I know this is the wrong newsgroup, but I figured if any of you know your
tick-borne diseases, you might be able to help me out.

I'm pretty sure I have RMSF, mainly because I've been so sick (fever,
headaches) and it's been a very bad tick year at my house and I've had to
pull dozens off of my dog (using either tweezers or a tissue).

About a week ago, I had to pull off a tick using my hands (and a couple of
tissues) when the thing ruptured. It didn't seem like any of the {*filter*} got
on me, but it could've. I honestly don't remember if I washed my hands, but
I won't forget about that next time (!!!)...

My symptoms are very RMSF-like: I had the bad fever, but even before that,
a terrible headache... Aspirin killed both of these for the most part (hard
to tell whether I'm hot because of the fever or just the terrible weather
here). About 3-4 days after the first headaches, I got these little rashes
all over my chest, neck, face, and thighs. I've nearly 90% sure this IS
RMSF.

Now I'd like to know what I can do about it... Are antibiotics the only way
to go (should I not try to mess around with homeopathic stuff first?) Is
the disease really fatal? If so, is it ever fatal after taking the
antibiotics?

Anyone with experience?

(Just BTW, I actually don't feel very bad compared to a couple of days ago
- just pretty weak, but well enough to play a couple of sets of tennis...
maybe that was a bad idea?)
--
Murphy McMahon

"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but
I repeat myself..." --Mark Twain

Dear Murphy,

I tested positive for RMSF, Lyme, HG Ehrlichiosis and ParvoVirus B-19, so
it is hard to say exactly what symptoms I had that pertained only  to
RMSF...I was a mess from all of this and still get RMSF-type rashes even
after treatment for it, so I'm not sure if it is gone.

If you know you were bitten by ticks, you got sick, are having rashes, I
would definitely go to your doctor and demand testing for all tick-borne
diseases no matter where you live.  Some doctors deny that any tick-borne
diseases are around, but they are.  Don't let any MD push you around.
It's your health and you know when you're sick or not feeling right.

RMSF can be fatal, but if you're still alive now, I doubt it'll get you,
but, in my opinion,  a person should still be treated especially if the
symptoms (rashes, etc) are still present.  That probably indicates that
your body has not been able to fight it off.

The medication I was given for RMSF and HGE was 600 mg. daily of
Doxycycline for 2 months.  Hopefully, it wiped at least some of these
diseases out.

I'm still on a roller coaster ride - up and down - health-wise from all
the tick bites three years ago and who knows what's still eating on me.
Please seek out a knowledgeable physician right away - the longer
bacterium is there, the worse it gets...at least it did for me.

Denim

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