My Second Annual Warning

[jay trotta]

Ben,
(cutting to the quick here)
yep its that time of year again and as you note it aint pretty; a few years back (10-15) my god daughter was in URI University, her parents fell on hard times and I helped her financially, so that she could finish her studies in the nursing field; she graduated and was thankful. Over the next couple of years she grew tired of the medical field and began sailing for some major folk in Newport, RI - eventually she obtained her Captains license; purchased a small ship and began running evening cruise adventures (dinner & all) - she invited myself & the Mrs - we went, it was great.
During one summer while working on the ship, she must have goitten bitten by a Lyme Tick - she became ill and after some time saw a doctor. She married her long time boyfriend and they have 3 children; over the past several years she has not been able to move out the house and more recently, the past couple of years has been confined to bed or a couch. You are so right with regards to how dangerous this disease is.
Check everything folks, after you come in from outdoors - the world has become more dangerous than ever before.

 

[Willie]

I read an article in the Tennessee Sportsman a few months back that said roughly half the people with Lyme's wind up killing themselves, which is kind of about what Ben is telling us, and reminding us, every spring. If you are on grass, or near woods, and or have pets, you could be at risk, even in places (Tennessee) that you don't expect Lymes. The Game Warden officer who was strickin, and who the article was about, had to see about 6 or 7 doctors before he figured it out. Even then, he lost his family, and remains ill. All over a tick that you almost can't see.

For those of you who are animal rights people, surely you recognize the need to thin herds of deer, especially when they are in close proximity to people. If you look at hunting magazines, you see dead deer. If you look closely, you will often see lumps under the deers fur on their skin, which is a tell tale sign of ticks.

 

[Renee Healion]

Lyme Disease is named after Lyme CT which is in my area.

My dogs are vaccinated for it, for what is worth. When they did not have fast tests for it, some people brought samples to their vet lab tech for the 24 hr turn time.

Even after all this time, there seems to be a continuing problem with false negatives.

I guess the best thing, especially if you have freckles or dark skin, is that the ticks do not immediately infect people. It takes a couple of hours of feeding I think before they share their spirochetes. So looking is really worth doing.

 

[Mountain Man]

Ben, I think we need to make your Lyme Disease and my Poision Ivy post sticky's that pop up every spring.

Both of these nasties can get ya' where it hurts the most...
in the WALLET!! :new_ukliam2:

 

[Smokey Bear]

Anyone have any experience with the Lyme vaccine?