She noticed the tick bite straight away; it was important to her to get tested.
One night, she woke up to a burning pain on her left ankle whilst on holiday in Costa Rica with her husband in May. She found a small black insect at the site of the bite, which she was able to flick away; at first she thought it might be a bedbug, but it turned out to be a tick. As on other occasions, the young woman – who works as a physiotherapist and manual therapist – reacted very sensitively to the insect bite. She took a photo of the tick and monitored the condition of the bite. For days, the bite site remained extremely sensitive and caused a burning pain; she felt it with almost every step, which made her consider having a test carried out within a few days of their return home.
So why did you ultimately decide to have a test for Lyme disease?
A few days after the bite, I felt a tingling sensation on my left side; I couldn’t decide whether it was caused by the infection from the bite or by sitting for too long. I felt it was important to know what was causing my problem so that I could seek treatment in good time if necessary.
How did you find out about the DualDur test?
One of my patients had mentioned DualDur to me earlier, and I went for the test in mid-June. First, I had the Western Blot test, which came back positive, and a week later I started taking the antibiotic after my GP had looked into Lyme disease and prescribed the appropriate medication. Unfortunately, I developed an allergy to the medication after eight days, which manifested as a full-body rash. I went to A&E, where I was given an antihistamine and prescribed a different antibiotic. I then consulted a Lyme disease specialist, who recommended a 45-day course of treatment, which I completed in full.
What did the DualDur test show?
I was already on the course of antibiotics when I had this test done. Unfortunately, the result came back strongly positive. I was very disappointed that the pathogen had multiplied so much in my body, as I have a strong immune system, I pay close attention to my diet and lifestyle, and I rarely get ill.
How did your treatment go?
I was glad to have a definitive diagnosis, and that targeted treatment could begin. I felt it was effective; even after finishing the course of treatment, I didn’t have any major problems, apart from feeling tired and sometimes finding it hard to concentrate or find the right words. I finished the course of antibiotics by mid-August and kept an eye on myself to see if I had any symptoms, but it was difficult to pinpoint what was causing them.
So is everything all right now?
As we’re planning to have a baby, I’d really like to know whether I’ll pass the infection on to the baby. We’re living in a state of complete uncertainty at the moment, so we’re taking a wait-and-see approach. I’ve decided to have another DualDur test done to put my mind at rest: we’ve done everything possible in this matter.
(C) Lyme Borreliosis Foundation
