lyme disease can cause all kinds of really bad things down the road.
Prevention of Lyme Disease is key...wear insect repellant (20-30% DEET) when you're out in the woods, and do a tick survey when you come in every time. People in rural and suburban areas are most at risk. Not too many deer ticks in the big city, doncha know. Lyme has been reported in 49 states already, and I'm sure #50 is on the way, too.
The first phase of Lyme disease is the "local infection" phase; after being infected by a tick bite (and only certain ticks carry the disease) the asshat borrellia spirochetes (bacteria) burrow into the surrounding skin, causing a very stereotypical rash. This is a picture of the classic LYME rash:
http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070813/070813_lyme_vmed_3p.widec.jpg
it's called erythema chronica migrans, and generally has a light, lacy appearance with a bullseye pattern.
The second phase occurs a few weeks later and consists of muscle pains, feeling bad, fever, etc.
Left untreated, it can go on to the third phase where it just goes nuts and begins to affect the brain, heart, eyes, and joints.
If the doxycycline doesn't do the trick (and doxycycline can make you feel bad...make sure you take the whole 6 week course, or talk to the doctor why you can't...don't just stop it, ok?) they can set you up with daily IV injections (we used to do it for 2 weeks total when I lived in Vermont)of a drug called Rocephin (among others).
Anyway, you're getting the right treatment; you may feel crappy now, but what you're really accomplishing is making sure you don't get the really bad stuff down the line. That's a good thing! Follow up with the infectious disease person and let us know how it goes, ok?
hope this helps!
your pal,
steve