Help! Tick Bite!

[BabySmurf]

So I found a tick sticking out of my belly this evening...I'm kind of freaking out.  I was able to get the body off, but the head is still stuck.  It's awful! I called my doc about it, and they are going to have me come in first thing in the morning and probably give me precautionary antibiotic...what should I know??? I am breastfeeding still and my son definitely has GI issues.  I'm really scared of making his issues worse, but at the same time I have had Lyme Disease before, and am petrified of getting it again.  What is okay to take? Should I take a precautionary dose, or is that dangerous.  I am normally in the camp of taking antibiotics only when NEEDed, but this scares me.  Help please!!

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

What kind of tick was it? Was it a deer tick or a dog tick? Deer ticks are really tiny, the size of a pin head. A dog tick is larger. If it was a dog tick, there really isn't a reason to take antibiotics. You could use topical antibiotics if you're concerned about the bite getting infected.

Personally, if I was pregnant and it was a deer tick, I still don't think I'd take the antibiotics unless I had a bullseye rash, other symptoms, or tested positive for Lyme. That being said, Lyme's can be awful, so I could certainly see why you might choose to go for antibiotics just in case.

[BabySmurf]

It looked like a deer tick to me - it was larger than I would have expected, but I know the adults can get "big".  Ugh, I'm so distraught.  The "logical" side of me thinks that the chances of getting Lyme's is pretty small.  Even if it was a deer tick I probably found it early enough where I wouldn't be infected.  DS already has dairy and soy, and possibly wheat issues, and I JUST was able to clear up his eczema.  He is also due for a shot, and it is killing me thinking about how bad the antibiotics could effect him.....and the potential for thrush.

BUT I have had Lyme's Disease before.  I know how awful it is, I know that I had a relatively easy experience (only one day in the hospital with IV antibiotics, a full 4-5 weeks of antibiotics, and then a thrush infection....but then everything was fine).  I also know people where it has not been that easy...and it petrifies me.  I was lucky to get the rash last time, so it easy to figure out what the problem was...but what if I caught Lyme now, and didn't get a rash?  The early symptoms are really non specific, and if I waited for definite symptoms, it may be too late to treat it easily. 

What it comes down to is that I am really scared. 

Well, off I go to the doc.  Hopefully she will help ease my fears.

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

Originally Posted by BabySmurf 

It looked like a deer tick to me - it was larger than I would have expected, but I know the adults can get "big".  Ugh, I'm so distraught.  The "logical" side of me thinks that the chances of getting Lyme's is pretty small.  Even if it was a deer tick I probably found it early enough where I wouldn't be infected.  DS already has dairy and soy, and possibly wheat issues, and I JUST was able to clear up his eczema.  He is also due for a shot, and it is killing me thinking about how bad the antibiotics could effect him.....and the potential for thrush.
BUT I have had Lyme's Disease before.  I know how awful it is, I know that I had a relatively easy experience (only one day in the hospital with IV antibiotics, a full 4-5 weeks of antibiotics, and then a thrush infection....but then everything was fine).  I also know people where it has not been that easy...and it petrifies me.  I was lucky to get the rash last time, so it easy to figure out what the problem was...but what if I caught Lyme now, and didn't get a rash?  The early symptoms are really non specific, and if I waited for definite symptoms, it may be too late to treat it easily. 
What it comes down to is that I am really scared. 
Well, off I go to the doc.  Hopefully she will help ease my fears.

Good luck! I've seen some nasty Lyme's issues too, and they I've had probably 100s of deers ticks (lots of outdoor time in high tick areas since I was little), and so far haven't gotten it. I do get worried too though everytime I get one, and especially when the kids get one! I'm sure that if you need to be on antibiotics, they'll put you on something that's safe for your pregnancy. Just make sure you take a high dose probiotic, 2 hours outside the antibiotics if you go that route.

[BabySmurf]

Well, it looks like the only antibiotics that are supposed to work prophylactically are contraindicated while BFing, so we are playing the "wait and see game".  So I will be pumping up the immune system and on the look out for symptoms.  Hopefully this turns out to be just a gross tick bite.  Thank you so much for responding!!!

[Ackray]

Was the tick engorged?  If it wasn't, then it probably was not on you for the "magic" 24 hour time period.  Ticks freak me out!

[eireann]

me too. ticks scare the beegeezus out of me, because Lyme is so potentially, unbelievably awful. It's also so tricky to dx if the person doesn't have the classic symptoms, because not everyone gets the bullseye rash and people dont necessarily  become symptomatic immediately. some are subclinical, etc.

Ugh...I dunno. I am SO sorry you are having to deal with this. It's a tough, tough call.

[BabySmurf]

Originally Posted by Ackray 

Was the tick engorged?  If it wasn't, then it probably was not on you for the "magic" 24 hour time period.  Ticks freak me out!

I'm pretty sure that I caught it within enough time, so I am much calmer now. And the bite is looking a million times better....phew!! I'll still be on the on the lookout for symptoms though.  Craziness.

Originally Posted by eireann 

me too. ticks scare the beegeezus out of me, because Lyme is so potentially, unbelievably awful. It's also so tricky to dx if the person doesn't have the classic symptoms, because not everyone gets the bullseye rash and people dont necessarily  become symptomatic immediately. some are subclinical, etc.

Ugh...I dunno. I am SO sorry you are having to deal with this. It's a tough, tough call.

Thanks...I am going to be super careful from now on, and the bright side is that I haven't seen any marks on DS, so it's only me I am worried about - and I know what the "symptoms" can be.