One big thing that you can do is save the tick. A DNR ranger (who has since passed away from Lymes) told us that he encouraged everyone who got ticks to tape them. Just use some scotch tape. Have it handy before you pull the thing off and fold it into the tape. Save it in a safe place in case you develop any symptoms. He had gotten Lymes early on before they knew much about it and how to diagnose it.
My mother got the typical target rash about a week after the bite. Her rash was not even where she'd been bitten. She went through almost two years of medication to get rid of the disease. Since they'd caught it early on she was able to get rid of it.
I would suggest for your own peace of mind that you get tested. Most Dr's won't even think twice if you ask. Especially if you've been bitten by a particularly small tick. From what I know the ONLY tick that carries the Lymes Virus is the deer tick. The much larger common ticks are wood ticks. They have a distinct black hat behind the head.
Some of the first symptoms are intense fatigue. My mother described it as feeling like she was swimming through jello when she walked. She also felt like she was always dragging her feet. All her joints ached. Apparently one major symptom of the second stage is an arthritic condition. Unfortunately they cannot conclusively test for lymes within the first stage. Sometimes you won't test positive until the second stage. If they suspect it at all though the tendency is to begin a medication regimin right away. Better safe than sorry. Though the medication given can have a lot of unpleasant side effects depending on the person.
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