I found a tick on my scalp last night and surprisingly, it came right off when I scratched with my fingernail (I didn't know it was a tick till I saw it in my fingers). I researched online and it appears to be a deer tick - about 1/8" long, dark reddish brown. According to advice online, I put it in a baggie in the freezer in case I need to show someone to confirm identity.
I can't tell if it bit me - I think so because the area stings just slightly. I can't see the area (to check for rash) because it's under my hair near the back of my head (and I live alone so no one can look for me).
It occurs to me that having RA and Lupus, and being treated with Rituximab which messes with my immune system, might make me more susceptible to infection. This afternoon I called my doctor and left a message for the on-call doctor (more than 4 hours ago) with no response. I don't want to go sit for 7 hours in the emergency room for no good reason.
What's really annoying is that I'm almost a total shut-in and my cats are completely indoor pets. Where did this sucker come from? There is virtually no shrubbery around my house, no grass at all. The only contact I can think of is the handyman who just replaced some outdoor carpeting - he was in the house a few times. I can't imagine he was carrying this tick around and it jumped off him, but where else could it have come from?
I believe that the tick in the baggie can be tested. I don't think it's an "emergency" but I would call the doctor on Tuesday and see if they want to start a course of antibiotics just to be on the safe side. That used to be standard protocol but now since there has been a lot of over use with them I think they may have changed that. Howver in your case it may be the best thing. Good Luck- a lot of deer ticks don't have Lyme at all.I got over run with deer ticks last summer. I am in the woods alot. They are hard to see little creatures and worse hard to get rid of. Some may not carry Lyme Disease but I read with the global warming there is a huge increase in Lyme. Good you put the little devil in the freezer. By all means take it to your DR. and have it analyized. I am not so sure that's what wrong with me yet, so have it checked out. Scary stuff. Take care and keep us updated!Thanks for the responses! I'm not especially worried, but I know that those of us with RA (and on drugs that compromise our immune systems) should be more careful than most people about potential problems. I will definitely call my rheumatologist on Tuesday.
It must be one of Murphy's stupid laws that such things happen on long weekends!
[QUOTE=Cat E. Clysm]Thanks for the responses! I'm not especially worried, but I know that those of us with RA (and on drugs that compromise our immune systems) should be more careful than most people about potential problems. I will definitely call my rheumatologist on Tuesday.
[QUOTE=pin cushion]You will know if you got bit. I had tick bite fever a few years back and it was the most awful thing ever, I had one on the outside of my belly button and my daughter had one behind her ear, we both came down with a terrible headache and sickness. We had been in a game reserve in South Africa but they think the ticks came from a herd of cattle on the out skirts of the reserve. My bite turned completely black and i still have the scar. Please be careful.[/QUOTE]
I totally disagree, a lot of people never knew they had a tick on them much less bitten by one. I didn't!!!!
The only reason i said you will know if you had a bite is that it makes you quite ill. I didnt know i had been biten by a tick or didnt see the bite until I went to the Dr. I explained my symptoms and he checked me over and found the bite, the following day it turned black. Within 12 hours of me visiting the game reserve the headaches became unbearable and all my joints ached. My dog had tick bite fever too, she was also very ill, we nearly lost her.
Call and talk to your dr. on Tuesday about the tick bite. Does the tick look engorged with blood at all?
Make sure you have checked your cats for any other little pesties that may have gone for a ride on the handymans pant legs and then jumped off in your home.
Also since ticks a quite famous for carrying Lyme Disease, make sure you speak with your dr. about having a titer done. I am not sure how long you have to wait to have that done after a suspected tick bite but someone here or your dr. will know.
Hello my dear friend Liz, I hope you are well. I agree with asking about a titer.I would demand 4-6 weeks of doxycycline!Sounds like some of you seem to know- my husband was put on amoxicillian for possible Lyme. Is that OK?I wouldn't freak or demand drugs for it. I live in an area with lots of ticks. I've been biten, my kids have too. You can't feel it and you woulnd't know unless you have to get it off of you and it's stuck on. Not all ticks have lyme; not all deer ticks have lyme.
Try to chill out about it, mention it to your doctor and go from there.
I was pretty sure I was bitten because the tick was rounded, not flat, and I had a very slight stinging or tingling sensation in that area last night. But today, "nothing," and no sign of illness (yet?).
I will call my doctor tomorrow to get his input - the rheumatologist, as most regular doctors don't seem to know much about RA or understand why we might be concerned about "small" things that don't bother most people.
The on-call doctor (a regular GP) never did call me back. I'm sure he thought it was just a nuisance thing. As it might be, but I do think we RA-ers have to be alert to our special needs and concerns, and our sometimes-ineffective immune systems!
Thanks, everyone, for your input. I'm sure sorry for those who have been severely ill from ticks. It sounds awful!
Btw, I did check my cats all over and no sign of any problems. *crossing fingers!*
I am not saying freak out about it but most docs do not take lyme seriously enough, I would rather be safe than sorry!! Debrakay, have you ever had chronic lyme or know anyone that has? I would guess no or you would not have posted that!
Yes Reegie, I have friends that have cronic lyme. I didn't say it was something to not be concerned about; I just think you call your doctor and mention the situation and go from there.
When you read posts: Demand this drug, Send it off to be tested, etc. etc., it may not be necessary. If you have faith in your doctor and you tell him what happened he'll guide the situation in the right direction.
This day and age lots of doctors know about lyme. Some people get a bullseye, some do not. You typically can not feel a bite. It can reak havok on your system if you have lyme, but there are tests that can be taken to determine if you have it. If you have it, antibiotics given should take care of the issue. It's those that wait and have no idea that are harder to treat.
There are people that run to antibiotics when not needed and it is worse to do that. I guess that's my point.
Also Reegie - I have a friend with a pic line in him now for lyme.......so I'm not an idiot.
But when you come from an area with lots of ticks, you can't freak out when you find one.
I never said you were an idiot! I just know from personal experience that this isn't an issue to take lightly. Not all tests or people for that matter test positive for lyme so the tests are not definite. Also, suprisingly enough, in this day and age a lot of doctors do not know enough about lyme.
Enough arguing about it, I just want her to get proper treatment because I know how badly it can
It doesn't hurt to be on abx for a 6 weeks to protect yourself.
Pip
[QUOTE=Cat E. Clysm]Update: Talked to my rheumatologist today and he said, as long as there was no rash, I have nothing to worry about. I can't see my scalp, but he assured me I would FEEL it if so. I do trust him, and feel relieved that there will apparently be no repercussions from this weird incident.[/QUOTE]
I'll be blunt. Your DR knows NOTHING about Lyme if he says No rash/No Lyme. Thousands of people have NEVER had the rash. Many even test Negative on the blood tests. Remember the blood test is a test for a antibody response from the tick. No response gets you a Negative test evry time. Funny I was just watching a show called " Mystery Diagnosis " Guy ended up so sick he almost died. NEVER had a positive test and NEVER had the rash. They found out by doing a Spect scan of the brain. Even his spinal tap was Negative. Took him year and half to get 100% better. Go to Lymenet.org and post. It's your health at stake. Living in the Northeast Most Dr's put you on antibiotics right away for 21 days
My husband went for an MRI today of his brain. He is taking 21 days of amoxicillian for possible Lyme. We are in the Northeast, he has had an attached deer tick, no rash...is being seen by an ear dr. right now because his biggest complaint was ringing in the ear but has an appointment with an infectious disease dr. in mid Sept.
Wanna - you need to check the site 6t5 listed and whose IP address I had wrong. Both you guys need more info.
Pip
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