MY ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER STORY:  Part 1

This blog will be longer than normal but I want to talk about something I have been dealing with for the past several months.  I have wanted to write about this earlier but am just now feeling well enough to write.  If there are mistakes just chalk it up to “brain fog”.  🙂  

I will try to cover what I consider to be the most important things FIRST…. THEN I’ll tell a little about MY story with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).  I will probably cover my story in several parts or several different blogs.  This blog will be more about the disease RMSF.  Be watching for blogs to follow that deal more with my personal story.  

The first and most important thing I want people to read is the SYMPTOMS  because the main reason I would even write a blog like this is for awareness.  I sorta feel it is now my “duty” to help spread awareness about tick borne illnesses.  There are many tick borne illnesses and I don’t have the time to cover all the symptoms for each one so I will address RMSF because it is my diagnosis.   Although many of the symptoms seem to be the same for ALL the “tick fevers.”  RMSF is caused by infection with the organism Rickettsia rickettsii and is considered to be one of the deadliest of the tick fevers.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention treatment for this disease is most effective at preventing death or if started in the first five days of symptoms.  

 

Symptoms of RMSF are:

I compiled this list from a little bit of everywhere.  Not everyone will have all these symptoms, I sure didn’t because as you can see below I only had a few of the symptoms which is why is was so surprised when I tested positive for RMSF.  This is not all the symptoms but a list of the most common ones.  And as with most illnesses everyone’s symptoms vary in degrees.

• Tick bite– (I DO NOT remember having a tick bite… but I must have had one to contract RMSF)
• Fever – (I DO NOT remember having a fever)
• Rash– (I DO NOT remember having a rash. But…many do not report having a rash)
• Muscle &/or joint pain/aches – ( THIS IS my biggest and worst symptom – it is the reason I finally went to the doctor )
• Fatigue – (yes I do have, some days much more than others)
• Headache – (I had a headache for a few days after starting antibiotics)
• Nausea/ Vomiting– (I did not have)
• Abdominal Pain – (I did/do have mild pain periodically, but nothing I consider enough to even discuss)
• Conjunctival injection/red eyes– (I do remember thinking my eyes were bloodshot one day and asking others if they thought they were red.  I do think my vision has changed for the worse in the last few months.)  Looking back I remember wearing sunglasses one day when it was very cloudy and Sonny asking why I had glasses on.  I replied “because the light is hurting my eyes.”
• Brain Fog -(I do have serious bouts with this!)
• Restlessness and insomnia – (I definitely have this!!!!)

 

It is very important to go to doctor and be tested as soon as you believe you may have tick fever because the disease can progress quickly and can be deadly within a short period of time (days).  I’m not sure why some become seriously ill within a few days and some don’t.  Thankful I didn’t!!!  An early diagnosis will determine your recovery time and prognosis.  

I had only a few classic symptoms and really thought I was developing arthritis.  When I decided I had suffered with the joint pain long enough I called and made an appointment with my doctor.  I am just thankful I had a doctor that recognized my symptoms and tested me for tick fever(s) instead of just giving me something for arthritis.  I will write more about my ongoing RMSF story in future blogs.

This disease and the recovery is difficult even with an early diagnosis and a good prognosis, but if you wait around there could be some serious complications that could possibly cause death.  

 

COMPLICATIONS:  The Reason for diagnosis and treatment ASAP:

• It damages small blood vessels causing gangrene and death of extremities requiring amputation.
• Inflammation of heart/lungs and other organs causing organ failure.
• Inflammation of brain: (encephalitis) causing seizures, confusion and delirium along with other problems that go with encephalitis.
• Death: If not treated there is a 75% rate of death.

 

Please protect yourself from ticks.  I had first put: Please protect yourself this summer from ticks but I removed the words “this summer.”  It was not summer when I contracted RMSF.  Ticks are around most of the time in our area.  They will be worse in summer months of course, but you can get tick bites 12 months out of the year in our area.  If you have a tick bite be aware and if you develop symptoms of RMSF….go to the doctor ASAP!!!  If the doctor doesn’t say anything about testing you for tick borne diseases… DEMAND IT!!!!  If you don’t remember a tick bite but have some of these symptoms…. get tested… and DEMAND IT!!!   If you want to talk or ask questions let me know and I will help you.  I’m not an authority on this subject but I sure know more about it than I did 4-5 weeks ago.  I will discuss in later blogs my story, treatment, recovery, the prevalence of tick fever(s) in our community and stories of others I have talked with in last 4-5 weeks that have a tick fever diagnosis.