Learn about Lyme disease

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

You can visit the CDC Lyme Disease Home Page at the following address:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme

[funtime2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close funtime2]

I know several people that have this and it can cause lots of health problems.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

My son was bitten by a deer tick while camping some 10 years ago. It was logged under his ear for close to 2 days and was alive when it was removed by the doctor. We took him to Schneiders children's Hospital located in LIJ which specialized in Lyme disease. We had to go back weekly to stay on top of it. Thank god he never developed any symptoms.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Some doctors (some don't "believe in" long term effects of Lyme Disease, if you can believe that one) think my daughter's serious health and neurological problems, which also includes loss of IQ points (25 over the last four years, don't know how many before she was initially tested) were due to Lyme that spread into her brain and spinal fluid. She is 12 now, and I am just now trying to come to terms with the fact that she will likely never be the way she was before she got sick. For years, we thought that maybe someday she could go back to the way she was. It's heartbreaking for us to realize that this is now her and our reality.

She doesn't appear to be getting any sicker thanks to IVIG infusions, but the problems she does have seem to be here to stay. It changes your whole life.

If anyone I know gets bitten, I advise them to go right on six weeks of Doxycycline, and not fool around. The antibiotics won't hurt you, and could save your life as you know it.

Sharon

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Treatment is definitely a sooner the better cure. I have a neighbor who suffered for a couple of years from lyme disease. Last time I was bit by a tick I had the Doc on the phone ASAP but fortunately no ill effecets or symtoms ever appeared.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

Ticks love me...I have been on 4 courses of doxycylcline over the past 8 years. It's usually because I have found a deer tick that had been in for greater than 2 days. The area always looks infected when the doc takes the tick out (they are always in inconspicuous places).
A long time ago, I contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted fever when camping with friends. That won me a trip to the hospital for 3 days. Deathly ill!

I'm not sure which one is worse...Lyme has ever increasing neurological deficts, while RMSF will kill you inside a week or so without medication.