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Posted 5/29/2019 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Two days ago, I was bitten near the ankle of my right leg. I've been trying not to freak out about it, but the spot is still red and itches a bit.

Once I discovered the bite, I washed it with soapy water, followed up with rubbing alcohol, and applied some Neosporin (topical antibiotic) and covered it with a bandage.

The following day, I did the same.

Today, I used rubbing alcohol again, but have removed the bandage to let the spot breathe and stop irritating the surrounding skin when removing the super-sticky bandage.

Despite the fear of what people might say, I'm posting some photos of the bite and seeking opinions:

https://bit.ly/2ki8fpm

My private healthcare recently expired, so I'm unable to go visit my usual primary care doctor. Well, I can visit him, but the visit and any medications will cost me full price. I recently got approved for healthcare coverage by the Veterans Administration, but have not yet even had a primary care physician assigned.

My "Freak Out" meter is starting to increase.

Thoughts?

UPDATE:

For comparison, here's a photo of my tick bite from 2014:

https://bit.ly/2vvou4z

The black dot in the center is the tick's head.
.

Post Edited (The Dude Abides) : 5/29/2019 5:19:26 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/29/2019 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Dude- were the pics taken at different times? The redness is more intense in some - is that after awhile?

I don’t really know if/how getting new bites after we’re already experiencing chronic Lyme adds to the nightmare.

I also can’t tell if that is a tick bite versus some other insect.

Interested in what others’ have to say
Posted 5/29/2019 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have never had a known tick bite, so I can’t say much except it doesn’t look at all like a bullseye rash.

You said it itches. Do tick bites itch?
Posted 5/29/2019 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the questions, Girlie. In my quasi-anxious state, I wasn't as clear or detailed as I should have been.

The photos were all taken today, some 36 hours after the initial bite.

Some photos were taken inside using the flash, some were inside without the flash, some were taken inside using my bathroom mirror, and some were taken outside in the sunlight. I tried to get a variety of lighting conditions and angles, in hopes of providing the best information. But, it's still not as good as being here in person.

I should note that I have no idea what bit me. I did not see a tick, spider, mosquito, or anything else. I only felt the effect, after being bitten -- even then, I have no idea if I was bitten 15 minutes prior, an hour, or more.

Aside from some itching and minor pain at the site of the bite, I've had some body-wide aches and pains. However, they sometimes come-and-go anyway, so I can't definitively attribute it to the recent bite.

What concerns me is the bite mark persisting for two days. Maybe that's normal? I do notice that when I cut myself or get bruises (both which have recently happened), it takes much longer for those to recover than it did just five years ago.

Searching online, it seems Stephen Buhner recommends 3,000 mg Astragalus daily for 30 days, following a tick bite. I can't say it was a tick that bit me, but maybe taking the Astragalus would be a prudent action. There's also a homeopathic supplement called "Ledum Palustre" that Jay Davidson recommended. I've written a few times about how I've never been helped by homeopathy, but, it's unlikely to hurt.

This has made me realize that value of having a plan BEFORE a bite, whether it's a tick or other insect. Trying to figure this out AFTER a bite is the worst. I should have learned this lesson the first time I was bitten, four-and-a-half years ago.

*sigh*
Posted 5/29/2019 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, WalkingbyFaith. I'm not sure if a tick bite usually itches. Good question. I had a tick bite in late 2014 (its head was embedded in my skin), but don't recall if it itched or not. I did not get the classic bullseye rash, though we know that not everyone bitten by a tick will get the rash. Tick bites can look like more than a bullseye.
Posted 5/29/2019 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
I can understand why you would be worried, were you outside in an area where ticks would be? I never saw what bit me either but when I had my bite it looked like just a regular mosquito bite but it was not itchy at all and that was weird since every other big bite I get is extremely itchy then a few days later a perfectly circular red rash appeared around it. I did read online if you get a suspicious bug bite you can make a paste out of Benonite clay and andrographis and apply it every few hours. I think having a plan and supply's at home for if you get a bite is a great idea. I know I am really worried about getting infected again, I live in NY state and saw on the news since we have been getting so much rain this spring it is going to be a bad summer for ticks, which worries me. Let us know how you are doing, I hope this helps a little.

