Ticks

[kat]

Agree with Selfbow. Flu like symtoms can be a sign of Lyme. If your joints start aching, and you will definetly know it isn't normal, you have a real problem. If you are on the antibiotics, it should do the trick in just a few days.
My blood test came back positive for Lyme disease last year. I am doing fine now.
BTW- you don't always get the bullseye rash, and if you do, it can be anywhere. I was surprised to find out that you can get the rash in locations far away from the bite area.
Good luck, and keep on the meds for the full duration.

[Tall Paul]

Glad you went to the doctor, but I'm surprised he was unable to remove it without crushing it.

Just don't kill yourself slowly by overuse of such products as permethrin. A little goes a long way. I'm constantly reading on here about people mixing their own preparation with versions made for use on livestock and other uses. And then over using it. All in an effort to save a few pennies, I guess.

You can buy and safely use the products for human consumption, like Sawyers, without giving yourself cancer.

[Whitetail Addict]

My Doctor didn't seem to have much experience with ticks. He did try the alcohol pad, but like I said, I don't think he left it on long enough to really do any good.

He carefully tried to pull it out, but the tick was really in there, and after a couple easy pulls, he just grabbed it with the forceps and pulled harder, crushing it in the process. I could have done that at home.

I don't mean to put him down, I just don't think he's had much experience with them. Other than maybe not using the best tool for the job, he seems to have done everything else by the book. Bloodwork, antibiotics etc.

Fletcher, thanks for the link to the tick tool. I'm going to own one soon.

John, I never even thought of finding a tick on my "junk", and I hope I never do, but thanks.

I walked out behind the house yesterday to dig up and transplant some flowers for my girlfriend, and found a tick on me when I got home. That makes three so far this year. It must be a banner year for them.

We have a local store that carries Sawyers, and my girlfriend is picking some up as I type this.  

Thanks again.

Bob

[SELFBOW19953]

For Sure, Bob, ticks like warm moist places-waistlines, underware tight places, "junk", necklines, armpits!!!!

[Archie]

This thread is giving me the willies.  

For a fleeting moment this afternoon I thought a tick had found its way under my boxers, but I was relieved to find I was mistaken.

Sounds to me like Robin Hood and his merry men had a good thing going with those colored leotards they wore in the woods, I guess they were smarter than we give them credit for!

[Whitetail Addict]

I'm glad to hear that it wasn't a tick in your boxers Archie. Every time I feel something crawling on me now, I think It's a tick.

Tick proof or not, I draw the line at leotards. :D

Bob

[Archie]

I hear ya, Bob!  

Spanx, maybe?  At least no one could see those!  

   

My daughter had a tick buried in her scalp that was just ugly.  She didn't have any complications, thankfully.

I sure miss Alaska.  Growing up we had no ticks, snakes, or nasty spiders.  Just bears and cold, and you can usually see them both coming.

[TonyW]

Fletcher - Just got a tick key. Hope I don't have to use it, but it looks like a great tick remover.

[UrsusNil]

Here's a helpful article consolidating lots of useful information.

 http://www.uptodate.com/contents/what-to-do-after-a-tick-bite-to-prevent-lyme-disease-beyond-the-basics

[laxbowman]

This spring was personally the worst I've ever experienced. Maybe I was just out more, working with the dog but I had them all over from about February til may. It seems they're receding some now.

Here's a visual for you guys.  There are 3 different kinds of ticks in this pic: dog tick, lone star tick, and black legged tick/deer tick. Some are adult and some are nymph stage but I pulled these off my dog (plus 17 more the next few days) after a weekend of training

 

It's not like I don't medicate my dog either. He gets the liquid every 21 days and is on the chewable repellent

[Whitetail Addict]

I'm glad to hear that your Daughter didn't have any problems after her tick bite Archie. I hate to think of one of those little buggers biting my Grandkids. Any kids for that matter.


Thanks for the link UrsusNil, that's some of the most useful information I've read on the subject so far.

laxbowman, thanks for the picture. That's a big help in identifying the little buggers.

