Anyone here have Lyme disease or know someone with it?

[Shirl]

How long does it take for symptoms to show? More importantly, is there a vaccine to prevent it? I heard you can get a shot shortly after the bite to prevent the possibility of Lyme disease. Is that true? Reason I'm asking is, I've been bitten several times over the years. Twice this summer alone: cut a deer tick out of my shoulder and NOW I just removed a tiny deer tick from my stomach and the bite is itchy even though I put rubbing alcohol on it. Opinions?

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: Anyone here have Lyme disease or know someone with it?

How long does it take for symptoms to show? More importantly, is there a vaccine to prevent it? I heard you can get a shot shortly after the bite to prevent the possibility of Lyme disease. Is that true? Reason I'm asking is, I've been bitten several times over the years. Twice this summer alone: cut a deer tick out of my shoulder and NOW I just removed a tiny deer tick from my stomach and the bite is itchy even though I put rubbing alcohol on it. Opinions?

The treatment right after being bit is a heavy does of antibiotics. I don't know what you do if you let it go for a long time. I have heard one of the side effects (even when caught early and treated) is allergies to things you were never allergic to before.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Anyone here have Lyme disease or know someone with it?

I just watched something on the news last night about similar topic, saying its better to go to the doctor and have it checked out even if its just something small like a bug bite, mesquito or something with all the diseases they are carrying.

Who knows what they will tell you, but better safe then sorry I'd say.

[Niko97RS]

Re: Anyone here have Lyme disease or know someone with it?

had it twice. go to the docs. u catch it soon enough u get antibiodics and it can be no big deal...

dont wait! better safe than sorry (or dead)

[silvachris1]

Re: Anyone here have Lyme disease or know someone with it?

If I remember right, one of the signs/symptoms of Lyme disease is a red ring circling the origin of the bite. Not just being red around it, but an actual ring.

Either way, tick bites usually don't itch at first, but within a few hours they'll itch, an it'll itch for a couple days. I've never cut a tick out, I've always been able to just pull them out. But yeah, if you're even the slightest bit concerned, go to a doctor and have them look at it.

[HokieBird]

Re: Anyone here have Lyme disease or know someone with it?

Chris is right a deer tick with lyme disease will leave a red ring. Either way go see a doctor. Better safe than sorry.