Tick bite

Hi, MayBee 70, I hope you are ok, sounds like you got it all out.

I got a bad bite recently in local woodland, didn't notice it until next morning when it was itchy and infected, a red circle around the raised bite, but not a bullseye.

I got great treatment from my local Boots pharmacy, they offer a service called Pharmacy First, I think it replaced Minor Ailments.
The pharmacist examined the bite in a private consulting room, and prescribed strong antibiotics for 5 days.

He suspected a clegg bite, rather than a tick, so that was reassuring. He said that a record of my treatment would be sent to my G.P.

I was very impressed with this service, MayBee 70, could you get yourself to a local Boots this afternoon ?

I spoke to the pharmacist at Boots and he just referred to the NHS website which I’d already read. We’ve already had several weeks of DH being sent away from walk in centres, A&E and our own doctors with pain relief and antibiotics with what turned out to be a blood clot so sometimes it’s good to get advice from other people! My poor dog has a nasty lump on her head so she’s fared worse than me. She’ll be spot one’d in future so that will be one less way for ticks to get near me. I really wanted to use as few flea/tick treatments on her having had my last two dogs suffer from various cancers but chemicals seem to be the lesser of two evils in this case. I wish there was a spot on for humans because I’m struggling with the thought of doing my little wildlife walks in future. I really hate creepy crawlies when they invade my territory. I did see the stag though: he was baying (or braying?) at me. He was probably saying ‘get the hell out of here, there are bloomin’ ticks everywhere’…

Sorry to hear that, MayBee70. I hope your DH and wee dog are on the mend soon.

Put plenty TCP on it!

We’ve all been so health conscious over the past 18 months as well. We wrap the dog up in cotton wool these days.but within a framework of giving her lots of exercise.

you could ring 111 for advice.
maybe ! no pun intended, being in a different area, you might get a better service ?
having seen several cases of severe, life-threatening soft tissue infection close up, i too am very cautious about any bites, red marks, swellings etc.
better safe than sorry.

I was thinking of 111. They were a lot more helpful when I was so unwell in December. They at least arranged for me to speak to a nurse practitioner on a couple of occasions rather than being stopped in my tracks by clerical staff.

I did the 111 symptom checker last night which said to just look out for fever, redness etc.

MayBee70

I did the 111 symptom checker last night which said to just look out for fever, redness etc.

My understanding is that they prefer not to treat unless there are symptoms and the three week course of antibiotics can be a bit unpleasant.

I know there’s a risk, but I’ve removed two embedded ticks from my legs over the years and have had no repercussions. I don’t think you need to panic.

I give my dog Bravecto, a tablet which protects against fles & ticks for 3 months, and no sign of ticks since I started using it.

Pleased you're thinking of having your dog treated. My dog has her treatment from the vet every three months. I tried the ones over the counter (spot treatment) which are no where as good as the tablet/chew from the vet. Mya, my dog, gets a lot as I do. We have deer on our land and I walk through the wood with her daily and she loves to play on the meadow. Within 24 hrs the tick drops off her.

I wear long sleeves and trousers and spray myself as we have horseflies as well. Nothing keeps ticks off you. Twisting them out is the best and surest way of removing the whole tick. It will continue to itch but Anthisan is brilliant. Sorry, mentioned this in my previous post. Never had to go to the doctors.

I had a dreadful time with my surgery over potential Lymes and was poorly, but the ABs did the trick! Just keep an eye on it as you say - fingers crossed it comes to nothing! X

The bite doesn’t itch which is a good sign I think. It’s just me thinking of creepy crawlies that makes me itch. I used to have nightmares about squidgy insects as a child that I can still remember! I had some stinky stuff flea and tick shampoo with me as well but it was too chilly to bath her. I’ve always used flea treatment but because this particular dog gets bathed a lot I didn’t think she’d pick anything up. Lesson learned anyway. I’ve walked the dunes for years without picking up a tick. I wonder if this is a particularly bad year.

I had no problems with the 3 week course of antibiotics apart from not being able to drink alcohol which was probably good for me, and not being able to go out in the sun. If it was raining it soon stopped when I set foot outside which pleased everyone else!!

