Spots!

So, a couple weeks ago I'm sitting on the couch minding my own business and I feel something like an ant or small spider on my side.  Of course I take a peek and make sure I don't have a bug on me.  Nothing there.  I feel it again a few minutes later.  Check again and wonder what could be tickling me...maybe a hair or string?  That night I find the source...a tick!  Ewwww.  Tom got it out, head and all.  We flushed it and went to bed, not thinking any more about it.

The next morning I could feel the spot of the bite, and every day it seemed to get a little more raised and red.  Of course I checked online for symptoms of a tick bite.  I learned that an indicator of Lyme Disease is a red bullseye at the spot of the bite.  So, every day I checked for this.  The spot wasn't healing, but at least there was no bullseye!

Tuesday my hips got very achy--kinda like I had the flu, but not quite.  Couldn't figure it out.  By Wednesday afternoon, my hips were still achy, I had a fever, my thighs were numb, I had a headache, my tongue felt swollen, I had some accelerated breathing...and then there were spots!  I was getting red spots!  Back to the computer...Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?  I called the insurance company and they suggested a trip to the ER.  Wonderful.  Just the way I wanted to spend the next 4 hrs of my life.

Blood tests but no definitive answers yet.  I was sent home with prescriptions for 2 antibiotics.  So pleased that within 24 hours I was feeling much better.  Whew!  I was afraid the September hike was going to be in jeopardy.

My best advice?  Stay away from ticks...and hospitals!