Think i've been bitten by a tick!
Discussion
sideways dan said:
Think i've been bitten by a tick sometime last week. i now have an angry 3" rash on my leg, circular in design with a darker edge to it. Went to the local walk in centre on tuesday who said it was just bruising caused by itching it (i haven't been) and it should go away in a week or so, but i wasn't really convinced, so made an appt at the doctors. He said he didn't know what it was and just gave me some cream for it! I'm still not convinced and after some googling (probably not wise!) i have self diagnosed myself with Lyme Disease! I have now noticed two other growing rashes on my other leg and my joints are quite painful too. Should i go back and see my doctor or should i just go straight to hospital, as the doctors receptionist told me they didn't have any appts till middle of next week!!!
Mods feel free to move this to health matters, just i thought it would get more views in the lounge at this ungodly hour of the morn!
It's essential you get this treated PROPERLY a.s.a.p. It might be an alergic reaction to the tick bite, but it may have been an infected tick. There is a particular anti-biotic you need to be on that will almost certainly sort you out. Doing nothing or putting creme on is a NO.Mods feel free to move this to health matters, just i thought it would get more views in the lounge at this ungodly hour of the morn!
Read this:
Ticks and Lyme Disease
What is Lyme disease? It is an infection carried by a bacterium.
How do you get Lyme disease?
Humans can get it if they are bitten by an infected tick. Ticks feed by
biting the skin and sucking blood from animals such as sheep and deer, and
sometimes humans. The bacterium that causes Lyme disease lives in certain
animals and this is how some ticks get infected. If an infected tick bites a
human, then the bacterium may be passed on to the human. It normally takes
24-48 hours for bacteria in the tick to pass into the human after they bite.
Therefore if you remove a tick soon after being bitten you are very unlikely
to develop Lyme disease, even if the tick was infected.
What are the early symptoms of Lyme disease?
These usually develop 2 to 30 days after being bitten by an infected tick. A
typical rash occurs in about 8 in 10 cases of Lyme disease. This is usually
a single circular red mark that spreads outwards slowly over several days. A
paler area of skin emerges on the inner part of the circle. It can range in
size from a few centimetres up to 30cm. It is not usually painful or itchy.
Flu-like symptoms develop in about half of cases. You should seek the advice
of a doctor if you develop these symptoms. Please note, however, that the
vast majority of rashes around a tick bite are not due to Lyme disease, but
to an allergy to the bite.
What is the treatment?
A course of antibiotics.
Further information: www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk
sideways dan said:
Think i've been bitten by a tick sometime last week. i now have an angry 3" rash on my leg, circular in design with a darker edge to it. Went to the local walk in centre on tuesday who said it was just bruising caused by itching it (i haven't been) and it should go away in a week or so, but i wasn't really convinced, so made an appt at the doctors. He said he didn't know what it was and just gave me some cream for it! I'm still not convinced and after some googling (probably not wise!) i have self diagnosed myself with Lyme Disease! I have now noticed two other growing rashes on my other leg and my joints are quite painful too. Should i go back and see my doctor or should i just go straight to hospital, as the doctors receptionist told me they didn't have any appts till middle of next week!!!
Mods feel free to move this to health matters, just i thought it would get more views in the lounge at this ungodly hour of the morn!
DEFINITELY sounds like LYmes disease, get your jabs SOONEST and don't let the doc palm you off with anything less. It's DAMN DANGEROUS!!!Mods feel free to move this to health matters, just i thought it would get more views in the lounge at this ungodly hour of the morn!
As others have said, get it seen to asap.
What you describe is very similar to what I had a couple of years ago. I had the visual symptoms of Lyme disease (circular mark & rash etc), I can't remember what medication I was given, but my GP was on the ball, and was pretty concerened that it was Lyme. Thankfully, 3 blood tests later and I was given the all clear. In my case, it was, as GetCarter describes, an allegic reaction to the tick bite.
Ticks are f
king nasty critters, if you're up the hills, be ever vigillant for them 
Also, be careful when pulling one out, as you can easily leave half the tick in your flesh if you're not careful.
What you describe is very similar to what I had a couple of years ago. I had the visual symptoms of Lyme disease (circular mark & rash etc), I can't remember what medication I was given, but my GP was on the ball, and was pretty concerened that it was Lyme. Thankfully, 3 blood tests later and I was given the all clear. In my case, it was, as GetCarter describes, an allegic reaction to the tick bite.
Ticks are f
king nasty critters, if you're up the hills, be ever vigillant for them Also, be careful when pulling one out, as you can easily leave half the tick in your flesh if you're not careful.
