Lymes Disease?

[bankgirl05]

Anyone???

The last couple weeks I've been battling flu like symptoms, fever,sore throat, stiff neck, swollen glands and lymph nodes. I have no health insurance, so I put off going to the Dr's and self medicated with pain relievers and chicken soup. The past few days I noticed what I though was a mosquito bite on my abdomen, getting redder and larger, and today, sure enough, it has a Bullseye look to it.

I broke down and went to my family Doc, and she is starting me on antibiotics immediately, and sending me for blood work ($$$$$).
Obviously I won't have a definitive answer until the labs come back, but what should I expect??? is this going to affect me on my trip in a few weeks? I already have enough health issues revolving around pain and immobility due to Hip replacement/revision gone awry...

I am just very sad right now.

 

[Tpiejg]

My son had lyme desease last year. He had the same symptoms as you have. He was put on antibiotics and within three days felt fine. He hasn't had any other problems.

 

[fireworks fan]

My mom had lyme disease, but her symptoms were different-more like a flesh eating bacteria. Basically the area around the bite began to rot away. I do think its important to see a lyme disease specialist to make sure you get an accurate diagnosis.

She was on antibiotics for a long time and doesn't have any issues with it anymore. Good luck to you.

 

[ImpossibleOfMe]

My brother was on Lyme Disease meds when he came to visit me in Florida some odd years ago and they specifically told him to stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time. He didn't listen because he had never been to a Florida beach before and he got really sick.

I'd make sure to tell your doc about the upcoming trip to see if they can give you meds that don't have this stipulation.

I don't know much about the different situations or degrees of the disease but he had to take those meds for much longer than 3 days and the Lyme had gone untreated for quite a while beforehand.

 

[Mkebound]

I had Lynes as a 30s something adult a few years ago.

I had a 10 course of anitbiotics, and started feeling better on day two.

As with ALL anitbiotics, it it VERY important to limit sun exposure while you are taking them AND it's very imporant to take the whole course, i.e. not stop once you start feeling better.

 

[DopeyDame]

Ds had it this summer. The standard treatment is 21 days of antiobiotics. Like others have said, you should start feeling better within a few days, but it's critically important you take the whole dose. And antibiotics can make you more prone to sunburn, so make sure to lather up in sunscreen and avoid the son when possible (hats, loose fitting long sleeves, etc., etc)
I imagine you'll be just fine for your trip in a few weeks.
Good luck!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

as others have said remember to take whole course of meds, do not stop because you feel better.

 

[bankgirl05]

Thanks Everyone!!!

I will keep taking the meds. The Doc only prescribed 10 days, with 2 refills, and told me if the bloodwork comes back positive to do the refills...

I have no health insurance so the first course of antibiotics cost me $43... and my blood work cost me $245... OUCH!!!

I hate the internet, because you read lots of scary scenarios on there, and then my mind starts wandering...

 

[burnurcomputer]

Hi! I just finished my month of meds a few weeks ago and had symptoms similar to you. Lyme is different for each person, and I still have swelling in some of my joints, that i had never had before.

 

[Sparrow624]

I "HAVE"Lyme disease. Got it when I was 25, now 31. Technically, Lyme disease never leaves your body and can "flare up" at any time. I have only had one of these flare ups, about 3 years ago and it only lasted a day or 2.

That being said, listen to your doctor. Saty out of the sun as much as possible and take the full course of medicine.

Stupid deer ticks...