[MR] Lyme disease epidemic in Northern Atlantia area

[Gina Shelley]

Not all ticks are deer ticks, and not all deer ticks are carrying Lyme. Even if you get bit by a Lyme carrying deer tick, that does not guarantee that you will contact Lyme. 

 

If you are anything like me, you probably won't carry a tick of any sort long enought to contract anything from it other than an irritating itchy place that takes a while to heal. You will likely find it before it becomes dangerous. It will probably itch like crazy. 

 

That's how I know I've picked up a tick, I get a spot, usually at my waist or place where clothing is constrictive, that is maddeningly itchy. I undress and sure enough, there it is. 

 

Over the course of my life I've had more ticks on my body than the average hunting dog has. I've only gotten sick maybe twice from it, and both times it was a secondary infection of some sort, not Lyme, not RMSF. Stiff muscles around bite site, mild fever, chronic exhaustion. Round of antibiotics and all was well. Tick has nearly always got me around the waistline. Never had one on my head, but I've seen others get them behind the ear. One of many reasons I always wear a brimmed hat.

 

To remove them, grab them with your fingers if you can. You don't want to squeeze too hard (as with tweezers) because you don't want to inject yourself with anything the nasty thing has in it's body. If it rips a chunk of meat off the bite site when you pull, good. That' means it's head is not still stuck in your hide. Don't pansy around with cigarettes or vaseline. Just man up and pull it out, hopefully with your bare fingers.  Clean wound thoughoughly and put some neosporin on it. Watch closely for infection. You should be fine, but if you start getting signs of infection or start getting sick or have stiff muscles, get thee to a sawbones. 

 

I guess you could tuck in your shirt, but the one I picked up at Atlantia's 20 year reunion (which is one of the ones that made me pretty sick) somehow managed to go down my bodice, crawl up under my shirt, make it's way back down my skirt to my waistband and fasten itself over my right hip. He must have been equiped with a GPS. Your best defense is to carefully check your body over when you undress and pay attention to persistent itches on your skin. 

 

Dulcy

who spend a lot of time crawling around in the woods

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