[Erickmo]

As some of you may know, i recently did a weekend at the Shenandoah National Park northern district of the AT. The trip was amazing and i had the chance to see some amazing things. The problem is that on the first night, i noticed a deer tick in my stomache at about 12am that night. I was able to get him out in one piece after a pull or two. I had a red spot the size of a pencil eraser where he was after i pulled him off, which went away after just a few days. But now, 11 days later, im sick in bed with flu symptoms (swollen tonsils, stuffy and runny nose, and a bit of a headache) and a raised red spot (still the size of a pencil eraser) is back.... should i be worried about lymes disease... ps i have no med insurrance. what should i do??!

[Camdor]

Any fever, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting at all? Muscle aches? Abdominal tenderness? Vision changes?

How is your appetite? Is there any discoloration around the bite that look like rings or redness that is spreading?

Bottom line is if you have any concern, get seen. Most hospitals will help with payment arrangements.

I noticed you live in NoVa. I lived in Alexandria for a while and would go to INova Fairfax and they worked with me well to make payments.

Don't worry about the payment right now, get seen. There are always ways to get them paid, and I know that Inova has a charity program that they can put you on if all else fails.

[willyboy]

now & get seen, faster treated, faster cured.

[LaRemnant]

I've read that you don't need to worry THAT much because usually if you make it a habit to inspect yourself when out and about every few hours (have someone inspect you if you can), than more than likely you will always catch them. I read that you shouldn't worry unless you think it was probably feeding off of you for longer than six hours, because I think there is a gestation period of some sort.

Hoped that helped.

[Erickmo]

I've read that too and also have read that most cases can be prevented it the first 36 hrs of the tick embedding into the skin. However the spot went away and not it's back along with flu symptoms which is why I'm a bit worried.

[cowgirlup]

Sorry to hear that! I always thought the rash and bullseye were the telltale signs but I looked it up and that's not always the case. If the spot getting bigger? Have you been around anyone that has the flu? The flu should clear up in a few days. Lymes just hangs on and gets worse.

Lyme Disease Symptoms and Signs

You should just go get checked out. I don't mean this to sound bad but all the illegal immigrants get free health care so you may as well get a break!!!
The peace of mind will be worth it.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Erickmo]

Thanks cowgirl. I'm calling out of work tomorrow and goin in to see my doc. I don't care what it costs me. I'm about to enter the Maryland state police academy and I need to be healthy. Thanks for talking me into it everyone

[cowgirlup]

Originally Posted by Erickmo

Thanks cowgirl. I'm calling out of work tomorrow and goin in to see my doc. I don't care what it costs me. I'm about to enter the Maryland state police academy and I need to be healthy. Thanks for talking me into it everyone

Yeah, You don't want to take a chance. a lady I used to work with was feeling achy and rundown for at least 3 weeks before she got diagnosed with LD.
It took her a long She didn't even know she had been bitten but they found the faded bullseye pattern high up on the back of her leg where she couldn't see it. It took her a long time to recover.

[carolina168181]

By all means get checked out and hope its nothing serious going on.

[Erickmo]

Ok so I'm posting this from the hospital. I just payed 85 to get seen by a doc who didn't seem to know what he was talking about... I think I know more about the disease than he does. Then he referred me to get blood testing for lymes and mono. I don't have symptoms of mono so what is up with that. That's gonna cost another 400 dollars at least. This is rediculous that I am an American taxpayer that supports so many illegal immigrants to get free or reduced healthcare when I don't get to recieve the same royalties. WTF. So now the total cost of a weekend in the woods is 600 with the supplies bought And med expenses. This sucks big time