Post Edited (CalmLittleBuddha) : 5/29/2019 3:46:32 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/29/2019 9:40 PM (GMT 0)

The Dude Abides said...
Thanks for the questions, Girlie. In my quasi-anxious state, I wasn't as clear or detailed as I should have been.

The photos were all taken today, some 36 hours after the initial bite.

Some photos were taken inside using the flash, some were inside without the flash, some were taken inside using my bathroom mirror, and some were taken outside in the sunlight. I tried to get a variety of lighting conditions and angles, in hopes of providing the best information. But, it's still not as good as being here in person.

I should note that I have no idea what bit me. I did not see a tick, spider, mosquito, or anything else. I only felt the effect, after being bitten -- even then, I have no idea if I was bitten 15 minutes prior, an hour, or more.

Aside from some itching and minor pain at the site of the bite, I've had some body-wide aches and pains. However, they sometimes come-and-go anyway, so I can't definitively attribute it to the recent bite.

What concerns me is the bite mark persisting for two days. Maybe that's normal? I do notice that when I cut myself or get bruises (both which have recently happened), it takes much longer for those to recover than it did just five years ago.

Searching online, it seems Stephen Buhner recommends 3,000 mg Astragalus daily for 30 days, following a tick bite. I can't say it was a tick that bit me, but maybe taking the Astragalus would be a prudent action. There's also a homeopathic supplement called "Ledum Palustre" that Jay Davidson recommended. I've written a few times about how I've never been helped by homeopathy, but, it's unlikely to hurt.

This has made me realize that value of having a plan BEFORE a bite, whether it's a tick or other insect. Trying to figure this out AFTER a bite is the worst. I should have learned this lesson the first time I was bitten, four-and-a-half years ago.

*sigh*

I think it’s a good idea to take the Astragalus.
Also - isn’t there a poultice he recommends?
Posted 5/29/2019 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Dude!

I'd be freaking out, too. But I think you probably shouldn't be.

Tick bites usually don't itch, and that isn't a bullseye. There's no red dot or scab in the middle, right?

Tick bites can look all sorts of ways, of course, but that really doesn't look like most of them do.

To me it looks like you have an allergy to a flea bite or some other bug. The redness looks like a histamine reaction. (If I get a flea bite, I get redness like a hickey the size of a quarter, and it itches a little, because I have a slight allergy to fleas.)

Take some astragalus and homeopathic ledum palustre and try not to worry!
Posted 5/29/2019 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, CalmLittleBuddha. I wish I were a calm little Buddha, too.

I wasn't out in the woods, but I had walked across some grass. But, that was about it. At the time I noticed the bite, it was already red. It is less itchy and painful than two days ago, but the redness doesn't appear to have diminished in size or color.

If it's just a "typical" bug bite, then no big deal. I'm hardly recovered from the first tick bite a few years ago and worry about something new making me worse. This is likely a common concern for many of us, I bet.

Thanks for the information about the paste. I appreciate your help.
Posted 5/29/2019 10:21 PM (GMT 0)

Girlie said...
I think it’s a good idea to take the Astragalus.
Also - isn’t there a poultice he recommends?

Many thanks, Girlie. As for the poultice, maybe that's the Bentonite Clay and Andrographis mixture CalmLittleBuddha suggested? I'll Google it.
Posted 5/29/2019 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
sandyfeet and saraeli:

Thank you both. My local "alternative" provider has already offered me some antibiotic options, if I so desire. I just have to ask. Hopefully, if needed, the retail price for the antibiotics will be reasonable.

I'll see how the bite looks tomorrow, after leaving it alone and uncovered for the rest of the day and through the night. And, after taking 3,000 mg Astragalus.

