That I've not been given antibiotics for a tick bite despite the bite area getting worse and still red one month later!

[TickedOff]

So I posted on here at the time of my horror that ds discovered a tick on the back of my arm.

Dp had been to an area surrounded by deer and brought me a present back!

At the time all I was left with was a tiny red mark where it had penetrated the skin. Went to see GP who said keep an eye on it. No antibiotics prescribed unless I start to get symptoms of Lyme's disease.

Since then the bite area has become increasingly bigger. From a tiny red dot (no picture taken) to a bigger normal bite size spot (picture attached) to a bigger red area (picture attached). When I spotted the bite area had grown bigger I went back to my GP, still won't prescribe antibiotics and instead has sent for a blood test.

So one month later the bite still hasn't cleared. I've read (after seeing GP) that it could take up to 6 weeks for Lyme's to be detected in the blood anyway and often blood tests give a false negative result!

AIBU to feel the GP should have just given me antibiotics anyway, as a precaution. The more I read about Lyme's the more stories I hear about people who haven't had the necessary treatment and have suffered years later. It's not something which could initially give me symptoms. Should I insist on seeing another GP for a second opinion or just chill out

Rash isn't typical for Lyme 's is this what it looks like now and how long after? Do you have symptoms.

The mark isn't tropical of Lyme' disease, looks like a standard tick bite imo. Do you have any symptoms of Lyme' disease?

Thanks.

I think I do need to chill out don't I.

Bossa, I've had a blood test (results pending) but have read there's lots of false negatives.

I did not realise I had been bitten by a tick until I developed the typical bull's eye rash several weeks later. I was entirely well and still am 9 years later
'My' tick had bitten me in Germany where there is quite a high risk of contracting borrellia from ticks. My blood test was 'equivocal'. I was given plain Amoxicillin (for 3 sodding weeks!) as I was BFing at the time and the recommended ?Doxycyline was contraindicated.

Tick bite does NOT = borrellia infection.
Borrellia infection does NOT = Lyme disease.

I understand your concern, but wait for your blood test results.

Have a look at this recent article about lyme... the Guardian did a special series on the issue last month. Do you have any other symptoms like feeling flu-ey/fatigued? Most tick bites will be non infectious.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/22/bitten-tick-prevention-symptoms-treatment-lyme-disease

I don't 'think' I have any symptoms. I've been having night sweats over the past few weeks but I'm not feeling ill. It's just this bite being still with me a month later!

Glad you're good, Pacific.

Bah, thanks for the link. I can understand GP's not wanting to give out antibiotics but in my case the bite area has increased and still red a month area and the tick was most probably a travelling companion from dp's strip to Scotland where he stayed in a forest surrounded by deer. It's the deer tick which carries Lyme's.

My BIL had Lyme disease last year and was in zombie mode for four months, despite medical treatment.

Bizzy, hope he's made a good recovery and has no long term effects.

Anyone else had experience?

Still here no blood test results yet but due to see gp again on Thurs although I doubt anything will differ.

How bloody long is this thing going to stick around for!

I got something similar after an insect bite (no idea what it was)
2 years later I still had a huge red lump, and had to have it removed under local anaesthetic. It was something called a dermatofibroma.

Oh bugger, Sue. That’s a big word, going to have to Google.

Hope all healed well.

Treatment for lymes if diagnosed is specific and not just 7d amoxycillin... and randomly dishing out ABs if there's no sign of cellulitis or abscess is unlikely to make any difference. Tick reactions can take AGES to go away. Id wait on lymes test and try not to stress. Maybe anti-hists/arnica cream might help?

Dances, the problem with my tick bite is it was a teeny pin prick type mark which seems to keep growing and not improving. I know I shouldn’t stress, I’m just sick of the bloody thing now.

Will try arnica and antihistamine.

Hi, I wonder what is your development on this bite currently? I have almost identical story and mine looks very similar to yours.
Regards, Anna