What's bitten me ?
 

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[Closed] What's bitten me ?

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Picked up a nasty bite last Sunday in the Wyre Forest and had a course of antibiotics but it has had much effect.

Now looks like it's infected again and has a red ring and a white ring too.

Also mega itchy.

Any ideas ? ...,.

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Posted : 17/08/2020 8:22 pm
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Bolivian Death Ant.

My condolences in advance.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:25 pm
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Bit of a bullseye to that one. Hopefully not Lyme Disease from a tick bite, but go show your GP asap, could need some heftier antibiotics. Make sure you mention where you picked it up.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:27 pm
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I'd be getting that checked out, just in case


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:28 pm
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Ouchies!
As above check out for Lyme.

https://lymediseaseuk.com/2019/08/12/em-rash/


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:32 pm
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It's a good sign that it isn't itchy. More here:

https://caudwelllyme.com/lyme-disease-symptoms-2/


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:33 pm
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It’s a good sign that it isn’t itchy. More here:

It is mega itchy down both sides of it. Only started looking like a bullseye today which is a week after I was at the wyre.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:35 pm
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Baby robin has infected you with cat aids (the bad type)

Or classic bullseye from tick bite


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:37 pm
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Sorry, I mis-read your post. Tick bites aren't usually itchy although the link mentions a reaction to the saliva. Is it raised? Did you see what bit you? What did the doctor suspect to have given you antibiotics?


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:40 pm
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I didn't see what bit me unfortunately.

Just noticed it when I got back from the forest.

Initially it seemed up and went really red and tight. Then it started oozing some puss.

I had a 5 day course of antibiotics which has taken the. Swelling down but it's still infected so they have give me another 7 day course of antibiotics.

It's really itchy down both sides of the bite. The centre is swollen and hard.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:43 pm
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It’s is probably not a horsefly bite. You really notice them at the time.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:50 pm
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Could well be a horsefly bite mate, they can often flare up a few times before they heal due to it being an open wound from the little git taking a chomp out of your flesh. I ended up with sepsis and a spell in hospital a few years ago

A tick doesn’t bite you and drop off like a mosquito, it borrows in and drops off a long time later when it’s had enough. You would’ve likely seen the tick feasting on you that evening or the day after being in the forest


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 8:50 pm
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@renton it seems that a bite can ooze pus so worth visiting your GP again. Would strongly recommend you print out this link to ensure that the right type of antibiotic, at the right dosage, for the right duration, is given.

https://caudwelllyme.com/lyme-disease-treatment/

You can download the infographic to take with you. If you're given Doxycycline then you need to stay out of the sun.

Do report back.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 9:17 pm
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Has someone tried to hammer a frozen sausage into you?


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 9:30 pm
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Cleg bite.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 9:33 pm
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Last Sunday you say... could have been Micro Sims, he’s a bit feral!

If you didn’t feel it definitely go the the Dr just to be safe, having been bitten by a Horse fly I would be surprised if you didn’t notice.

Could it have been one of those big ants that are all over the Wyre forest?


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 9:38 pm
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My horsefly bite a few weeks back. Definitely no bullseye.

https://flic.kr/p/2jckEaU


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 9:43 pm
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Black/Blandford fly.

Itch like nothing else, drives you crazy.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 9:48 pm
 Drac
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Cleggy.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 9:50 pm
 Pyro
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Louise?


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 9:54 pm
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It looks like a horse fly bite to me but if it's really itchy it could be a harvest mite. Benzyl Benzoate is the best thing for the itching.


 
Posted : 17/08/2020 10:28 pm
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I thought tick / Lyme / panic, but C_G is our expert on that here.

Any ideas? Back to the doctor.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 12:24 am
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If the first course of antibiotics didn't clear it, discuss increasing the dose of something well tolerated like doxycycline. Do not let them switch to very powerful and highly dangerous fluoroquinolones, they can cause debilitating and lifelong toxicity.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 12:26 am
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Cheers all.

The first lot of antibiotics was a 5 day course of flukloxicillon 500mg 4 times a day.

This course is the same but for 7 days.

Got worse over night. Lots more redness and feels swollen again

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Posted : 18/08/2020 8:01 am
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I miss read your first post, you had been to the Dr. Was the bite checked for any body parts left inside?


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 8:19 am
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I miss read your first post, you had been to the Dr. Was the bite checked for any body parts left inside?

I couldn't get into the doctors so instead had to send a photo in for them to look at.

Initially they weren't going to give me antibiotics, instead suggested trying antihistamines.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 8:22 am
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I'd treat it as a tick bite to be on the safe side. i.e. see the docs

I had a tick bite about 10 years ago which was similar.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 8:33 am
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@renton am really unsure after looking at your latest pic and comparing it with the earlier one. I would insist on a face to face appointment with a GP (emphasise if necessary the consequences of not diagnosing and treating correctly are serious), beforehand write down the timeline with as much info as possible and give this to your GP.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 8:41 am
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My local gp isn't doing face to face appointments which is frustrating.

I've got a telephone appointment shortly.

I'm not sure what it is to be honest. I've seen ticks before on my dog but don't recall seeing one on my leg that day, however it could have been brushed off by the bushes.

It's extremely itchy all the way round my leg today. Very hard not to want to scratch the shit out of my leg but I'm resisting.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 8:56 am
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@renton that is ridiculous and a phone consult is just not good enough. Try minor injuries centre or A&E.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 9:09 am
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That looks like a typical horsefly bite


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 10:33 am
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Black/Blandford fly.

Itch like nothing else, drives you crazy

- gets my vote. Horsefly you'd have noticed at the time, tick would probably have still been on you. If they're biting ticks don't get brushed off! Blandford/Black fly give you a wee nip as they're pool feeders like horseflies but they're tiny little things and it can easily be disregarded. I've had a few bites from them and they can be nasty.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 11:19 am
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Cheers for the replies.

Had a telephone conversation with a doctor and told them the timeline.

She asked me to send in a current picture and in discussion with another doc they reckon it's a tick bite and have prescribed me some other antibiotics for 3 weeks. Doxy something.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 11:54 am
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I’ve seen ticks before on my dog but don’t recall seeing one on my leg that day, however it could have been brushed off by the bushes.

I'd say that's very unlikely, they are stuck in there very firmly and take a good old tug with a good tool to remove. Their entire life cycle is based on them staying attached for a while so they are pretty good at it.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 11:56 am
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@rentonglad you're sorted with presumably Doxycycline and here's a link with some tips on taking it:

https://lymediseaseuk.com/tips-on-taking-doxycycline

Would also recommend keeping a symptom diary. The NICE Lyme disease guideline does state that a further course of antibiotics can be offered if symptoms persist.

Hope you feel better soon.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 12:13 pm
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Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for all your help CG.

Thanks to everyone else for the helpful advice too.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 12:18 pm
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Glad you seem to have it sorted, gws.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 12:33 pm
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Only a flesh wound


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 2:00 pm
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Only a flesh wound

What do you mean @sani2c ?


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 2:13 pm
 Drac
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Seems GP has taken the sensible approach of just in case. The last tick I had I only noticed it as I knocked it bruising away something ticking the back of leg, found blood on my hand and said tick of the floor that wasn’t fully bloated.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 2:18 pm
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I'd say cleg / horsefly, based on the small puncture wound right in the middle and the fact you didn't have to remove a tick - they tend to hang around.

But if you aren't sure then prophylactic antibiotics to prevent Lyme's is a good idea anyway.


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 2:20 pm
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Monty Python reference. Not medical advice.

OP - take ticks very seriously


 
Posted : 18/08/2020 3:11 pm

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