Apologies for being evangelical, but:
CHECK FOR TICKS!!
I’m at the start of issues after a known tick bite. You are on your own.
Most GP’s don’t see a lot of tick bites and therefore don’t know what to do.
The NHS tests give 40% to 50% FALSE negative results, and if you don’t get a positive test result, you don’t get treatment. You will be on your own, and after 3 months it’s classed as chronic and much more difficult to treat.
The symptoms I have are life changing and I dread to think that I will have these the rest of my life.
I was given ‘inadequate’ antibiotics early after the bite, which ‘abrogates’ the antibody reaction, meaning I will probably never test positive and therefore I’m on my own with no help from NHS. I will be thrown into the fybromyalgia wastebasket.
So it’s Dr google for me, and private treatment that I can’t afford.
I can’t blame anyone; I didn’t check for ticks, but I was ignorant of the life changing consequences of a tick bite. Checking for ticks should be drummed into everyone until it is second nature for everyone.
CHECK FOR TICKS ON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
A couple of weeks ago a MP went public about a tick bite and the treatment and tests she was having, even she was being given the tests incorrectly. What chance have you got?
CHECK FOR TICKS!!
There is a lot of politics with tick borne infections – the NICE guidelines are under review – The NHS doesn’t know how effective the current treatment guidelines are – they have never checked!! They don’t record the number of ‘Lyme’ cases treated without testing either, i.e. those presenting with an obvious rash.
The US recommendations [which most of the rest of the world sort of follow] are also under review due to accusations of vested interests and bias on the panel producing the guidelines.