In search of Lyme Literate physician

Hello,

I am new here. I am looking for a Lyme specialist in Orange County, CA. I am not diagnosed yet but am concerned. I had a tick bite in late June. Didn't even know it was there until days later (behind my knee). I pulled it out but it became very inflamed and painful about 3 weeks later. I went to urgent care (I was away from home in another state). I was given doxycycline. The site got much worse quickly. I went back to urgent care and they sent me to ER where it was deemed infected, excised and cleaned out. I asked if I should be concerned about any tick diseased and the ER doc say no...that the treatment would be the same (doxycycline) just a longer course. I think I took a 10 day course. about a week later I developed what I thought was an unrelated insect sting or bite on my earlobe which resolved on it's own after several days. The tick bite site is seemingly completely healed but still has a skin pigment change around the site which I thought was just a result of the "cleaning out" in the ER. I was telling someone about it recently who told me it was a sign of Lyme infection. After doing a bit more research I discovered that the earlobe issue that I had is a typical a sign of Stage 2 Lyme. So here I am...in panic mode. I have an appointment with my PMD tomorrow but am thinking I really should go straight to a specialist as I've read this is not a disease that is well understood by the masses. Interested in any feedback and how I might find a specialist. My searching has led me here and to mostly holistic center ads. Any help is greatly appreciated.

sharonjane said...
Hello,

I am new here. I am looking for a Lyme specialist in Orange County, CA. I am not diagnosed yet but am concerned. I had a tick bite in late June. Didn't even know it was there until days later (behind my knee). I pulled it out but it became very inflamed and painful about 3 weeks later. I went to urgent care (I was away from home in another state). I was given doxycycline. The site got much worse quickly. I went back to urgent care and they sent me to ER where it was deemed infected, excised and cleaned out. I asked if I should be concerned about any tick diseased and the ER doc say no...that the treatment would be the same (doxycycline) just a longer course. I think I took a 10 day course. about a week later I developed what I thought was an unrelated insect sting or bite on my earlobe which resolved on it's own after several days. The tick bite site is seemingly completely healed but still has a skin pigment change around the site which I thought was just a result of the "cleaning out" in the ER. I was telling someone about it recently who told me it was a sign of Lyme infection. After doing a bit more research I discovered that the earlobe issue that I had is a typical a sign of Stage 2 Lyme. So here I am...in panic mode. I have an appointment with my PMD tomorrow but am thinking I really should go straight to a specialist as I've read this is not a disease that is well understood by the masses. Interested in any feedback and how I might find a specialist. My searching has led me here and to mostly holistic center ads. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hi sharonjane - welcome!

The treatment for a new tick bite with no symptoms is 4 weeks.

Treatment for a tick bite plus an EM rash is treat to sign/symptom free plus 4 weeks ( minimum 6 weeks treatment)

So, you were under-treated. I think it's best you find a LLMD a.s.a.p. and start treatment again.
When you phone - tell them it's a recent tick bite and you need to get in as soon as possible. Have them put you on a cancellation list.

Early intervention gives you the best chance of not having this go chronic.

We can help you find a llmd. Start a new thread: "looking for LLMD in/near____" and fill in the blank with your location.

Then enable your email option so members can send you names privately. We don't post the names of our LLMD's here for their privacy/protection.

If you don’t get some recommendations here - you can email me for options.

I check my emails at least one a day.