Edited by ApexJimi on Thursday 8th July 13:21
Thank fk I didn't know half of this when I was a kid. Worked on a sheep farm during school holidays during the shearing. Got home one night, jumped in bath and saw a dark think attached to my nut-sack. Was a trifle, but not overly worried. Knew enough not to just pull it out, so finished off, got dried, borrowed a ciggie from me Dad and just touched the end of the tick body - now full of my blood - with the lit ciggie. That causes the tick to draw out of the skin and get f'kin smashed to bits. Nasty!
k I didn't know half of this when I was a kid. Worked on a sheep farm during school holidays during the shearing. Got home one night, jumped in bath and saw a dark think attached to my nut-sack. Was a trifle, but not overly worried. Knew enough not to just pull it out, so finished off, got dried, borrowed a ciggie from me Dad and just touched the end of the tick body - now full of my blood - with the lit ciggie. That causes the tick to draw out of the skin and get f'kin smashed to bits. Nasty!jshell said:
Thank fk I didn't know half of this when I was a kid. Worked on a sheep farm during school holidays during the shearing. Got home one night, jumped in bath and saw a dark think attached to my nut-sack. Was a trifle, but not overly worried. Knew enough not to just pull it out, so finished off, got dried, borrowed a ciggie from me Dad and just touched the end of the tick body - now full of my blood - with the lit ciggie. That causes the tick to draw out of the skin and get f'kin smashed to bits. Nasty!
k I didn't know half of this when I was a kid. Worked on a sheep farm during school holidays during the shearing. Got home one night, jumped in bath and saw a dark think attached to my nut-sack. Was a trifle, but not overly worried. Knew enough not to just pull it out, so finished off, got dried, borrowed a ciggie from me Dad and just touched the end of the tick body - now full of my blood - with the lit ciggie. That causes the tick to draw out of the skin and get f'kin smashed to bits. Nasty!
??Dunclane said:
jshell said:
Thank fk I didn't know half of this when I was a kid. Worked on a sheep farm during school holidays during the shearing. Got home one night, jumped in bath and saw a dark think attached to my nut-sack. Was a trifle, but not overly worried. Knew enough not to just pull it out, so finished off, got dried, borrowed a ciggie from me Dad and just touched the end of the tick body - now full of my blood - with the lit ciggie. That causes the tick to draw out of the skin and get f'kin smashed to bits. Nasty!
k I didn't know half of this when I was a kid. Worked on a sheep farm during school holidays during the shearing. Got home one night, jumped in bath and saw a dark think attached to my nut-sack. Was a trifle, but not overly worried. Knew enough not to just pull it out, so finished off, got dried, borrowed a ciggie from me Dad and just touched the end of the tick body - now full of my blood - with the lit ciggie. That causes the tick to draw out of the skin and get f'kin smashed to bits. Nasty! ??
Well, popped to the A&E this morn and after an hours sitting about eventually got seen to! Temperature and blood pressure taken, all OK. Doctor had a look at it and said it was probably an allergic reaction to an insect bite. I queried him about Lymes disease and he said he didn't think it was that and if i'd been bitten by a tick then I'd know about it. Gave me a weeks course of anti histamenes (sp?) and told to be on my way. as i type the rash is still there and just as large, if not quite as colouful as it was! I'm still not sure about it all but what else can i do. Try and kill it off with copious amounts of alcohol over the weekend??!!! And thanks for all the good advice and concern everyone! 
Well, popped to the A&E this morn and after an hours sitting about eventually got seen to! Temperature and blood pressure taken, all OK. Doctor had a look at it and said it was probably an allergic reaction to an insect bite. I queried him about Lymes disease and he said he didn't think it was that and if i'd been bitten by a tick then I'd know about it. Gave me a weeks course of anti histamenes (sp?) and told to be on my way. as i type the rash is still there and just as large, if not quite as colouful as it was! I'm still not sure about it all but what else can i do. Try and kill it off with copious amounts of alcohol over the weekend??!!! And thanks for all the good advice and concern everyone!
ApexJimi said:
I actually disagree with the assertion that if one was bitten by a tick, one would know about it.
In my experience, this simply isn't the case, at least not immediately after being bitten.
Doc has no idea what he/she is talking about. In my experience, this simply isn't the case, at least not immediately after being bitten.
Chances are it is only a reaction... but are you willing to take that chance?
I STRONGLY suggest you contact http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/index.htm
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 9th July 13:22
GetCarter said:
ApexJimi said:
I actually disagree with the assertion that if one was bitten by a tick, one would know about it.
In my experience, this simply isn't the case, at least not immediately after being bitten.
Doc has no idea what he/she is talking about. In my experience, this simply isn't the case, at least not immediately after being bitten.
Chances are it is only a reaction... but are you willing to take that chance?
I STRONGLY suggest you contact http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/index.htm
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 9th July 13:22
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