I just remembered reading an article about parasites like this a while back. They put a flea under a high powered microscope, and noticed that the flea had some kind of parasite feeding on it. When they cranked up the magnification, that one had another smaller "bug" doing the same. At least they're getting a taste of their own medicine.    :D  

Bob

[Bowjunkie]

Bob, I had Lyme disease pretty bad. My symptoms were many and varied, and it got to the point I could hardly walk, was doing stairs on my hands and knees, almost bed ridden, and in soooooo much pain I didnt sleep for more than an hour at a time for months on end. I could go on and on. Joke? No sir. My heart would stop beating at different times day and night and then pound wildly, or I would just stop breathing. I had migraines, fatigue, severe system inflammation, I went undiagnosed and misdiagnosed by several doctors and surgeons, for many months following a crappy Lyme titer, and finally diagnosed myself after much study and sought a Lyme specialist.

He saved me.

I never had the classic bullseye rash, in fact, only 1/3 of diagnosed Lyme carriers ever see the rash.

I was on various antibiotics, as well as antibacterial herbs, extracts, vitamins, minerals, and such for over a year and a half.

There were times I honestly didn't think I'd live until morning, and now I'm fine.

How long will your doctor keep you on the antibiotics, and which one (s) is it specifically? Most Lyme specialists believe you should be on them for 6 weeks in cases such as yours.

This is nothing to mess with. Lyme stole two years of my life, but in the end I learned a LOT about my health, changed many things, and will probably be better off for it in the long run.

If you need, I can hook you up with answers, books, websites, doctors, whatever. Just holler.

Jeff

P.S. Start a journal by saving a word doc on your computer. Date each entry and keep track of everything, every symptom whether you think it's Lyme related or not... a headache... a muscle cramp or spasm.... Write in it once a week, minimum. Every day if anything changes. Become familiar with all of the symptoms of Lyme AND its coinfections. My journal spans two years, I took it to my Lyme doctor at each visit, and he read every word and voiced his appreciation each time.

Take care.

[Bowjunkie]

In your journal, also keep track of all medications, when you start them and stop them. Which doctors you see, when, and what the two of you discussed. Make copies of all blood work requests and results.... all of it. You may need it later.

[Whitetail Addict]

Jeff, thanks a lot for all your help, I really appreciate it.

I'm sorry to hear about all the problems you've had, and I'm glad you came through it ok. sounds like you had a rough time, to say the least.

My Dr. gave me Doxycycline. The dosage was just 2 pills, I forget how many mg's total, to be taken at once. From what you said, it sounds like maybe I should have been on it, or something else, for a longer period of time.

As far as the joint aches and pains go, My body is so tore up from all the years of hard physical work I've done, that I feel like that now, but I assume it would get even worse if I'm infected. I haven't had a decent nights sleep in a long time because of it either.

The journal is a good idea. I wouldn't have thought of it, thank you.

Since you offered, I'm going to send you a PM later when I have more time.

Thanks again Jeff, I appreciate it.

Bob

[Bowjunkie]

Not a problem at all. I'll help however I can.

I took 2 Doxycyline pills twice a day for many months. My doctor took me off of it in the summer because it makes you sensitive to sunlight. Yes, you should have been on it for 6 weeks or so, IMO. The Lyme bacteria has a 1 month life cycle and isn't equally susceptible to the effects of antibiotics in all of its stages of that cycle.

[buckeye_hunter]

A simple homemade repellent can be made with a few inexpensive household ingredients. In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water. To make a scented solution so you do not smell like bitter vinegar all day, add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or bath oil. Eucalyptus oil is a calm, soothing scent that also works as a tick repellent, while peppermint and citrus oils give off a strong crisp scent that also repel ticks.
After mixing the solution, spray onto clothing, skin, and hair before going outdoors. Reapply every four hours to keep ticks at bay, and examine the skin and hair when returning home to make sure no ticks are on the body.