With any luck, my mild head/neck aches and body aches are just coincidental. It's easy to want to jump to conclusions, but I really have no way to know for sure.

Thanks again!
Posted 5/29/2019 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dude,

I'm not a specialist but it looks like a flea bite to me since I get them and they do itch (sometimes for a week).

What works for me is what CalmLittleBuddha mentioned: Bentonite Clay which not only stops the itching but draws out any poison. Clay is good to keep in the house as it has many uses.

Take a deep breath and try to relax. I've seen many tick bites in my life and in my non-medical opinion I don't think it's a tick bite. A salt bath wouldn't hurt either.

Deep breaths and feel better,
Denise
Posted 5/29/2019 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dude,
After my recent unknown bite about 5 weeks ago, I have been taking doxy just to be sure. Im on my last week of it.

It sure is unsettling to face an unknown bite when we are still treating for the previous tick borne infections..

Taking the doxy has given me some piece of mind that at least if my bite was a tick, I did my best to try and fight more Lyme off.

I also am unsure about when we are already infected what a new bite would do. Also there are other infections we could get as we all know.

I hope yours and my new bite was something other than a tick.

I have heard from many people that their known tick bites didn't itch. But we all react differently, so not sure how reliable that is.
I do know this:
The black flies and mosquito bites itch and cause a raised bump.
Spider bites can have 2 holes for there fangs, but sometimes it can look like one hole because fangs close together I have been told.

Please watch for any new symptoms and look for erythema migrans not just at he bite site, but anywhere. Not everyone gets a classic bulls eye as we know. It could look different or faded. It can happen days or even a month later.

I wish you the best of healing and please keep us updated.
Posted 5/29/2019 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Re: taking abx for an acute infection.
Not sure how that would work if someone already has untreated chronic Lyme?
Just wondering if it could make things worse? Taking a few weeks of abx could open up Pandora’s box?

IDK - just a thought
Posted 5/29/2019 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
For comparison, here's a photo of my tick bite from 2014:

https://bit.ly/2vvou4z

The black dot in the center is the tick's head. I had a tough time trying to remove it, because it was on the back on my thigh. I had tweezers, a mirror, and poor eyesight.
Posted 5/29/2019 11:24 PM (GMT 0)

Girlie said...
Re: taking abx for an acute infection.
Not sure how that would work if someone already has untreated chronic Lyme?
Just wondering if it could make things worse? Taking a few weeks of abx could open up Pandora’s box?

IDK - just a thought

I'm really glad you mentioned that, Girlie, as I wondered about that, too. Trying to "help" might actually backfire.

This thing itches like the devil, I tell you. I want to use some sandpaper, lava soap, and a shrimp fork on it. That makes me think that saraeli may be correct about a histamine reaction.
Posted 5/30/2019 5:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Denise: Thanks for your feedback on the photos. I always appreciate your perspective. The bite certainly could be from a flea. However, since fleas, flies, mosquitoes, and lice can also carry Lyme, I'm not sure if I feel much better. :-( I picked up some Astragalus and will have to keep a watch on the rash and my symptoms. I hope all is well with you and yours.
Posted 5/30/2019 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Howdy, goshawk: I missed the post about your recent bite, but just found it and read through it. That's definitely a bummer. However, it also looks like you were prepared and took some sensible, precautionary steps. Good for you. I wish I'd been better prepared. I mistakenly thought I'd be okay, if I stayed out of the woods and away from tall grass. But, lesson learned. Wishing you the best of health.
Posted 5/31/2019 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
Regarding Stephen Buhner's advice to take 3,000 mg Astragalus daily, following a tick bite, can someone advise if that amount should be taken at once (six capsules, 500 mg each), taken in divided doses, or does it matter?

The spot on my ankle isn't spreading, but also isn't dissipating. It seems to remain the same size (about the size of a button on a shirt) and same color intensity.

I've continued to experience neck/head pain, but, of course, still can't be sure the new bite is the cause. I'm also worried about the bite, have stress from my ongoing (and, unsuccessful) job search, my sleep has been terrible, and I've not been eating enough recently. These factors could easily explain the aches and pains.

