What I did when I got bit by a tick

Tick found on me- ready to get shipped for testing.

As an emergency medicine and integrative medicine physician, I spend a lot of time helping patients prevent and treat tick-borne illnesses. But recently, I found myself on the other side of the conversation.

I got bit by a tick for the first time this year.

Living on our farm in Tennessee, I knew it was a possibility. We spend a lot of time outside, and while I do everything I can to prevent tick bites, sometimes they still happen. Instead of panicking, I followed the same practical steps I recommend to my own family and patients. I actually think this tick was from one of our cats.

The First Thing I Did

As soon as I found the tick, I removed it with a tick spoon.

Well, actually I freaked out a little bit (for 10 seconds) and then went into doctor mode.

I didn't twist it. I didn't burn it. I didn't cover it with petroleum jelly. (please don't do these things!)

Then I cleaned the area and applied bentonite clay overnight to the area.

I Saved the Tick

Instead of throwing it away, I placed it in a sealed bag to send in for testing. I wanted to gauge what disease ticks were carrying this year in our backyard.

I Checked the Bite Every Day

Over the next several weeks, I paid attention to my body.

I watched for fever, unusual fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, a rash, or any neurologic symptoms.

Many tick bites never lead to illness, but recognizing symptoms early is important.

I Focused on Supporting My Body

One of the biggest things I did was make sure I wasn't neglecting the basics.

I prioritized sleep, stayed hydrated, continued eating plenty of protein, and made sure my vitamin D status was optimized. Your immune system works best when you consistently take care of it, not only after something happens.

I also continued taking the supplements I personally keep on hand during tick season, including Promune (vitamin D3, quercetin, zinc and vitamin C) and Hist Aid. Because of emerging viruses like Powassan virus, I also keep ivermectin available to discuss with my physician if clinically appropriate. These decisions are individualized and should always be made with your healthcare provider.

I took a 200 mg dose of doxycycline while I wait for the results of the labs to come back.

Studies show that ticks can transmit the bacteria that carries Lyme disease under 16 hours of attachment.

I Didn't Panic

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people either ignoring a tick bite completely or assuming the worst.

Neither response is helpful.

Most tick bites do not result in serious illness, but they do deserve respect. Having a plan before you're bitten makes all the difference. Facts and faith over fear.

What I Do to Prevent Tick Bites

After this experience, I became even more intentional about prevention.

Around our mini farm we:

• Try to keep the grass cut short

• Have lots of guinea fowls and chickens (guinea fowl eat up to 1000 ticks a day!)

• Wear long pants when hiking through taller grass

• Check our scalp, behind our ears, armpits, waistline, groin, and behind our knees after being outside (most of the time)

• Use natural repellents such as oil of lemon eucalyptus, cedarwood, rose geranium, and thyme

My Take

Getting bitten by a tick reminded me that we need to keep out immune system healthy for life's unexpected challenges.

As both a physician and a mom, I believe preparation is one of the best forms of prevention.

Getting adequate sleep, making sure our gut health is superb and moving out body daily. Enjoy the outdoors, but respect the risks, check yourself carefully, and have a plan if a tick finds you before you find it.

Follow me on social media to find out the results of the tick testing! Work with me here.

Remember- don't stress or have anxiety over this- stay calm and be prepared.