Diagnosis Lyme, 28 Days on Doxycycline, YAY ME!
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
United States
September 18, 2019 8:58am CST
About a month ago I had my husband remove a tick from my shoulder. Because it wasn't completely imbedded, I thought I wouldn't have to worry.
Weeks passed without symptoms, so I thought I was safe. Well after about 3 weeks I began to feel pain in my joints. My left foot and ankle began to swell and I had terrible pain with every step I took. I also began to experience dizzy spells and heart palpitations.
After dropping Little Miss off at school I called my PCP for an appointment. Nothing available for the day, so I headed to Express Care. Got right in and they did an xray of my foot. Nothing on the screening. They asked if I had been bitten by a tick. I told them yes about a month ago. Blood work ordered and a few vials of blood was taken. Was told to ice the foot and elevate it. Also asked if I wanted crutches. Um, no thank you.
Icing the foot did help to reduce the swelling and pain. Was still painful to walk so limited the time I was walking to short distances. Even when I went to the beach this past weekend. I set up my chair and relaxed while my hubby and Little Miss frolicked in the ocean and walked the beach.
Because I didn't hear anything about the results of the test, I assumed I was okay and it was just a sprain of my foot. Well, after checking the mail on Tuesday I found a letter from the office saying I had to call immediately after reading the letter. I was told that I had Lyme and needed to start medication.
So, last night I took my first dose. Doxycycline causes stomach upset and must be taken with food. You also cannot be exposed to sun for very long because you can get severe sunburn.
The weather is supposed to be glorious this weekend. I'll need to stay in the shade and not be able to enjoy the warmth of the sun.
I have 28 days to take this medication. Then have to follow up with my PCP that I call Dr. Wackadoodle. Guess it's time to find a new doctor that I feel I can entrust with my healthcare.
Don't know where I got the tick. I guess I need to use an insect repellant that has DEET whenever I go outside. Have to apply it to Little Miss too. Scary that this happened.
18 people like this
18 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
27 Sep 19
My bestie told me to request IV antibiotics. I chose to do the oral antibiotic. It is a slow recovery. Still suffering from joint pain. Fatigue is getting a little better. Not so much brain fog as I had once had. Heart flutters are nearly gone now.
Just need to remember not to push myself to do more because it wears me down. I am sick of not feeling good enough to do things I enjoy. So, I tend to push it.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
1 Oct 19
@DianneN I am starting to feel better. My joints hurt still. The latest is my right shoulder. Have to take ibuprofen often.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
27 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly Wow! I’m sure your body will let you know when to rest and take it easy. My brother has bouts of feeling just fine and then feels weird. It doesn’t manifest itself the same way each time.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
18 Sep 19
oh my! i'm glad ya finally got 't figured, hon. the sooner treatment starts fer that, the better. 'tis quite oft misdiagnosed 'n left fer many years, causin' many health hiccups. sendin' healin' 
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
20 Sep 19
@crazyhorseladycx my pcp relies way too much on the internet to look up symptoms.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
I know many who now suffer many health problems from going undiagnosed for years. Some PCP's have no clue about it or how to treat it.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
20 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly 'tis jest awful, i know many, too. sometimes makes ya wonder what they'd be teachin' these folks with all those years 'f schoolin'?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Sep 19
@shaggin this is the second time I have been diagnosed with it. Had it before but didn't know I had it.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Sep 19
It was a very small tick. I didn't see it, but felt it. Deer ticks are notorious for spreading Lyme.
2 people like this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
18 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly yes it's become quite an epidemic here in PA.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
18 Sep 19
I am so sorry! That disease has to be taken seriously, dear.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Sep 19
I have had it before, but I don't remember having these symptoms. I had aches and pains, and fatigue.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
18 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly Are there many ticks where you live?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
@marguicha yes, and many people get Lyme as a result of this.
@Marilynda1225 (91127)
• United States
18 Sep 19
Hoping the medicine works even if you have to take precautions for 28 days. Gee I can't believe it took them so long to give you a diagnosis. Makes me shake my head when we talk about doctors
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Sep 19
It is not the doctor's fault for the timeframe for the diagnosis. I didn't start to feel bad until a couple of weeks ago when the pain in my foot began. I had felt the flutters in my heart before that, but like a fool I ignored them.
We need to all listen to our bodies and see a physician who will take the symptoms seriously.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
@Marilynda1225 me too! The way I am feeling right now isn't good. Each day I feel worse. Guess the antibiotic is battling the infection!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91127)
• United States
19 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly that's pretty scary especially when you didn't show any symptoms for awhile. Hope you recover quickly
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Sep 19
I haven't been near a wooded area in a long time. Must have been when walking in the grass near my home. They do crawl up your clothing too and once they find bare skin they attach.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
@thelme55 there is a spray you can use on your clothing that keeps them off. I'll have to start using it on both mine and Little Miss when we go out for walks.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (79323)
• Germany
18 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly I didn't know that. I have no idea that ticks crawl up to your clothings.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Sep 19
I'm sorry that you got bit. I have prayed for your healing!
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly You're welcome.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
24 Sep 19
That Lyme is so deadly so sorry you got that Elusive.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
24 Sep 19
I have had it in the past as well. This is at least the 3rd time. Scares me.
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
27 Sep 19
I am actually starting to feel somewhat better. Not as fatigued as I was 2 weeks ago. However, I still need to take it easy. Have been trying to push myself to do more.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
Not sure about the sunburn, but it is a side effect. The last time I took it I got sunburn even when out for a few minutes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382328)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly That just seems such an unusual side effect to me.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
19 Sep 19
@ElusiveButterfly
Wow what a tick can do to someone. I am so sorry you were in pain. I hope the medication helps. That is very scary.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
Some are so small that you can't see them. They can be as small as a pen dot.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
I'm not so fine now. Tired, achy, joints hurt. Hoping the medicine will clear this out.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Sep 19
It can be worse if it goes untreated.
1 person likes this
@Starkinds (32737)
• India
18 Sep 19
Ohh its very serious my friend please don't ignore it.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Sep 19
I am following the doc's orders.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51837)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Sep 19
Is that the only thing you can take for it? Not nice having stomach upset, unless you're looking to lose weight 
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
20 Sep 19
I have to take the meds with food. Even so my stomach isn't good. It is a strong antibiotic.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209080)
• United States
19 Sep 19
Oh no...I usually have at least one run in with a tick every summer...so far, no Lyme Thank God!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
I really thought I was being cautious, but I guess, not enough.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Sep 19
Thank you. It's going to take a while to feel better. The last time I had this, it was well over a month before I started to feel better.
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 19
Me too Carol! I have a little one to chase around.
1 person likes this
