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New to this - Tick bite and treatment

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Posted 7/7/2015 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

I was bitten by a tick on June 12 and found it the next day. It was there probably 12 hours. I freaked out and my husband removed it completely (by hand - didn't know at the time that wasn't the right way to do it :/

I started developing a rash on Sunday and went to the ER and was prescribed cephalexin (sp?) as she said the bite looked infected but didn't suspect lyme. (I had read enough to know she probably didn't know).
So, I say my primary care Doc on Monday and was prescribed 14 days of Doxycycline 100 mg 2x day as he thought it looked like it was developing into the bull's-eye rash and I wasn't feeling great. I saw an LLMD on Tuesday and she put me on 6 weeks of doxycycline as well as flagyl for 6 weeks. So, I am hopeful that I will be ok since I started antibiotics within 72 hours of being bitten - (although just barely made it within that time frame).

The LLMD told me I might have die off/herx for 10-14 days and feel bad. I did!
My concern/question is this....It's now been 22 days on both antibiotics and I'm still not feeling good. Is it normal to still be feeling this way after 3 weeks on antibiotics?
My main issue is fatigue and just not feeling "good". I don't feel like I'm dying, just don't feel good a lot of the time. Some days are better than others.
I've had some achy muscles - mainly my shoulder/neck and a headache just a few times.
Also some lightheadedness, but I had that at times before being bitten.

The LLMD is out the rest of this week and I'm on vacation next week, so can't really get any help there at the moment.
I also have some nausea and loss of appetite, but am pretty sure that's antibiotic side effects. I've also had to start taking nystatin orally for yeast overgrowth. :/

Any feed back is appreciated. Thanks very much!
Posted 7/7/2015 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
It might be the Flagyl.. i'd look into that. The neck pain is classic lyme.

Add b12..methyl..they dissolve under you tongue..i take 3000mcg a day... lyme can damage nerve endings (from what others have said...)... might want to add milk thistle and magnesium (good for muscles)...just make sure you get a good magnesium...i bought some and later found out some people called it a laxative and now i know why....another guy said he couldn't trust his farts anymore!!! (yeah..great..i stopped that and ordered some different stuff).

I haven't had a headache since starting doxy...and i use to get them pretty frequently (have my whole life---not lyme). I had typical rash on June 7th and started doxy then... upped my dosage (myself) to 300mg a day a few days in and jump around between 200 and 400 a day now. Also take a list of herbs and vitamins for possible babesia...although i'm on the fence on if i have it or not but will continue to treat everything for months... taking breaks..pulsing...stopping and restarting...maybe changing it up (abx/etc).

Another thing..i hope you are taking probiotics regularly? I take them twice a day (sneak them in 2 or 3 hours after any meds) and right before bed...
Posted 7/7/2015 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hey! Welcome to the forum!

I'm not going to be much help, sorry. Really, I'm just here to say, you got this. You've taken - you are taking all the right steps.

Stick around, and we, along with your LLMD, should get you taken care of.
Posted 7/7/2015 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, thank you for your replies. And thanks for the encouragement, Antonio192X. Needing that today!

Daddylonglegs, I am taking a B12 supplement, probiotics (30 billion) and magnesium as well as Vitamin D3 and Vitamin C.

I tested negative on the screening test, but the LLMD said I probably would since blood was drawn only 48 hours after tick bite. The LLMD did not recommend any further testing while on antibiotics. Is that normal?
Posted 7/7/2015 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
about the probiotics, what brand are you taking? You should do some research, see if the reviews are good. I'm no expert, but I do know that some of the store bought ones can be iffy.

Also, not sure if either of your doctors mentioned this to you, but it's best to be taking the probiotics at least 2 hours before/after you take the other medications, otherwise they'll likely just get killed off.

As for the testing, he's probably just giving it a couple weeks or so, to see if your body starts making the antibodies or whatever.

LOL.. sorry, told ya I wouldn't be much help. I should really know a lot more, considering how long I've been trying this healing stuff. Oh well, someday maybe.

But, yeah, keep it up. Try to enjoy the rest of ya day.
Posted 7/7/2015 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Singsongs - Welcome to our community!

I'm glad to hear you already have a LLMD.

Yes, it's normal to feel crappy after three weeks of antibiotics. The bacteria produces endotoxins when it's being killed...those endotoxins produce a herx reaction.

What you can do is employ several detox methods - to help your body flush out the toxins...and also help with the symptoms.

Have you read the "New to Lyme?..Start Here!" thread at the top of the page - Lots of great information - including a list of detox ideas.
Some ideas:

1. Drink 8 glasses of water daily.
2. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into some of those glasses. (Drink thru a straw so your teeth aren't damaged by the lemon)
3. Have warm epsom salt baths. - daily if possible.
4. Add Hydrogen peroxide to the baths.
5. Dry brush your skin prior to the baths.
6. Take milk thistle seed extract - to keep liver healthy - so it can aid in detoxing
7. Light exercise - if you're able - keeps the lymphatic system moving
8. Eat a healthy diet...and eliminate sugar and simple carbs from your diet - as much as possible.

Also, what Antonio said - probiotics are very important to keep your gut healthy.
Posted 7/7/2015 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Singssongs!!
Welcome to our community!! I'm so glad you found us!

Looks like everyone is sharing all the information that you need, so I just stopped by to welcome you to the community, say congrats on getting solid treatment so very early, and to agree that detoxing and probiotic use is absolutely necessary.

Best of luck with the rest of this!! And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!
Posted 7/8/2015 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Girlie and Traveler. I will start trying some of the detox methods. I did read through the 'new to lyme'. Lots of helpful information. Thank you!
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