Tick bites and Lyme disease

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Wow... I had no idea they were so bad, up your way. I find maybe one on me each year, often none in a whole year, and I spend a lot of time outdoors.
My brother walked his dog on an abandoned golf course near our house and had eleven on him. They're working their way north from conn/ma to northern new england.
 
Supposedly theres a lab testing facility on an island off the coast of Lyme CT where the first cases of childhood arthritis was diagnosed. In 1972. And it is inaccessable and also supposedly owned by a German company. Where they lab test animals. It has been speculated to the possibility of some kind of containment breach. I read this in a magazine years ago.
Just saying...lol.

I think they are referring to Plum Island off Orient Point, NY. It is owned by the US Government and was an animal disease research facility, but I think they moved it to another state. Anyway, I heard stories about lime disease originating there. I am not sure how true it is.
 
Glad I weighed in on this thread before--be careful out there. Remember--there is no such thing as a "summer Flu" -- so if you have Flu-like symptoms in the summer, there is a high likelihood that you have been bitten and are feeling the effects of a Lyme infection. A fairly significant percentage of people will NOT get the classic bulls-eye rash to alert them. (some estimates place it as low as 27%! :

The best book I have read about treating the effects is this one if anyone is fighting after effects:
 
A guy I work with came in today. He was off sick yesterday. Apparently him and his son hung deer stands late last week and he got ticks on him.....no big deal. He said him and wife went out and ate.....sick all weekend. Went to hospital yesterday....ran tests. Apparently he has alpha-gal syndrome from tick bite which is a red meat allergy. He said he has to go back in a month or so for more test but doc said allergy should go away. I hope so because I couldn't imagine not being able to eat a steak.
 
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Supposedly theres a lab testing facility on an island off the coast of Lyme CT where the first cases of childhood arthritis was diagnosed. In 1972. And it is inaccessable and also supposedly owned by a German company. Where they lab test animals. It has been speculated to the possibility of some kind of containment breach. I read this in a magazine years ago.
Just saying...lol.
Its called plum island and I grew up looking at it across the water everyday. It is indeed an animal disease research facility, but the idea that lyme originated there is a non-truth. The disease had been prevalent in many areas around the country, but it wasnt until a physician in Lyme, CT recognized the pattern in symptoms and realized this was an as yet unknown virus. Hence it became known as lyme disease and plum island is a coincidental occurence that conspiracy theorists love to point at from ferry boats.
 
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No truth to the rumor the long island beast was created on plum island either.
 
Its called plum island and I grew up looking at it across the water everyday. It is indeed an animal disease research facility, but the idea that lyme originated there is a non-truth. The disease had been prevalent in many areas around the country, but it wasnt until a physician in Lyme, CT recognized the pattern in symptoms and realized this was an as yet unknown virus. Hence it became known as lyme disease and plum island is a coincidental occurence that conspiracy theorists love to point at from ferry boats.
I used to live across from here too!
 
Lots of good information in this thread!

About a year ago, I fell victim to the "summer flu" and a few work buddies insisted I get checked for Lymes. My doctor did not support that theory but agreed to have the blood work done. About 24 hours later I get a phone call from their office telling me I tested positive for Lymes.

FYI - I've pulled plenty of ticks off me prior to this, but none that were bitten/latched onto me. I also did NOT have the classic bulls eye mark.

In the weeks following, I began experiencing chest pain and numbness of the hands/feet. A few trips to the cardiologist cleared any possible issues with the heart, but confirmed that the Lymes was effecting particular muscles in my chest, causing the discomfort.

A year later and I'm mostly recovered, but still experience occasional numbness in my hands, and occasional chest discomfort.

This year - I'm still pulling ticks off of my dog (even yesterday, November 2nd) despite having a few cold nights in the books. Be careful out there and make sure you check yourselves!
 
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My property has a lot of whitetail deer and has deep woods on 3 sides. Fortunately iv never even seen a tick there in the last 10 yrs since iv been looking for them. I always ck myself after working outside. I avoid low hanging tree branches and tall weeds were they may be lurking but i guess iv been lucky. Im sure they are there in big numbers .
 
Its suprising your doctor wasn't on board with your Lyme theory, I know people that have severe repurcussions from their doctor not testing for lyme. It such a simple test they should do it automatically. Glad you caught yours early and should be ok.
 
Its suprising your doctor wasn't on board with your Lyme theory, I know people that have severe repurcussions from their doctor not testing for lyme. It such a simple test they should do it automatically. Glad you caught yours early and should be ok.
My father had exactly the same experience last year. His insurance also refused to pay for the testing because he didn't have the typical indicators that call for testing. They did pay for the treatment though.
 
