| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| CMac |
Posted - May 23 2011 : 07:16:16 AM
and I lost a month of my life! But I count myself lucky because it could have been much worse. I'm lucky because I had a virus I caught from my granddaughter and thought I was not getting better from that. I would have delayed going to the doctor if I had not already been sick for over a week. Turns out I had Erlichiosis from a tick bite. I was down and i mean down for 3 weeks. I have never been so sick. I've been hospitalized and not felt so bad!
I wanted to let you all know that I am back and did not just disappear out of lack of interest.
I also want to encourage you all to be vigilant about tick protection. I have rarely used deet because i don't like spraying my body with chemicals. I used various natural repellents over the years and never found anything that really worked so I went without. I did do a body check daily but I missed the one on my right shoulder blade till it started itching, probably 24 to 48 hours after it bit me. My doctor was receptive to my concern about the tick bite and started me on doxycycline right away. I refused the test for tick borne diseases because it cost $400. When I started getting better so quickly after taking the med she asked me to come in and be tested at her expense because she wanted to write my case up for publication and needed the verification. I did and I had it. I worried about Lyme but had no idea this one even existed.
If you have flu like symptoms a week to ten days after a tick bite go to the doctor! Tell them you were bitten. A few years ago we had a 24 year old healthy soldier at the base nearby die of this disease because no one realized it was not the flu until it was too late.
If even one person benefits from reading this it will be worth having had this disease.
Tell your children and grown up loved ones to tell you if they have been bitten so you will know to watch them as well.
Love you all,
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CMac |
Posted - Jun 28 2011 : 09:28:37 AM
I'll bet she will be fine. You caught it so soon. Good momma for keeping an eye out for them or teaching her to tell you!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| Primginger |
Posted - Jun 28 2011 : 07:31:58 AM
Watching my 9year old now, she had one of the tiny ticks on her leg, caught it within 12 hours.....took it off and the spot seems to be going away, I have been told that those tiny ticks, the size of the pin head, are the ticks that usually carry the disease , there are two sizes according to our dr , my husband does have lyme disease and thats from getting bit by some fly on asseateague island in MD.quote:
Originally posted by CMac
I have been told if you get the tick off within 24/48 hours you should be OK. I would still mark a calendar and if I had flu like symptoms aprox 10 days after I would go to the doctor and insist on Doxcycline. Run the test if you must ( It is expensive) but remember they frequently come back negative that early on. I never thought of testing the tick. I wonder how that would be done. I'll bet that would really be expensive!
I'm feeling pretty good now so I am grateful! Figured out the headaches are from a fall I took playing with my granddaughter. Got a little whiplash. ; ) Not a s young as I used to be. Thought I could out run a swing. I can't. At least not in flip flops on wet grass. Yes I was embarrassed and no I didn't make her fall. She was in one of those put their legs through swings thank God.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Enjoying my little Homestead
www.heirloomhomestead.com
http://primgingersphotos.shutterfly.com/ |
| CMac |
Posted - Jun 27 2011 : 2:11:29 PM
Ann- It is a balance of risk at best. I have been tick free since I started wearing long pants and tucking them into my socks. I use a deet product on my wrists and wear long sleeves. The most important thing is to do a body check every day. If you have an itchy spot don't just scratch, have some one look if you can't see the spot. ( Mine was on my back where I could not quite reach and could not see.) Wish I had thought to get someone to look at it right away. Thought I just had an itchy back.
Yes I get hot. But I'd rather be hot than so sick again. Some years are worse than others just like any other insect. Keep the grass mowed, have some poultry around and don't invite the deer into your yard area. They are pretty to look at but full of ticks! Use a product on your pets like frontline or something from the vet.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| grannyannie |
Posted - Jun 27 2011 : 1:48:23 PM
We are just in the process of moving to "tick country" (Kentucky), and it is a new phenomenon for us, since we've been living in the Pacific Northwest. We've purchased a small place (13 acres) and I'm looking at keeping chickens, but am still researching which types would be best. Sounds like I'll definitely want Guineas, but does anyone have any idea how many, or have any pertinent information this city girl should have on how to get started? Also, do you recommend using deet products? I've always felt it was too dangerous, but maybe it's worth it compared to the tick threat? So much new stuff to learn!!!!! |
| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Jun 27 2011 : 1:30:37 PM
Hmmmm....
Traveling is bit hard on us, especially raising the kids. I will suggest this to my husband, but he works full-time and also late several days a week. I'll ask him anyway. 
