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Original poster

Lymes disease?

38 replies

Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2018 10:11

Hypochondriac here Grin

Just over a month ago I was bitten by a couple ticks (not on the same day), one was removed by my gp and I was given antibiotics, people told me my gp was being silly and the chances of the tic carrying lymes is very slim so I decided not to take the antibiotics. Tic bite looked fine, no ring, no rash etc..

Fast forward a few weeks and I come down with what appears to be a bad cold/flu, not like me at all to be I’ll let alone during the summer. I’m on day 8 of said cold/flu and I just feel like sleeping all day, I go out for a couple hours and then I need to sleep, I’m struggling with my part time job (sleep before I go, sleep when I get home) and I wake up tired in the mornings. A few people have suggested I get tested for lymes but I don’t have all the symptoms, I have had cold symptoms (cough, runny nose) which are not linked to lymes but I have also had a achy neck (before I started feeling unwell) and a racing heart which I put down to stress.

Is it worth asking my gp for a blood test? I feel silly asking as I will have to tell him that I did not take the antibiotics he gave me and because he will probably think I’m being a hypochondriac.

OP posts:
pieceofpurplesky · 30/07/2018 10:23

IT is worth it and you should have taken the antibiotics. Lyme disease is a terrible thing to have to live with. I hope the test is negative

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2018 10:26

I know, I feel stupid for not taking them. My reasons were silly, I don’t react well to antibiotics and the fact I was prescribed 3 weeks worth and was told to stay out of the sun made me feel it was worth the risk not taking them (people telling me they had a tic and were fine).

Hopefully it’s just a cold and all will be fine.

OP posts:
swingofthings · 30/07/2018 11:12

You need to go back and take antibiotics immediately. It was a real mistake not to do so right away. Lyme disease doesn't always come with a rash but getting flu like symptoms week laters is definitely a red herring.

The earlier you take a -long- dose of antibiotics the better the chance not to suffer lasting symptoms. If you wait too long it might be too late.

You shouldn't wait to be tested. For one it can take months for the result to come back -It did for me- and the rest is known for its false negatives.

Go on the Lyme Disease org webpage to inform yourself on the illness and make that appointment with your up today.

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2018 11:17

Swing I still have the antibiotics here, should I just start taking them? The bite was around 5-6 weeks ago, tic was on me for 48 hours (guessing), gp removed it, I had a small mark for a couple of weeks but no rash.

I will get a gp appointment. I’m pretty sure it’s just a cold due to the amount of snot I am producing. It’s just the tiredness that is totally unlike me.

OP posts:
KetoME · 30/07/2018 11:23

YES! Start taking them immediately!!!

The repercussions of untreated Lyme are horrible & might last the rest of your life. Much worse than some side affects & staying out of the sun for 3 weeks. Keep monitoring & return to GP after you've finished the course if it hasn't gone.

swingofthings · 30/07/2018 13:22

Yes yes yes start it right away but still go and see your up. Getting the flu 4 to 6 weeks after being bitten by a tick IS a potential dog that you've been infected.

swingofthings · 30/07/2018 13:28

Go and read the nhs.uk/condition website for Lyme disease. It says the rash xx appear up to three months after the bite.

Antibiotic treatment should last 3 weeks. Is this how much your gp prescribed?

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2018 14:03

swing yes I have 3 weeks of antibiotics here. I have read so much online that I am just more confused. I started with cold symptoms (stiff neck a few days before but thought I had slept funny), runny nose and sore throat isn’t a symptom of lymes? So I’m wondering if it’s just a bad cold. I do have aches and just generally feel unwell and tired, cold symptoms have almost gone.

OP posts:
KetoME · 30/07/2018 14:37

@LoveMusic33 Look it REALLY isn't worth debating this I promise you. As you've got 3 weeks worth anyway take them now, monitor carefully, record any symptoms & go & see GP if you get any worse or the antibiotics don't work.

If you really research this you'll realise you were CRAZY not to go ahead immediately. It's just not worth the risk Sad

JeanMichelBisquiat · 30/07/2018 14:37

Bit surprised they prescribed you anti bs prophylactically, as that's not the NHS advice when no rash or flu-like symptoms. However, I'd Def take the full course with those symptoms you have now.

