Lyme Disease

[TwinMom7]

Has anyone had this? What is the treatment?

DH has all of the symptons - chills/fever/rash/body ache - and we found a tick on him Sunday evening, after he had been working in the yard.

He has a doctor's appointment this afternoon - thanks to me! I swear...that man would continue to just take aspirin if I wasn't around!!!

 

[wendyl]

My brother had Lyme disease -- the most severe sign (for him)was stiffness in his joints--he would wake up unable to move his arms without help. YIKES--he was treated (medications) and is fine now.

Look all over DH for the tell-tale bullseye mark--the spot of the tick bite. That is the also one of the signs of Lyme disease. His body may just be having an allergic reaction to a tick bite---rather than being infected with Lyme disease.

 

[TwinMom7]

Thanks Wendy!!!

He said this morning that he could hardly move...that he felt like he was 90 years old!

Hopefully the bloodwork will show a reaction and not the actual Lyme Disease.

 

[WDWAurora]

My grandfather got it. He actually got bit before we went to Disney one year when I was much younger (as in, before I was 10) and didn't have many of the side effects until we got home, thank goodness. He would've been miserable, especially during the 12 hour drive! He took the medication and fully recovered with no lasting problems.

 

[caitycaity]

i had it last year (from a tick bite). i had to be on antibiotics for a month. haven't had any problems since.

i didn't have any of the symptoms though (other than the rash where the tick bit). i don't know if symptoms develop right away or not.

 

[momof2inPA]

I just found a tick on my son today. I kept the tick just in case he develops any symptoms. Is this advised? My sister told me to do it.

 

[gallaj0]

I got bit about 6 weeks ago, came down with symptoms very soon after, and was informed by the doctor that the titer (blood test) won't show anything until you've had it for 6 weeks. I wasn't going to wait that long, so he put me on the antibiotic right away anyway. It cleared up in a couple of weeks, all better now.

 

[ckay87]

Yes, I think it's not a bad idea to keep the tick. I believe, thought, that it's just deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease and those are the very very tiniest ticks. My dog had Lyme disease and I never found a tick on her. Not that she didn't have one, I just didn't find any. It must have been very small. She woke up one morning and couldn't walk.

It's treatable with lots of antibiotics - very good your DH is going to the doctor now.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My DD had Lyme Disease 6 years ago when she was going into 5th grade. Her only symptom was Bells Palsy. She went on antibiotics for a month. The Bells Palsy cleared up in two weeks. She does have a bone disease now, but it does not appear to be related to the Lyme Disease, altho they have noted it in her medical records.

BTW, we never saw a tick nor a bullseye rash.

 

[TwinMom7]

Thanks to all of you for responding! My husband has ALL of the symptons, but no "bullseye" bite. I just want to get him on to some antibiotics. He's not a very good patient...but then, what man is?

 

[battricia]

I got it too, no bullseye rash or anything, we never even found a tick. Like others said I was put on antibiotics for a month and haven't had much of a problem since. Good luck and get him to the Dr. as soon as you can, the faster they catch it the easier it is to treat it.

tricia.

 

[my3kids]

What does the rash look like? The reason I ask is I took my child to the doctor for the same symptoms. The doctor asked if she had been bitten by a tick. He did blood work including immunity and antibodies to ParvoB19 which came back through the roof. In our case it is Fifth's Disease and not Lyme. Just a thought. Describe the rash and we'll compare notes!

 

[stm61]

My son had it 3 yrs ago. Never had any symptoms at all. Woke up complaining about his arm one day, the next wkend it was the opposite arm. After 2 trips to the ER with no problem found, other then his elbow swelled the 2nd time, were referred to an orthopedist. He drained the fluid and sent it off to the lab. DS ended up on IV antibiotics until he had an allergic reaction to them. He spent Easter Sun in the hospital being desensitzed to the antibiotic then finished the course of IV's. He still tests positive for it, needs a special test to make sure he doesn't have it again. Brother-in-law had it about the same time and never even knew he'd been bitten. He also went thru IV treatment. He suffers from some kind of joint condition, can't remember the name, neuromyalga?, which causes extreme pain at times. Both of them had the disease for at least a few yrs before being diagnosed.

 

[zurgswife]

Just remember that on does not always get a rash...we live in Lyme Central here in Philly, PA.... Antibotics are the treatment. Make sure your doctor does the blood test specifically for lymes. Some Drs. are not as up on lymes as others.

 

[dumboiu]

Originally posted by ckay87
I believe, thought, that it's just deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease and those are the very very tiniest ticks.

Not true! They are finding that Lyme is transmitted by other ticks as well.

 

[wendyl]

Here's a link for more info:

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/l/lyme_disease/symptoms.htm

 

[my3kids]

Did you find out what was wrong? I hope he is feeling better.

 

[TwinMom7]

They are treating it as Lymes Disease. He's on an antibiotic for the next 14 days. As of today, he's still very sick - can hardly walk up a flight of stairs. It's just not like him - he's very athletic and always on the go, and now he's basically been in bed for the past 24 hours. I can't remember the last time he missed a day of work.

Hopefully the antibiotic will kick in soon...

 

[nancy679]

I had it too--very stiff, could barely walk or move and very painful to do any movement. It took about 3-5 days after I started the antibiotic before I started feeling better

 

[Pin Wizard]

I have a friend with it. I think she's on antibiotics more than she's off. She'll finish a bunch, be okay for a while, then back on the antibiotics. Poor thing ends up switching because some just don't do the trick all the time. It ended up that her oldest son and her husband also have it now. They're in CT. MAJOR lyme area according to her. And she's worried about her younger son getting it. He's the only one without it. Hope your husband does well!!