I rarely drink and avoid the sun so I’d be ok. One good thing is that I have misery levels that affect my appetite. A bit of misery makes me gorge on chocolate but the next level up is losing my appetite and that’s where I am now, so it’s good for the diet. I’m afraid that I’m a real wimp and terribly good at feeling sorry for myself!

I know I am ' going on' about this and I apologize for that - it stems from concern. It really is best to be cautious. Can't tell you how ill my son was , not hospitalized but very poorly indeed. He thought a tick bite was nothing to be concerned about and did not feel ill immediately. His blood test was sent to a school of tropical medicine, just a pity the GP
Initially dismissed my son's fears - he was right and the GP was wrong. Antibiotics were prescribed thank goodness , allbeit far too late. He was very fortunate indeed. Lyme Disease had devastating and life long consequences. Be very cautious please !

Good news MayBee the antibiotics don’t stop you eating chocolate! Now try and stop being a worry wart and torturing yourself. (I know cos I’m good at that too!) Keep an eye on it and ring GP on Monday for reassurance.

When I lived in the Far East as a young 20 year old I used to detick the dog every night with a bowl of water to drown them in I never knew the relevance of tick bites in those days so was never concerned, I don’t think I ever got bitten though
I think if there’s no red rash you should be ok

MayBe 70 , hope you are ok .

Still ok Shelflife! Swelling on the dog is going down. But on Facebook today there are three dog pages talking about ticks I’m away from home at the moment but a local dog walking group back home have put up an alert saying ticks are absolutely rife and to avoid long grass. So it’s not just me and my dog, they seem to be everywhere. I’ve been watching people walking in the dunes wearing shorts or short trousers and I just want to warn everybody. I’m pretty sure I git my tick out very quickly: the digs might have been in her for longer. It looks like there’s going to be a problem this year and not everyone will carry a tick remover with them, or have hibiscrub and antihistamines with them. I’ve been putting antibiotic cream on our bites as well. I’m getting some spot on for the dog next week. I try not to put chemicals on her but there’s no avoiding it now. And reading up on how to kill the blighters. Even washing your clothes in a washing machine doesn’t kill them!

Gosh, sounds like a bad year for ticks, good the swelling on your dog is reducing. Do hope I haven't alarmed you with my messages but would not like what happened to my son happen to anyone else. He was very fortunate not to be seriously incapacitated. Spot on for the dog is a good plan , we don't have a dog but I do use spot on regularly for the cat. Pleased you are feeling ok, take care.

I’ve pm’d you by the way as I wanted to ask you something…..it’s what happened to Matt Dawson that worried me.

It’s a tricky problem. Like Baggs I frequently get ticks on me just from gardening. I have had Lymes- the bullseye rash didn’t show for 3 weeks and I was treated. As this is the first one you’ve had I’d be inclined to ask GP for
antibiotics. If like me you get them all the time it’s a bit different - don’t want to be on antibiotics all summer. However, it can be extremely serious , so set your mind at rest and ask for some treatment

I spoke to 111. They were really nice and helpful but decided that, as the chance of developing Lyme disease was quite small and the treatment so severe it was best to leave it. But that if any symptom showed up in the future I’d be put on doxycycline immediately. So at least it’s on my medical record.

MayBee 70 I’m not sure what they mean by the treatment is so severe. I didn’t find it so.

Regarding disposing of ticks I flush them down the loo - probably all swimming around in the sceptic tank!

I always wear long trousers, socks and walking shoes when out with the dog - no cropped trousers or sockless sandals for me.

I have a small back pack in which I carry dog treats, poo bags and a tick remover for when I am away from home.

Like you I’m not happy about some of the tick and flea preventives. I don’t take strong medication myself so why would I give it to my dog?

Finally avoid long grass as the little blighters can live up to a year with no host. Take care.

I got a bite although I didn’t know it was a tick, I had felt something on my foot and brushed it off.

I was so ill the next day and I had a perfect bulls eye rash, I went to see my GP.

The doctor had no idea what it was but prescribed an antibiotic.

In hindsight I realise how lucky I was.