[Therese's Mommy]

We are basically city folk and I have never dealt with ticks before. We were up at a friend's on Sunday and I am assuming that is where dd picked up this tick. I just found it about 30 minutes ago. Dh did his best to get it all out. We put it in a bag and have an appt with a PA at 2. In the meantime, I am freaking out. It was at the base of her hairline in the back. It is pretty angry looking, looks like a big scab in the middle and seems to carry with it a sizable lump. It is in a weird place (right on one of those 2 things that run from your neck to your head), so maybe that is why it seems like such a big lump. Anyway, I am freaking out, worrying that it could carry Lyme's disease (we live in the NE) and whatever other things they could carry (do they carry anything else). I feel so bad for her

Would love to hear some BTDT.

Thanks!!

Beth

 

[k9sarchik]

If it's a big tick then I suspect there is nothing to worry about. It's probably a dog tick.
If its a tiny tiny tick then it could be a deer tick. Those are the ones that carry Lyme disease.

 

[kjbrown92]

That's the same place my DD2 got one a few weeks ago. Sounds like a dog tick. I took DD2's out and I've been watching it. It's a very low chance that it's carrying Lyme if it's a dog tick, though I watch them all anyway since we're in the heart of Lyme country. My DD2's was inflamed for about a week (doctor said it's because the tick puts something into you and that's why it swells).

 

[Therese's Mommy]

Thanks for the response. The PA said the exact same thing. It is being sent away for testing and dd is on an antibiotic just to be sure, but it is most likely nothing to worry about.

 

[Therese's Mommy]

Just called the dr's office and found out it was in fact a deer tick

So, dd has to finish the antibiotic (which stinks because it is tearing her stomach up

) and we can go back in 6wks for testing, which I plan to do. I feel so bad for her. I know Lyme can be really bad, so I will be praying that everything turns out ok.

Beth

 

[Mel38]

Hi there,

Check out the Amer. Lyme Disease Foundation website - they have some good info on the disease and how likely/unlikely it is that your dd was exposed. I sure hope that she wasn't, but it sounds like the ped. is being cautious.

FWIW, I have totally BTDT with ticks. We don't live in a region with lots of Lyme disease, but I grew up with ticks and still have them in my life.

All of my kids have had them once or even several times. We are pretty vigilant about checking the kids daily during tick seasons, but even then they do sometimes manage to become embedded before we find them. There is much less chance of any disease being transmitted if the tick is not engorged.

So good luck to you and I hope your dd finishes the abx without too much more trouble. Try not to worry.

 

[Therese's Mommy]

Unfortunately it was engorged

We found it on Thur AM and she probably picked it up Sun afternoon.

 

[sbgrace]

You need to be on antibiotics at proper doses for quite a while for lyme. I think my son was 6 or even 8 weeks? Do a search here for lyme as I didn't save the links. But I had to go to the doctor with research because they only originally dosed him for two weeks.
Probiotics can help the diarrhea/gut stuff. Florator is great because probiotics don't kill it. Meanwhile culturelle is widely available and can be taken three hours after each antibiotic dose. The antibiotic does kill it so you have to dose after every single antibiotic dose. The florastor once a day.

In our case we were told that even if he didn't test positive we needed to treat as if given the circumstances. I guess since they are testing the tick (is that accurate...look) maybe it isn't the same. We didn't have the tick. But I wouldn't dose her for a short antibiotic and then test in six weeks. I'm sure that isn't the proper protocol. Do some research.