Third Time’s The Charm

Adulterated, borrowed image.

*

Yup. For the third time in four years I have this stinking disease. (The national average is once.)

Tick 7/14/26

Here’s the little a**hole that gave it to me. When the doctor asked if I knew how long the tick had been attached, I lied and said I didn’t. Conventional medical wisdom says it takes 24-48 hrs to transmit. This was on me 20 minutes. I was afraid if I told the truth I wouldn’t get help.

Of course I started showing symptoms on a Friday and had to wait until Monday to call the doctor. When I called Monday morning, they couldn’t see me until Thursday afternoon. Everyone at the office asked if I had taken a preventive dose of antibiotics. (I didn’t realize that was an option!) If someone shows up for an appointment with a tick bite and Lyme symptoms, doctors are supposed to prescribe a course of antibiotics RIGHT AWAY. Instead this office made me do a Western Blot test which if you’re lucky takes a week to come back with results. Now I’m at more than 5+ weeks with this stupid disease, and have to take the long course of horse pill antibiotics.

Needless to say, Bitey Mom is not a happy camper. Unfortunately, she is too tired to do anything about it.

*

I’ll be tired with you, mommy!

*

33 Comments

  1. ssnowdrops's avatar

    HUGSSSSSSSSS

    SOME OF US ARE GIFTED WE ARE TICK MAGNETS !

    YES NOT LONG FOUND OUT THE ANTIB’S TRICK TOO. I GET IMMUNE SUPER FAST BUT A HEFTY BELT OF THEM SLOWS IT DOWN . BUT THE YOU’S AND I’S OF THIS WORLD ARE DESTINED TO BE MAGNETS !

    LOVE AND HUGS LADY

  3. Julia's avatar

    Oh no,😥 I am so sorry to hear that. This is just to crazy to express.

    Can you get an exterminator to kill all the ticks around your house? You could stay somewhere else while the area got deticked.(ha just made up a word.)

  4. Suzassippi's avatar

    I am so mad to hear this. Son J still has residual effects from Lyme disease due to tick bite. Only the doctor in Franklin, Tennessee saved him from worse effects, because he took it seriously after everyone here did not.

  5. Unknown's avatar

    I generally lay low and don’t comment much anymore unless I have a worthy and useful comment. Today is that day!

    Okay, as you also live in Pennsylvania you are quite fortunate to have a free state sponsored tick analysis service. This is how Pennsylvania has such accurate (and therefore unsurprisingly high) tick-borne disease statistics. Simply go to this website: ticklab.org. Then fill out the online form, print it out and send to the East Stroudsburg, PA address. Just drop the tick into a zippy bag. I usually just put it all into a little padded envelope and ship UPS. We just print the label here at the house and drop it off at the UPS Store, since USPS has been sucking into the stratospheric levels in the last 2-3 years. You will get the result emailed back to you within a week. These are very comprehensive testing, free of charge to PA residents and give peace of mind one way or another. They also test for diseases other than Lymes. Powassan is in the rise, so that is also covered. However, if it was a Lone Star tick and alpha-gal transmission is a concern, then they can confirm the tick (actually anyone can visually confirm a Lone Star tick based on the white spot on the tick’s back), but there is no DNA test to indicate if the tick is a carrier of alpha-gal disease.

    Over the past years (quite a few actually) we’ve sent many ticks to them. Anytime, I’ve pulled one off me or anyone else and also got any off The Terrier, that little arachnid bugger is on a UPS truck within 12 hours. Also, I got annoyed with doctors testing me for Lymes, especially since my theory was just directly go to the source and test the tick!

    For what it’s worth I’ve had Lymes twice over the course of 21 years. The prophylactic antibiotic has been standard of care for at least five years, just need to go to an ER or maybe a doc-in-a-box quickie mart for it (not completely sure about that though). I’d advise getting that thing off to East Stroudsburg University tomorrow..

    Feel better!

