Tick Season in Full Swing (house, university, moving)

[Maine Writer]

A reminder to check yourself and pets for ticks. One of our dogs had a deer tick embedded in her ear last night, and I found an engorged dog (I think) tick in the house this afternoon. We spray our outdoor/hunting clothes with permetherin to slow them down.

[Last1Standing]

Another piece of advice: if you know you've been bitten by a tick, take doxycycline immedidiately. Don't even wait for test results. I was bitten by a tick this summer. I got sick a couple of weeks later and got tested. My doctor's office forgot to tell me that I tested positive for lyme disease until 3 weeks after the test. That put me in a higher risk category for long-term symptoms due to delayed treatment.

This "prophylactic" use of doxycycline is recommended by the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/F...ckBite-508.pdf

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Last1Standing

Another piece of advice: if you know you've been bitten by a tick, take doxycycline immedidiately. Don't even wait for test results. I was bitten by a tick this summer. I got sick a couple of weeks later and got tested. My doctor's office forgot to tell me that I tested positive for lyme disease until 3 weeks after the test. That put me in a higher risk category for long-term symptoms due to delayed treatment.

This "prophylactic" use of doxycycline is recommended by the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/F...ckBite-508.pdf

Not only that, you should push for at least 30 days of the Doxy. The initial 2 or 3 days they often try to give you isn't going to finish off any infection, never mind lyme disease.

[CARas2020]

my husbands young cousin was bitten and got Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. She got very sick. She has made a remarkable recovery. I remember visting cousins in Wyoming and my aunt and mom had to check all of kids.

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Not only that, you should push for at least 30 days of the Doxy. The initial 2 or 3 days they often try to give you isn't going to finish off any infection, never mind lyme disease.

Do you mean two to three weeks as opposed to days?

[mainegrl2011]

Post got lost in cyberspace and reappeared later on.

[mainegrl2011]

If you find a tick on you and it is attached, remove it with a special tick removal tool. Using the tool facilitates removing the tick without tearing it apart. Then you can put the tick in a plastic sandwich bag and seal it for transport. Not tearing it apart is important for sending it to the University of Maine to be tested for diseases. (Some say tweezers work just as well, but they didn't work for me. Tick was damaged and U of M couldn't test.) https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/submit/

I googled tick removal tools. Several showed up in the search results. Examples: tick key removal tool (may not work with tiny ticks) and one called Tick Twister (two sizes in pkg) which is similar to one used by my doctor. There are tick removal how-to videos online. It's good to have a check for ticks buddy imo. I don't claim to be a tick expert, but I've found two, probably had three, since May.

If you have a dog, talk to your veterinarian about the Lyme-Lepto vaccine prior to a potential tick bite.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by mainegrl2011

Do you mean two to three weeks as opposed to days?

I meant days. Often at the ER, they will try and give you 2 or 3 DAYS supply and call it good. Good luck with that...

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I meant days. Often at the ER, they will try and give you 2 or 3 DAYS supply and call it good. Good luck with that...

Thanks. ... The reason I asked is I've found various healthcare providers with varying opinions but so far, none have suggested two or three days of doxy. 1) wait 5 to 6 weeks and get tested for lyme; this person refuses to prescribe doxy immediately, requires positive test results 2) two weeks of doxy 3) three weeks of doxy 4) four weeks of doxy if patient insists. ... just info I've gathered over the past few years personally and from friends.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by mainegrl2011

Thanks. ... The reason I asked is I've found various healthcare providers with varying opinions but so far, none have suggested two or three days of doxy. 1) wait 5 to 6 weeks and get tested for lyme; this person refuses to prescribe doxy immediately, requires positive test results 2) two weeks of doxy 3) three weeks of doxy 4) four weeks of doxy if patient insists. ... just info I've gathered over the past few years personally and from friends.

Problem with that is if the tick was infected, a LOT of damage can be done in 5 to 6 weeks. It's most curable if you nail it early. Personally if I had an embedded tick and suspected infection, I would demand doxy right from the get go and go somewhere else if they refuse.