What are the symptoms of Lyme's Disease, and do I have it?

Question

I got bit by a very small tick a few months ago. Though his head wasn't still there or anything, the place of the bite became very infected and funny looking. It took weeks for it to heal, which I thought odd because of how small the tick was. When that finally went away, it wasn't long after that that I started getting sick with all these random crazy things (diarrhea, abdominal pain, headaches, severe chest pain/heartburn, dizzy spells, nausea, random weakness, heart palpitations, feeling hot/cold at the same time-getting flush and goosebumps all at once, etc).

My symptoms come and go at random. I had heart problems as a kid, but I've outgrown them--or so I thought. Suddenly my symptoms have come back. Crohn's also runs in my family, but I don't have the right symptoms for that. Is my IBS just getting worse?

The first doctor I went to told me "there's no Lyme's disease in this area," even though I know someone who's daughter just recently had it.

I'm 22/female, by the way..

Answer 1

Gosh, god knows what kind of disease this tick transferred to you but the symptoms don't sound like the typical Lyme's disease (LD).

Some of them could be a sign of LD but not all of them. Heartburn or heart palipitations are not very typical for LD.

But there is a simple test to know whether you could have LD or not. Just go to your doctor and let him make a antibody test. If LD is in its early stage they will find Ig M antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (that's the name of the bacteria that causes the LD). If it's lasting longer they will find Ig G antibodies.

Both stages are treatable with antibiotics.

Otherwise I would recommend making a blood test to see whether some parameters are increased or diminished.

Additional note:
I've read the answer of JB and it sounds very interesting. I must admit I never heard of Babe(s)osis. I am a doctor from Europe and we didn't have any cases with that disease in our area. But I've read an interesting article about it. And it COULD be possible that you have this kind of disease.

Test your blood. And say to your doctor the possibility of babesosis ... if he isn't willing to do the tests, change him, go to another doc.

Here some interesting facts:

http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic49.htm

Answer 2

One sign of Lyme disease is a round, red rash that spreads at the site of a tick bite. This rash can get very large. Flu-like symptoms are also very common. People in the early stages of Lyme disease may feel very tired and have headaches, sore muscles and joints, and a fever. These symptoms can start at any time, from 3 days up to a month after you have been bitten. Some people don't have any symptoms when they are in the early stages of Lyme disease. And they may not even remember getting a tick bite. If Lyme disease goes untreated, you can have more serious symptoms over time. These include: Swelling and joint pain (like arthritis). Tingling and numbness in your hands, feet, and back. A lack of energy that does not get better. Trouble focusing your thoughts. Poor memory. Weakness or paralysis in your face muscles.

Answer 3

Girl- you need a new doctor. That is ludicrous for your doctor to tell you that. My husband has been sick off and on for over a month. He was diagnosed with a "Deep rooted" sinus infection. After a couple days on anti-biotics, he still had fever and headaches, and was feeling like crap. He went back to the doctor and the doctor drew lots of blood. Before he left the office, my husband said that our backyard had a lot of ticks even though he had not found one on himself. The doctor tested him for lymes disease AND babesiosis. He had babesiosis... a tick disease that no one has heard of. It occurs in about 5 people in the U.S. yearly. And is found most commonly in N.Y. and England... it is supposedly "on the rise." Thank God he decided to test him for this random tick disease. It required 2 different types of medicine that are slightly uncommon. All of your symptoms were symptoms that he has had over the past couple of weeks... the most consistent thing he had was the headaches, muscle aches and fatigue.
You really should go to another doctor or insist that your doctor test you. Lymes disease is often misdiagnosed as a ton of other things.... if you google it you can find some more information.

Answer 4

The symptoms certainly match Lyme's Disease. The bite area of the tick will look similar to a bulls eye. The bite site will be red and there will be a red ring around it. The area from the bite to the ring could be clear or red. Lyme's disease can be deadly. you should be persistent in asking for a titer for Lyme's Disease. The titer will measure the amount and type of antibodies, if any, that are in your blood.

http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/emergency/tickbites.asp
The site above will show you pics of some Lyme Disease bites!

Answer 5

A blood test will determine if you have it. A tick has to be stuck on you for at least 36 hours before you can get Lyme disease. I would insist on a blood test, even if you have to go to a different doctor.

Answer 6

Symptoms:
. A red ringed bull eye rash known as ehythema
.mirgrains
swelling of the lymph glands near the tick bite
.fatigue
.headache
.achness
.Joint pain/ chills
.servere headache
.servere fatigue
.enlargment lymph nodes
( commonly called glands)
.stiffness , especially in joints, neck
. sensitivity to tight
. facial paralys with bells palsy
. tingling or numbness in the extremities
.innreglar heart rhythm
.fever of 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit 37.78.38,89 Celsius)
. meningitis
.artherits especially in joints of the arms and legs
. memory lapses (rare in kids and teens

Answer 7

You need a blood test to determine if you have Lyme's it can cause heart problems. You must get it treated my girlfriend had your problems and now she suffers because doc did not test until she insisted. Call again you need to know if not it still needs to be addressed something is not right.

Answer 8

Please visit another doctor immediately.

If you had a rash around the tick bite that looks somewhat like a bullseye. That is a tell-tale sign.

There are many symptoms. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_humandisease_symptoms.htm for a long list.

Again, please visit another doctor immediately!

Answer 9

Please see the webpages for more details on Lyme disease and Crohn's disease.