    Anony-mouse and The Terrier

  6. Unknown's avatar

    Keep us updated!

    oh, and the name alpha-gal syndrome always makes me chuckle. It makes me think of an underwhelming person who think she’s Super Girl. Super Girl was sort of like Midge was to Barbie.

    oh, and don’t believe the national stats of Lymes. It’s far more prevalent and way underdiagonosed. I was fortunate to get the bullseye rash both times, but not everyone is. The first time was 22 years ago when I visiting my sister in Montgomery County, Tennessee and going to a neighbor’s house to visit their pet pig (don’t ask… it was a giant sow and they treated it as a pet). Grass was knee high, got a tick, discovered it on Memorial Day after returning home, got into the doctor the following day and got on antibiotics. The doctor was quick, didn’t hesitate and the three weeks of doxycycline was pretty bad, very nauseating. I recall all those years ago looking up the stats for Lymes in TN and it said it was practically non-existent. HA! Or they just didn’t track it was more like it. …. to the poster up above concerning her son getting treatment from a Franklin, TN doctor, isn’t too surprising. My sister has lived in TN for 36 years, works in Nashville and says Franklin is land of the celebrities and uber-wealthy. Sadly, I think there is a correlation between being educated, having money and the quality of medical care received. As a health care professional for decades my sister notices these disparities, too.

    • Suzassippi's avatar

      The doctor in Franklin was the only one within 300 miles who was listed as Lyme literate. He was great. I am well educated with a PhD, have money, and as a health care professional for years, quite knowledgeable. It was not disparate care; it was not listening to the patient and believing what he said. That can happen regardless of socio economic status.

      • Unknown's avatar

        I meant no offense. Listening is not a gift all doctors possess. Just my personal experience is that doctors who started out as something in a previous professional life before going to medical school are the best listeners, although I’m sure there are exceptions. All those years ago I was diagnosed by a physical therapist who switched to becoming a doctor due to issues that limited her mobility and ability to work as a P.T. She was and still is a fantastic listener. One time we discussed typical medical doctors and their egos and she agreed that egos do seem to be a bit of a speed bump in the provider/patient relationship. On a personal note, I’ve found (on occasion) that where a doctor’s knowledge is limited is when the ego can starts to rise. I have a real respect for doctors who realize that they’ve gone as far as their knowledge will allow them to go with a patient and refer them out to a specialist who will actually help and provide medical care and guidance.

        In any case, I meant no offense and I do apologize. I’ll go back to laying low and not commenting.

        Best wishes.

  9. Reiko's Journey's avatar

    Very concerning! Last night, I spent extra time inspecting my gin and tonic to assure the lime was unadulterated. Given your string of unfortunate luck, have you considered the potential value of an exorcism at A1A Bitey Dog Lane? Where was the tick – that may provide me with clues. Also, plus one for having a blog poster who with encyclopedic knowledge of Ioxdidae. Seriously, though, sympathies for having to deal with this terrible situation and all the inconvenience and discomfort that follows. I’m sure The Murphster will do his level best to distract you from your suffering (provided it doesn’t interrupt his treat supply.) Oh, and that ring looks a little small for your finger. 😈

    • Bitey Dog's avatar

      Hmm, how about your key lime pie? Do you still feel comfortable eating it?

      Oddly enough, the tick bite and bee stings all were on my left hand. In spiritual circles, the left side is considered the receiving side. Evidently someone is trying to send me a strong message.

      That’s not a ring, it’s a splint. I had to get a prescription for it. Intrigued? 😈

  10. suziecreamcheese's avatar

    I live in deer heaven – we call them Tick Taxis – but so far I’ve been lucky enough to only pull a few off myself or Maverick. My doctor will immediately prescribe Doxycycline – which tears up my stomach but gives us an excuse to have scrambie eggs for breakfast till the prescription is finished. (Maverick loves his scrambie eggs) I’m so sorry this happened to you! Also, I didn’t know that about the left side, that’s my weak side – I wonder what that means!

Leave a comment