This sucks.
Posted 5/31/2019 10:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dude,

What sandyfeet said sounds correct. I found this information about dosing astragalus:

If you get bit by a tick, or if you notice a bulls eye rash, immediately begin taking 1000mg 3x daily, increasing it every week by 1000mg, so the second week use 2000 mg 3x daily, the third 3000 mg 3x daily, and so on. Essentially to ramp up the immune response markers needed to either prevent infection or reduce symptoms to mild.

This is essentially an immediate response to the onset of acute infection. There are some people who, I think, can use astragalus who have been infected for some time, but that is pretty much a case-by-case sort of thing and the dosage would vary considerably. Let me know if this takes care of the confusion.

Stephen

http://buhnerhealinglyme.com/basics/astragalus-dose-discrepancy/

I hope you can find some relief from your worries even if it's just a funny or corny movie. Laughter can help, yes, easier said then done. I wish I had a better sense of humor so I could crack a joke that would tickle your funny bone but I'm not wired that way.

Thinking of you,
Denise
Posted 5/31/2019 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
sandyfeet and Denise: Your feedback was very helpful, indeed! As always, I thank you!
Posted 6/1/2019 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I believe this was my tick bite. It was similar size but I don't remember it itching. It started out looking similar to yours but then started having a little clearing in the center. So hopefully it's something else I do remember it lasted a while too maybe like a week or more.

https://image.ibb.co/k1mMqJ/bite_july_2017.jpg
Posted 6/1/2019 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, trekkar. Zooming-in on the center of your bite photo, there appears to be a small indention and a tiny dot.

I've not been touching my bite area, but just looked at it again -- still the same size, no clearing around the center, and the intensity appears to be about the same. There may be some slight fading, but I can't be 100% sure. I just rubbed my finger over it and it feels slightly raised. It doesn't seem to itch any longer.

I'm trying to ignore it, without ignoring it.
Posted 6/2/2019 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
I recently had a tick bite that looked a lot like the first one in the picture. I started taking Ledum palustre that day (See Joette Calabrese Lyme disease). I have had over 10 ticks embedded in me over the last 5-6 years. My tick bites ALWAYS itch a lot. This last time after taking Ledum palustre the itch was minimal.
I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2009 and then again in 2018. My (former) dr does not believe that Lyme Disease exists!! He would not take a blood sample for a test but his PA did several months later - it was positive. He is no longer my dr (and she is no longer his PA) but 2 other MD's since state 'there is no such thing as chronic Lyme Disease.' Therefore I have been on my own. I got Stephen Buhner's book many years ago and have been using his protocol - Cat's Claw, Eleuthero root, Dandelion root and Sarsaparilla root from Green Dragon Botanicals in Brattleboro VT. I no longer take the recommended dose but (3 pills 3 x per day) but 3 pills 1x or 2x per day. I do not take them after 2 or 3 pm as they give me good energy and I don't want them interfering with my sleep. When I took them 3x per day, I herxed after 2 or 3 weeks so I stopped for a while. Started again and herxed after a while. Now I take 1 or 2x daily.
I have tried Many natural cures but keep getting bouts of 24-36 hour malaise - can't sleep but can't get up -can't eat -
or vomit. My weight has gone from 220 ( 6'2" -overweight but active and in good shape) to 170 and under in the last few years. My current dr is a 'little' concerned and recently said - "I'd be concerned if you went below 170" but he states "there is no chronic Lyme Disease."
I often get upper back and neck aches and use a homemade salve (Solomon's seal root, Calendula, nettle root, comfrey, mullein with olive oil and beeswax) which helps some and Rhus tox homeopathic pills.
I started to reply about Ledum palustre and the itch of tick bite but got wound up - hope this is not confusing and insight for some - even though I still get bouts of malaise I feel better with homeopathics, nosodes and herbs.
Thanks to all who post ...ub
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