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Jun 27 2011 : 04:24:58 AM
Kristina, I'm pretty sure my husband's cousin has a BUNCH. If you'd be willing to drive down to KY I could get you some! :)
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - Jun 25 2011 : 3:53:20 PM
We have ticks bad here also. We have picked them off the dogs so often that I switched to a natural oil mixture vs. expensive pet meds. It's safe enough for us to put on our clothes or skin also. So far the dogs have not had any ticks, nor my son (who typically gets them walking the dogs outside (we have tall grass, weeds etc. near the woods, which will be mowed down very soon too).
We plan to get at least 2 guineas, but have not found any yet. We may order them as chicks from the farm store next spring, if we can't locate any for sale around here.
Farmgirl #800
http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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| CMac |
Posted - Jun 20 2011 : 09:36:58 AM
That sounds terrible Megan. They do leave a red itchy bump on me but they go away in a few days. I'd have it checked again. Our bodies do not like foreign protein!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Jun 16 2011 : 03:18:03 AM
Has anyone been bitten and still had an itchy, hard lump YEARS after the fact? I've gone to the dermatologist and had the spot excised, and they said they found a piece of tick still left in me, but now that it was gone it should go away...I'm STILL battling this spot. Sometimes it itches so bad I could crawl out of my skin!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| CMac |
Posted - Jun 09 2011 : 5:17:55 PM
I have been told if you get the tick off within 24/48 hours you should be OK. I would still mark a calendar and if I had flu like symptoms aprox 10 days after I would go to the doctor and insist on Doxcycline. Run the test if you must ( It is expensive) but remember they frequently come back negative that early on. I never thought of testing the tick. I wonder how that would be done. I'll bet that would really be expensive!
I'm feeling pretty good now so I am grateful! Figured out the headaches are from a fall I took playing with my granddaughter. Got a little whiplash. ; ) Not a s young as I used to be. Thought I could out run a swing. I can't. At least not in flip flops on wet grass. Yes I was embarrassed and no I didn't make her fall. She was in one of those put their legs through swings thank God.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Jun 06 2011 : 09:49:19 AM
BTW takes two weeks for the antibodies to show up in your blood stream enough to test, by that time it can be pretty bad you are supposed to go on antibiotics right away, I don't know what you would do with so many though! The kind of stuff I put on my cats/dogs actually kills the ticks and fleas. Doesn't just repell them. It kills any flea or tick that even comes around areas the cat/dog has laid in and such.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Jun 06 2011 : 09:47:36 AM
After my grandma had the rocky mountain spotted tick fever, she always made us keep every tick we pulled off, put in a zip lock baggie (I know I don't hardly keep them in my house any more either though) and dated on the baggie with marker. That way they can test the tick if we got sick.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jun 06 2011 : 06:54:27 AM
I have pulled 3 ticks off my head this year. I check morning and at night before I go to bed. I put spot on treatments for my cats and dogs. I don't like doing it but they would be covered otherwise. They are really thick this year. They still drop off the cats and manage to get on me. The ticks that I pulled off were not there when i went to bed but were there the next morning and were attached.
I wonder how long after they attach they can transmit the disease. I am worried now that maybe I could have already contracted it. I just pulled the last one off yesterday morning. I have to say its freaking me out.
I hope you get better Connie and everyone else battling this.This is so darn scary.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| CMac |
Posted - May 30 2011 : 8:40:58 PM
I've been wondering if I should have my little dog tested. He is acting much older than he is.
I'm glad your dogs recovered. I'm terribly sorry your husband is still suffering.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| 82kygal |
Posted - May 30 2011 : 12:53:00 PM
At the same time my husband got Rocky mountain spotted fever my two dogs had lymes. I found it by watching my lab start to drag his back hips when he walked. I got him right in and tested. Both dogs had it and have fully recovered although my husband did not
With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
What ever you are, be a good one. (Abe Lincoln) |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - May 29 2011 : 4:13:21 PM
WOW I never heard of that! Poor thing. And yes as much as I hate it, I keep advantage (vet strength, not over the counter kind) on my pets regularly. I just don't want them to be hurt by ticks, and I can't stand fleas either! UHG
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| CMac |
Posted - May 29 2011 : 09:15:13 AM
I think I will have to use something on them this year. As hard as I am working to keep them off me outside I cringe at the idea that the dog will bring them inside! We are like a bunch of monkeys in the evenings, checking each other and the pets for ticks.