I've found that you can sometimes piggyback on an annual checkup if they are doing blood panels anyways. Depends on the insurance but I have had included or I've had to pay. If you are there and they are already drawing blood it's trivial to draw a little more.

Even if you have to pay, it's relatively cheap insurance--and if you test positive, you can argue for a reimbursement.
 
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My father had exactly the same experience last year. His insurance also refused to pay for the testing because he didn't have the typical indicators that call for testing. They did pay for the treatment though.

It and interesting phenomenon that insurance won't pay for a test or a scan, but will pay through the nose for treatment after the fact. Would have been cheaper and better for the patient if they just would have paid for the test/scan sooner vs later.
 
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Keep Lyme symptoms in mind even if your bloodwork comes back clean; the most common test is something like 30% accurate in the first 3 weeks of infection, and there are a bewildering profusion of different testing methodologies out there.
 
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The cure is 14 days of Doxycycline , which is old and cheap, I'm not sure why Dr's are timid to use it, especially with a confirmed tick bite. The best treatment is to get ahead of it, or it can lead to lingering problems.
 
The cure is 14 days of Doxycycline , which is old and cheap, I'm not sure why Dr's are timid to use it, especially with a confirmed tick bite. The best treatment is to get ahead of it, or it can lead to lingering problems.

Because the more you use antibiotics the less you can use antibiotics. Evolution at work.

Also because some of us get "confirmed tick bites" hundreds of times per year and I don't know if they sell it in 5 gallon pails.

;lol
 
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Because the more you use antibiotics the less you can use antibiotics. Evolution at work.

Also because some of us get "confirmed tick bites" hundreds of times per year and I don't know if they sell it in 5 gallon pails.

;lol
Because the more you use antibiotics the less you can use antibiotics. Evolution at work.

Also because some of us get "confirmed tick bites" hundreds of times per year and I don't know if they sell it in 5 gallon pails.

;lol
True, but if you get the rash or other symptoms you should get treated right away. Long term effects can be debilitating.
 
It and interesting phenomenon that insurance won't pay for a test or a scan, but will pay through the nose for treatment after the fact. Would have been cheaper and better for the patient if they just would have paid for the test/scan sooner vs later.
Insurance companies don’t do anything on a whim, statistics is the very basis of their business. From their stance on this, you can rest assured that the cost of treating a few cases is less than the cost of testing many.
 
Insurance companies don’t do anything on a whim, statistics is the very basis of their business. From their stance on this, you can rest assured that the cost of treating a few cases is less than the cost of testing many.

You are probably right it's all base on actuarial tables. Unfortunately some will die, so others can live.
 
Side note that I just had a serious tick bite 10 days ago. Virtually the first of December! We were out gathering deadfall and I found my little hitchhiker while I was in the bathroom that evening. Clean extraction and thorough cleaning but we're still watching for any symptoms. Be careful out there.
 
The ticks, especially the little bastards AKA: Deer Ticks have been awful this year in KY. We have had a couple of mild winters the last two years so...... I have never dealt with so many or pulled them off crawling up or on my clothing. I make sure I give them a good sunburn. AKA: They get the map gas torch treatment. Call me sick but I make sure they do not turn into repeat offenders nor their offspring. It's a one and done policy here. LOL!
 
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The ticks, especially the little bastards AKA: Deer Ticks have been awful this year in KY. We have had a couple of mild winters the last two years so...... I have never dealt with so many or pulled them off crawling up or on my clothing. I make sure I give them a good sunburn. AKA: They get the map gas torch treatment. Call me sick but I make sure they do not turn into repeat offenders nor their offspring. It's a one and done policy here. LOL!
I find a way to make sure any ticks don't return: swimming lessons or a crushing treatment works pretty good.
 
Contracted Lyme about 15 years ago, they though it was mono at first :confused:

Fwiw, I make my own tick tubes now and spread them out over the 2 acres I worry about....probably about 40 or so in total...once in the spring and once in the fall....it all but eliminates the nasty buggers.

Just save the TP tubes and dryer lint (or use cotton balls) - I bought concentrated permethrin on Amazon for less than $30, probably enough for at least 10 years. Dilute to 7-10% in a good spray bottle - hide the tubes under leaf litter, stone walls, etc., the mice and chippies use the treated lint for thier nests, and it kills the ticks. Apparently rodents are the primary hosts for the ticks....