Vermont's Other Side

We have absolutely been loving our stay in the Green State.  But not everything is sunshine and roses (or even rain clouds and maple cremees).  A week or so K had me take a tick off her.  Today, she started the antibiotics for Lyme disease.  Because her tick was in her underwear area, we let her have her privacy in checking for the rash, and she was telling us there was no rash.  But the symptoms were big.  She had a huge headache that was keeping her from walking around much, she really wasn't eating (even ice cream--what???), and she was sleeping all the time.  Because the symptoms happened so close to her bite, Lyme was on our minds.  Thank goodness.  We took her to the doctor and got her a prescription.  We opted not to do the blood test.  Reading up on it, there's just an unacceptable level of false negatives with the test.  And the repercussions of not treating Lyme are just too great.  Because we caught it early, once she's done with the antibiotics, she should be good.

Coincidentally, I've been reading articles about Lyme.  I read an article about a pro golfer whose wife arranges his THIRTY-FIVE pills a day for him.  THIRTY-FIVE.  A DAY.  The article was light on information, more like a fluff piece than an article, so I have no idea when he contracted the disease and when he started treatment.  And then there's this article, which helpfully tells us that we're in the worst part of the country for Lyme.  Thank God I've been seeing/reading these articles, because it really imprinted me with an awareness of the disease and how quickly it needs to be taken care of.

Now, I had always heard that the bulls eye rash was the indicator or Lyme.  So when K said that she had no rash, I was thinking we were good.  Yeah, only about 50% of kids get that rash.  Oh, and she does have a rash.  Since it's in her lower region, she had a hard time seeing it herself.  But the doc took a look, and there's a definite rash.  And that just helped confirm what was already pretty obvious.  Though, really, the symptoms are a bit vague and can be indicators for other illnesses as well, but the fact that she had a tick bite made it suspicious.  I am so very thankful we are getting this taken care of quickly.  I certainly hope she feels better soon!