When I first moved to the farm there was a dog from another farm that liked to come spend time with our dog. She was a collie. I noticed one morning that she was dragging her hind quarters when she walked. I thought she had been hit by a car. I called her owner and waited for her to make the drive to get her. In the mean time the dog went down and could not walk at all. My son and I went out to be with her and put some water near her. She was covered with ticks. We sat and petted her and pulled ticks while we waited. The owner did not show up for three hours. When she got there we loaded the dog and waited for a call to tell us how she was. We were shocked to hear the dog was fine. The vet said she may have had tick paralysis. We had probably pulled the right tick off and she recovered. I had never heard of this disease so I went online to research. I'm sure that is what happened after I read up on it. I used to hate fleas more than ticks. Now I hate them both!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 11:09:00 PM
I must admit I put chemicals on my pets, I just can't handle them getting ticks. I figure it's the lesser of the two evils, especially since ticks they have, could come in contact with me!
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, everything tucked in and where nothing could penetrate but I'm sure it's blazing hot!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| CMac |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 10:29:12 PM
The CDC recommends lemon eucalyptus oil to repel mosquitos not ticks. They still recommend DEET to repel ticks. I use lemon balm to repel mosquitos. We have tons of those too. Living in a very green wooded part of the country with lots of water around has it's down side to go with the beauty. Unfortunately skin so soft makes me wheeze as do most perfumes.
We were at the farm today and I found three crawling up my white socks. Tucking my pants in my socks is helping! None found during my body check today. Heather you are right. I get very hot in long pants, tall socks and long sleeves. Look kinda silly too. But I'll do what I have to do till they are under control. Our county extension agent said it is just a really bad year for ticks. Apparently we aren't the only ones complaining. He said to get our outside dog back out there to keep the deer out of the yard. That makes sense. Only...How do I keep the hordes of ticks off him short of chemicals? Aughhhhhh!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 8:59:24 PM
True sherry I was just trying to come up with something less harmful for us, and yet keeping the ticks at bay.
Thanks Rachel for the lemon eucalyptus oil idea. I will have to research that too!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| BalancingAct |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 8:57:24 PM
Rachel, thank you for posting about the lemon eucalyptus oil. I've already had a tick on me that jumped off my cat to me as I was petting. I am one of those who is very sensitive to things such as deet.
Farmgirl Sister #2851 -"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| rksmith |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 6:38:04 PM
The CDC just put out a report that lemon eucalyptus oil is just as effective as deet. Tons safer.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet--Dr. Kioni
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
| sherrye |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 4:14:28 PM
heather, i think i remember that being true too. i think it was skin so soft. for those who could use it it may be a lesser evil. but like was stated. it is important to do something that works for you. so in some cases as was said ya have to be aggressive. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 11:59:36 AM
I haven't tried it yet, but I had a step grandmother who was extremely sensitive and she swore by Avon's skin so soft. (I'm allergic to most Avon, so I am kind of on the fence about it!). One thing is you could really try to cover and lock out any insects as much as possible, of course that may be very hot too! So I just don't know!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| CMac |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 11:19:34 AM
I absolutely agree Sherry. I fully expect that folks know their own bodies and will honor what is best for them.
I'm in a difficult position having a farm that has been uninhabited for 17 mos (Mostly dealing with the yard area now) The ticks are so bad it is a question of spraying myself or spraying the earth. I fully intend to keep my land organic so I choose to spray me at this point. Hopefully we will get control of the problem once we are there full time and can get the chickens and guineas to work.
Believe me I am the last person to advocate chemical use, but in a situation like ours I have to decide what is better long term for our bodies and the earth. Two and a half months of Doxycycline will manage the Erlichiosis ( I hope) but I have to wonder what it is doing to me that is not beneficial. I think a once or twice a week application of deet, washed off as soon as possible, would have been less damaging to my body than an infection followed by long term antibiotic therapy, with no guarantee of having found it in time to prevent long term problems.
I hope folks will weigh the risks and choose a method that they feel comfortable with. I'm a bit mad at myself because I CHOSE not to use deet despite the fact I was pulling multiple ticks off of me every time I was at the farm. The odds were against me and I believe i was just being stubborn and ignored the facts to hold true to a value that proved to be a very false economy for me. I've spent a lot of time trying to understand why/how I had such blinders on since I've been sick. My goodness I'm a nurse with a masters degree. I knew the risk. How could I have been so short sighted?
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
