Tick, tick, BOOM! August 14, 2012
Around 8 o’clock last night I got a call. “Hi Amy, this is Dr. Whatshername with the results of your blood test.”
::pause::
Oh! An after-hours, at-home, blood work chat with the Doc, what could be bad about that?
::swallow::
“Hi, thanks for calling,” I said. After getting home from BlogHer ’12 I was in the bed for a big chunk of last week feeling all kinds of awful.
“Amy, you tested positive for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever,” she said.
Die you dirty tick! DIE!
The Doctor wanted to check on how I was doing and if I was feeling better. Thankfully I got a round of antibiotics for what I thought was an ear infection the day I started feeling bad. Ha! I’m no M.D. but I’m quite certain Otitis Media does not include being unable to drag myself out of bed without having to go straight to the couch, vomiting, and other such digestive distresses. Turns out though, I had a mild case of RMSF thank goodness! I had no rash and avoided the super high fever. If I had not had those antibiotics I would still be really sick. I feel much better, now than last week. The doctor said if symptoms come back I may need another round of meds.
I’ve learned Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a very misnamed affliction. US Atlantic Coast states have the most cases in recent years, especially my home state, North Carolina. I was in the woods for a photo and video shoot for work. Seven days later I knew something was wrong.
Morals of the story:
1. Check yourself for ticks! I did not see a tick, but obviously one got intimate with me. The doctor said often times, people never knew they were bitten.
2. Get blood work done! Fortunately, Greyson made me make the Doctor take blood and run tests. Ask for the test for tick borne illnesses if you feel like you have the flu. Especially when it’s not flu season.
3. Check your little ones! Kids get it a lot.
Spread it around:
OMg! WHAT? I am so glad you are okay, that is crazy!
Thanks! It was hell. Thank God I wasn’t sick with something contageous when I was with all of you at BlogHer. You can ONLY get it from a tick.
I’m so sorry you got this. Good ol’ NC ticks! I now have a full blow case of the heebie jeebies after reading this and seeing the accompanying picture. ugh, ugh, ugh!
Thanks! Yeah, just the idea of tick bacteria in my body is repulsive.