If it keeps this up, less firewood to worry about in the future but for sellers, less to sell! Spring is here very early. That’s not good. Have never seen a map like this, cool! Or should I say, 'warm!' Map of where plants are sprouting leaves earlier... (read link above)...
The only thing I’m not ok with is the extended bug season. Last week throwing frisbee with Roscoe, he fell in some mud so we had to give him a bath. On the edge of the tub we found a tic crawling. So it begins.
My first three trips to the woodlot this year I got a tick each time and I am 'afraid' of them due to lyme disease. The last one was on my back, I could not get to hardly at all and I destroyed it with a screwdriver and pliers, lol. I finally had to go to the doc to get it dug out. I hate using insect repellent but I have had to and, so far, it's been working. I am going to try a picaridin repellant next. For ticks. I also bought a lemon based mosquito repellant, gonna try that for above the waist. I am super sensitive to smells and insect repellant is bad on me.
You should be afraid. Lyme changed my life forever. It’s not just Lyme anymore. There’s over 20 pathogens them little buggers carry that can mess you up. I’d recommend anyone who gets bit take a couple days of Doxy immediately. The real damage is done when it goes untreated. I first asked for a Lyme test at the age of 50. I was convinced I had it. Wasn’t terrible, still went to work everyday but I had all the symptoms. Found out at 55 when my immune system finally gave out my doctor had never performed that test. Once it gets that deep in your systems it can be impossible to rid of. I havent been able to work a job since I was 55. Permethrin is the stuff you’re looking for as a repellent. I’ll admit I don’t use it unless they’re really heavy. Havent had a lot near my house in years. Other years they’re everywhere. I got Doxy from Thailand because US doctors don’t like prescribing it. Had one in my shoulder the other day. So Ct has em out already. Few years ago I had one on my back I couldn’t get. Went to my doctor who I’m not happy with. She wouldn’t see me till 9.30. I went across the parking lot to the ER. They pulled it off. Would you believe the bill was $2000 for pulling off a tick? Biggest thing is early treatment.
Ticks are no joke and nether is the disease that mosquitoes carry We have to be cautious of what might be biting and make sure we protect our self fully when out in the woods/nature
Wow, shame on the doc who never did the test! And shame on a $2,000 bill, that is insane; how did they justify that? Ran lots of tests or what was it? My doc prescribed Doxycycline Hyclate, is that what you mean? He gave me 10 days worth, 100mg 2x/day. Said, "just as a precaution." If I go in my woods except for in cold weather, I am likely going to get bit if I don't use repellant. My bro has 'em bad in Arkansas, too. I wonder if a small tick that bites is just as bad a big tick? I assume that it is. It's hard NOT to get bit around here. Just curious, what were your symptoms between ages 50-55?
I use Hartz flea and tick shampoo after I return from tick country. lather up real good and let it set for 5 minutes . then rinse and was with my regular soap and shampoo. there's no warning on the label about getting it on you when you wash the dog, so it can't be as bad as a tick bite could be. Sayers Permethrin sold at Wally's and online is the best.
yeah wasn’t happy with the doc. It’s a common problem here in the states though it seems to be getting better. There used to be “Lyme Literate” doctors treating chronic Lyme but they were mostly all run out of business by the government and insurance companies. Doctors became afraid of Lyme disease for awhile there. Good on your doc for giving you 10 days of doxy. The new but insufficient dose for fresh bite is one pill as a precaution. That’s nonsense. My symptoms for most of those years was just fatigue. Worked my entire life as a Mason so I’m used to fatigue They calculate an average Mason will lift about 1000 tons per year. Towards the end of my working career the fatigue got worse and then my shoulders were locked up. Should say the symptoms can be almost anything and the weak or damaged parts of the body may experience things first. Everyone can be different. But I was going downhill fast at that point. My shoulders had been injured in a scaffold fall years earlier. Finally got a pink slip and figured a few weeks of bed rest would help. Nope. The downhill spiral continued. The brain fog was coming on but the first new symptom was aversion to light. Sunlight, car lights any bright light was blinding. Couldn’t drive at night, every light was like a halo with multiple lines in the road. Just like being drunk but you’re sober enough to be scared. A little more added brain fog and my speech was affected. Just like Alzheimer’s I couldn’t finish a sentence. There would be a word I wanted to use but couldn’t remember. A few times I was driving and forgot where I’m going and why. I actually think I know exactly what it feels like to be an Alzheimer patient. Then the Parkinson’s shakes started in my left hand. A little in the right but mostly the left. I think the worst part was when I began to stop breathing while awake. It’s bad enough when you’re asleep (sleep apnea) but you’re usually over it by the time you wake up. When you’re awake it’s your brain forgetting to do those autonomous functions it does automatically. You actually have to think/will your brain to begin breathing again. It’s always freaky but the first time is really scary. I’ll add if anyone is suffering from Lyme or think you are don’t go get a cortisone shot for any achy joints. They wreak havoc on your immunity system and can make things worse. Anyone really want a glimpse inside I recommend this film. I credit it with giving me the hope to get out of bed and seek help. I ended up going to holistic doctors. It was a long road out and I’ll never be the same but I’m still kicking.
I send my clothing to Insect Shield. They treat them with a permethrin that's good for 77 washings and no time limit. Pants, coveralls, shirts and socks. I use the Sawyers spray on my shoes, boots and hats every 6 weeks. I haven't had a tick on my skin since I started doing this. I have found them dead on my pant legs. Any exposed skin, if I'm going to be in thick woods, gets 40% deet, Deepwoods off spray or similar.
What has happened to you is very scary I am glad you are with us and you shared your story If someone didn’t think lime disease was that big of a deal I hope when they read your post it makes them think again
Some good information in this thread about ticks, lyme disease, and prevention. In an effort to learn how to identify ticks I found This site. Question is who thought it would be a good idea to put a blurry black and white drawing of ticks to help identify them? tHaNk yOu wEb SitE deSigNeR oN tHe cRaCkEr jAcK jOb!!
All I get is Page Not Found 404 with a warning about the increase in measles in Illinois. I wonder how measles is making a comeback? Hmnn. Guess that’s a problem for another day.
I've been seeing ticks all winter! Took 2 off my dog yesterday. I spray permethrin on my clothing and on my dogs. My son got bit by a tick and had lyme when he was about 9. He didn't get the "bullseye rash" he got a rash that was a horseshoe shape that went from his stomach to his back. We thought he just a weird rash when we took him to the doctor. The CRNP said he has lyme. Other nurses and some of the doctors came in to see it, because they always seen or heard about the bullseye.
Well, I certainly learned some stuff in this thread, including this... the tick that we usually get bit by down here is the lone star tick, has a white dot on its back. Female does anyway. And... it does not cause Lyme disease! Yippee! That is good news! Can cause something else, though, (called STARI) but nothing like Lyme disease... STARI or Lyme? | Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) | CDC
They also make a percentage of their victims allergic to red meat. Red Meat Allergy Caused by Tick Bite Is Spreading--And Nearly Half of Doctors Don't Know about It | Scientific American
I would caution anyone from putting much faith in the CDC especially when it comes to ticks. These are the people who created the problem. It’s been years now since I’ve done the research but back in the day the preeminent authority on tick borne illnesses was IgeneX. They were such authorities the CDC refused to accredit them as a national lab. In other words they told the truth about their research not the government line. Sound familiar to anyone today? Found this. What You Need to Know About the Lone Star Tick | IGeneX | Tick Talk I should add for those who havent watched the video the rash appears about 50% of the time. the Western blot test used to test for Lyme is also about 50% accurate. IGeneX here has a much more accurate test for such things.
