Oh man, Lyme disease?

[sarararahh]

So, on my birthday this late August, my boyfriend and I went mushroom hunting on a mountain near a small gushing creek. It was beautiful and good for the soul.

WELL. Two days later, I'm in the bathroom and I notice what looks like a freckle on my inner thigh and I naturally ran my fingers across it as I wasn't familiar with any mole or freckle there on my leg. Then I realized it was a tick! A very, very small one. Unfamiliar with safe tick removal I just plucked it out and burned it without trying to identify it. I saw where it had bitten was a little red, but I wasn't too concerned, really.

So, it's been about 2 weeks now and I noticed a rash developing around the area precisely where I was bitten. After doing some research online, I consulted the I ching with the question:

Do I have lyme disease from the tick bite?

Hexagram 5.3.4 to 58

My understanding of the hexagram was that I should 'wait' to find out if I do have lyme, but then I saw another thread on here where several members agreed that line 4 means NOT to wait, and indeed to take some kind of immediate action. Perhaps the lyme is also waiting in my blood, if that isn't too macabre or anything.

I also find line 3 interesting:

"Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows its subject in the mud close by the stream. He thereby invites the approach of injury.

Wilhelm/Baynes: Waiting in the mud brings about the arrival of the enemy."

We were literally right near a stream in the mud when I was bitten by the tick. That, is rather illustrative of the i ching.

Any insight into what this hex may be saying is greatly appreciated!

 

[pocossin]

You have already done your waiting and should be examined by a doctor immediately. The longer you wait the harder it will be to treat.

 

[sarararahh]

thank you pocossin, I will try to get seen as soon as possible.

 

[goddessliss]

Please do sarararahh - I had this happen to me once but it just turned out that I caused an infection because I'd unknowingly scratched at it during the night.
The famous Daryl Hall contracted Lymes disease and he's got a lot to say about the matter if you're interested in googling it. Please let us know how you go. - Liss

 

[sooo]

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/basics/symptoms/con-20019701

Some information while you wait to see your physician. The rash is what would concern me.

Sending healing energy and best wishes.

 

[RindaR]

If it's going to be a few days before you get in to the doctor, you might want to take a quick photo of the rash, just to document it.

~rinda

 

[pocossin]

There is a way to see a doctor almost immediately. Go to the office and say to the receptionist, "I want to wait for a cancellation." Explain to the receptionist that you have an infection from a tick bite and show the rash. Don't let this be put off for another week.

 

[Tohpol]

When you find a tick it's always best to be very careful before tugging it out as 9 times out of ten the head will be left, just under the skin. So, the rash may be an indication that the head is still there.

Anyway, as folks have said, to the doc, quick sharp. Good luck.

 

[sarararahh]

Thank you for the kind words goddessliss, I meant to thank you last night but it was late, and I was pretty worried about the bite :/ I feel better about it now, and I am hopeful that it is simply an infection like you said.

And thank you Sooo, I already saw that website and it is one of the reasons that prompted me to consult the i ching after googling the rash. At this point, all the signs are pointing toward the development of lyme, though I am grateful because I also read online several horror stories of people living for YEARS with lyme, completely unaware that it was the cause of their fatigue, aching joints, ect, and the list goes on. I'm just grateful I know what I do, now, and that I have a chance to catch it early while it is still weak.

Also Rinda, that is sound advice; I will do exactly that. It does seem to be expanding. I'm pretty convinced at this point it's lyme, documentation may be helpful for the doctor as I've read sometimes the antibodies (Which is what they test for when looking for lyme) don't actually develop until the virus develops past the early stages. The pictures will proabably be very helpful, so thank you.

Topal, yesss I read about that AFTER I ripped the tick out of my skin. I do think it's a good possibility it's just his head in there, which I never thought I'd say this but I really hope it is just the head stuck under my skin. lol....

Pocossin, thank you, you had me reconsider how aloof I was being about this at first, but I am going to a doctor as soon as I can. I don't have any money or insurance myself so my mom is buying me a bus ticket to come home and go to the doctor with her tomorrow. I know time is of the essence with lyme, and I'm very serious about this. I will keep you all posted as to how this develops! and thank you all for your well wishes and concern <3 it means a lot.

 

[kafuka]

You may also try lapacho (pau d'arco) tea.

 

[sarararahh]

Well I went to the doctor last night and they confirmed that It is Lyme. I'm glad I was able to go when I did because I had the bullseye rash and everything! I'm just so so grateful. Scary stuff. I'm also glad I had this forum to refer to about my reading because my first interpretation of my reading was to wait, but that was precisely the opposite of what I should do. I was prescribed antibiotics and I will be on them for several weeks, but the doctor assured me as long as I take them I will be okay, and I will take them! thanks you guys for all your kind words, and I will be much more cautious traversing the wilderness from now on!

 

[sooo]

Thanks for your update on this, Sarah. Been a prayin' fer ya. Yes, very good thing you got in early, and hope the antibiotics do the trick with no long term effects.

Hard to avoid those buggers if you're among the thorns and thistles where those deer wander. It's good to inspect your body thoroughly after each time spent there, especially during the hot and humid summer. I've had two, back east, and just pulled them off. Was lucky, especially since I'm pretty sure I left the head in me on one occasion.

Here's to a thorough and rapid healing.

 

[pocossin]

The famous Daryl Hall contracted Lymes disease and he's got a lot to say about the matter

Indeed he does, and I'm glad I looked it up.

http://www.healthline.com/health/daryl-hall-lyme-disease#3

His comment on the elimination of Lyme disease on Monhegan Island is correct.

http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Lyme-disease-continues-its-spread-in-Maine/12499/

Over three winters, all of Monhegan's deer were removed. What followed was an initial surge in Lyme-infected deer ticks, followed by a precipitous drop. Within three years, Dr. Rand, Lubelczyk and the Vector-borne Disease Lab team reported that Lyme-infected adult ticks were virtually eradicated. "Without deer to feed on, the ticks stopped reproducing," says Lubelczyk. "They won't rebound. In order to complete their life cycle, they need deer. Without that final meal they can't lay eggs; they're not sterile, but they don't reproduce.

Hall's infection was not treated promptly, and although he is apparently free of the bacteria, he still suffers.

Lyme disease is not recognized by the Center for Disease Control as a chronic illness, and for anybody living with Lyme disease, the fact they don’t recognize it as such is almost a bad joke.

The CDC prefers the term"post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome." Damage from the disease when advanced lasts for life, and many of the symptoms cannot be palliated. I think the after effects of Lyme disease are similar to the muscle weakness that gradually occurs after polio.

 

[goddessliss]

Yes pocossin, you can see the effects if you ever watch his progam Live at Daryls House - it almost looks like he's had a stroke - Liss

 

[pocossin]

Rosada's sister and Glenroy Wolfsen are two with permanent damage from Lyme disease, but at Clarity I found none from the UK, which is strange because there are between 1000 and 3000 cases of Lyme disease (borreliosis) there each year.

http://lymediseaseuk.com/what-is-lyme-disease-2/

With the aggressively spreading muntjac deer and the British anti-hunting attitude (my impression), the UK may shortly become the world's leader in Lyme disease infections.