Sympathies - I had a tick a few weeks ago, and have been on the look out for any Lymes symptoms since removing it!

KetoME · 30/07/2018 14:38

Balls @Lovemusic33 See above ^

KetoME · 30/07/2018 14:44

This happened to me 5 years ago though I'm not actually sure it was a tick that started it. (Not everyone is aware they're bitten). Obviously didn't get antibiotics. Thought it was just a cold. Then flu. Then Post Viral Fatigue. Now diagnosed with ME/CFS, retired with ill health & have to use a wheelchair. FIVE YEARS of mainly lying in bed feeling like death. Might be ME/CFS, but I'm damn sure if I'd known & thought there was the slightest chance of a tick I would have taken TEN weeks of antibiotics if I thought it would prevent this Angry

I was so fit & healthy too! Became disabled overnight Sad

swingofthings · 30/07/2018 14:48

In the end it's up to you but I personally don't understand considering the irreversible and deliberating symptoms that come with the illness why you would take the risk and not take medicine that could protect you against them just because you've come to the conclusion that you probably only suffered from a cold.

Personally I would be grateful to have born given antibiotics by a competent gp rather than looking back and cry that my gp hadn't 'recognised the risks and that it was now too late as sadly I the case for people who have to live with the horrendous affect of the illness.

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2018 14:51

jean I was shocked that the gp advised me to take antibiotics which is why I didn’t take them, have had tics before and hadn’t been to the gp, only went this time as it was on the back of my knee and I couldn’t quite get it out myself. I’m pretty sure it was there 48 hours maximum, I’m not even sure if it had started sucking on my blood (it was small). The following week I had another one on my face which was pulled out straight away (a couple hours after it appeared), didn’t really think much of it.

I will start taking the antibiotics today and see how I am in 3 week.

OP posts:
KetoME · 30/07/2018 14:52

Phew Flowers

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2018 14:54

And yes, I feel very silly for not taking them straight away.

OP posts:
Bloodylovepotatoes · 30/07/2018 14:58

It's really not within NICE guidelines to give antiobiotics to anyone who has been bitten by a tick, only if they display symptoms. Just go back and get antibiotics.

When I lived in Devon I used to get bitten by hundreds of the things every year and so did the DC.

Generallyok · 30/07/2018 18:45

I live in an area where my childen and their school friends get ticks on a weekly basis. I've had 2 this and and so has husband. It is not medical practice to give antibiotics each time. Sons friends mum is a GP and age agrees that unless you develop symptoms you shouldn't take medications. In fact you could slightly suppress lymes unless you see given a long course so make it worse. In just about to throw kids in bath and will be checking them as been playing outside today. Massive over reaction to give you abtibitics.

JeanMichelBisquiat · 30/07/2018 19:53

Good, glad you're starting them - I do think it's worth it given the symptoms you're now displaying, despite me and other saying you shouldn't really have been prescribed them....can see why you held off taking them!

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2018 21:20

Lucky that I already have the pills here, not sure if I was stupid not taking them in the first place but I’m one of thows who hates taking antibiotics unless I really need them. The thought of taking 3 weeks worth on the off chance I might have caught something seemed silly at the time.

OP posts:
JeanMichelBisquiat · 30/07/2018 21:40

I agree.

Aurea · 30/07/2018 22:28

My son has Lyme disease.

The flu symptoms after a tick bite are the best indicator that you have been infected. The bullseye rash is only visible in 60% of cases. The Lyme test is very unreliable and often gives false negatives anyway. Please act now as if you have early Lyme Disease and join Lyme Disease UK Facebook for advice and revisit your G.P who may refer you to an Infectious Diseases Clinic.

Good luck!

MollyHuaCha · 30/07/2018 23:02

Good luck OP.

HippityHop · 30/07/2018 23:08

I am confused. Is it now advisable to routinely get antibiotics after a tic bite?

Posters are saying the OP was reckless not to take them when they were initially prescribed. But if that's the case, we should all be going to the dr as soon as we get bitten by a tic!

Is that what we should do now?

Bloodylovepotatoes · 30/07/2018 23:09

No hippity. It's definitely not.

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