Lymes disease-do not believe the 24 hour rule

[frozenrain]

.Not been on here for awhile.I moved from Southern Maryland in July 2008. In spring 2008 I found a tick on my leg.I believed in the 24 hour rule-that it can not be transmitted before this time is up. well after a year of chest pain,indigestion I developed a really sore mouth.My dentist refered me to my doctor to check for a systemic cause as my oral hygiene is good and I am terribly inflamed.Well before I had chance to go.I went on a run-still trying to keep fit(have a ten miler -charity cause in march-am I crazy) lol.Well my neck started to hurt,my lips tingled and my left arm went numb and I went to urgent doctors in case it was a heart episode.Well I am really glad I told him about my mouth and he did a test for lymes without me knowing-I got a call today to say I have lymes.I am really upset first because i worry my children may have it.and I realy do not tolerate antibiotics well .
I just wanted to post this as if any one is in doubt about having a test after being in contact with a tick -do not hesitate-better be safe than sorry.It would have saved me from maybe suffering so much

[Highlander]

Hi Thanks for posting....Lyme is a serious problem. I hope you will get the proper treatment and be well soon. A girl in our neighborhood was really sick for a few years, and so were her kids. Every doctor they went to told them they didnt have lyme. Im glad you got the diagnosis. My son is sick with it, but we found a good doctor.

[frozenrain]

Originally Posted by Highlander

Hi Thanks for posting....Lyme is a serious problem. I hope you will get the proper treatment and be well soon. A girl in our neighborhood was really sick for a few years, and so were her kids. Every doctor they went to told them they didnt have lyme. Im glad you got the diagnosis. My son is sick with it, but we found a good doctor.

Thanks for responding. I hope your son gets better soon.I really have no idea of what the treatment will be yet. I am glad you found a good doctor!
Oh yes I do not believe I had a rash either.

[leonardtowngal]

Lyme disease is horrible! I know all too well...had it for over 2 1/2 years before they found out what was wrong...have had oral and iv antibiotics. Please make sure your doctor KNOWS how to treat Lyme. Good Luck!

[Pushrod]

Originally Posted by frozenrain

.Not been on here for awhile.I moved from Southern Maryland in July 2008. In spring 2008 I found a tick on my leg.I believed in the 24 hour rule-that it can not be transmitted before this time is up. <snip>

I don't think it is a rule as much as a suggestion. The odds are you aren't going to get it until after the tick starts feeding which is USUALLY around 24 hours after attaching. Not always.

Also the method of removal of the tick comes into play. If you don't grasp it by the head and gently pull it out with a pair of specialty tweezers you can squeeze the ticks stomach contents into the wound causing the lyme infection, or if you try to burn the tick off, it can regurgitate into the wound causing the infection.

[royhobie]

Originally Posted by frozenrain

.Not been on here for awhile.I moved from Southern Maryland in July 2008. In spring 2008 I found a tick on my leg.I believed in the 24 hour rule-that it can not be transmitted before this time is up. well after a year of chest pain,indigestion I developed a really sore mouth.My dentist refered me to my doctor to check for a systemic cause as my oral hygiene is good and I am terribly inflamed.Well before I had chance to go.I went on a run-still trying to keep fit(have a ten miler -charity cause in march-am I crazy) lol.Well my neck started to hurt,my lips tingled and my left arm went numb and I went to urgent doctors in case it was a heart episode.Well I am really glad I told him about my mouth and he did a test for lymes without me knowing-I got a call today to say I have lymes.I am really upset first because i worry my children may have it.and I realy do not tolerate antibiotics well .
I just wanted to post this as if any one is in doubt about having a test after being in contact with a tick -do not hesitate-better be safe than sorry.It would have saved me from maybe suffering so much

I appreciate you posting this. Lyme is an epidemic in St. Mary's and Southern Maryland in general. With the unusually warm winter months, we should expect Lyme to be extensively worse this Spring and in to the Summer. Early detection is the key to proper treatment. This can be difficult sometimes since most ticks that create Lyme are so small they are hard to see. And removal of the tick can be difficult as well. You have to be careful to get the entire tick, not leaving the head attached to your skin.