Tisk, Tisk. Tick, Tick.May 20 '08 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line It's best to take real precautions with ticks and to insist on being seen by a Dr. immediately at the first sign of symptoms of a tick borne-ailment.
Agonizing aches. Inexhaustible exhaustion. Muscle fatigue like you read about in medical journals. Stabbing muscle pain. These are the symptoms I am currently suffering, and these symptoms are progressing like Lyme disease. I have a second test on Thursday, though I think they'll simply start the antibiotics. I pray! But this is supposed to be a review on insect repellents and how to choose one, right? Right. I'll get to that - and other precautions! For the longest time, I thought of ticks as summer pests. And for no real reason. But I was quite amazed to find one burrowed into my butt cheek [shudder] in early April here in Massachusetts. I had been wearing jeans and they weren't very loose! I was on a trail in the woods, a very wide one. To the right of me was not trees but short grass beyond a chainlink fence with a runway (it is our airport). Needless to say, I was surprised. I have thought time and time again what I could have done to prevent this from happening. I was not wearing the light clothes they recommend (this doesn't repel them; it's just so you'll be more apt to see them). And I was not wearing anything resembling a repellent. I have done some reading only to find that I can't find much of anything that is definitively safe for human use AND effective. Many bug sprays containing DEET tout themselves as mosquito AND tick repellents, but many experts agree it is a weak tick deterrent. There is, however, something called Permethrin. This is a pesticide that many farmers use to protect their crops, but is also an active ingredient in some bug sprays. The problem, however, is that it kills rather indiscriminately - think honey bees! It can also kill mice and in large doses, cats. Hmm. If you look at bug repellents for animals, it is often an ingredient. I'm wondering about long-term use. Many websites agree that permethrin is safe for human use, but that it is to be sprayed on the clothes. They also agree that one use can last for like four weeks - so your jacket will be protected. One site also stated that ticks that come into contact with the treated garment will literally keel over and die. An organization in Connecticut - where Lyme disease was discovered in the '70's during an outbreak in Old Lyme, Ct. - says that permethrin cannot be absorbed through the skin. Another site mentioned that it has caused lung cancer in lab rats with extended use. Something about permethrin makes me uneasy. It almost seems like we are to choose our battles. I think the best bet is to be cautious. I must say I have been hiking and walking trails and exploring fields with tall grass and woods and ... EVERYWHERE ... for my whole life. I live in Massachusetts; in the North Eastern U.S., the population of the risky deer ticks is far greater. This is the only time I have had a run-in. I know countless people who have had ticks removed with no ensuing difficulties. They say to avoid taking shortcuts through wooded areas and to wear long pants tucked into your socks and long-sleeved shirts with jackets. Despite being relatively bundled up, I managed to get a tick. It pays to have another adult and to scrutinize each other once in a while, looking for ticks. It's important to be vigilant, but also to have a good time! You're out doing something you enjoy and it's important to enjoy it. They are very small and sometimes people have one and never ever know it. They also say that a full third of people who go on to develop Lyme disease never get the notorious bull's eye rash. Again - my tick was removed from my butt. I had my mom look at it for a few days and it never appeared. What I didn't know at the time was that the rash may not appear for up to 30 days. I am NOT going to see it even if I do get it. They say Lyme disease begins with flu like symptoms. Mine began with exhaustion and muscle fatigue. When I say exhaustion, I mean I could hardly get out of bed even after sleeping for more than 8 hours and I needed naps and to go to bed early all over again. I cant' tell you how much caffeine I consumed with no benefit. And muscle fatigue - the very weight of my arms was a burden to my shoulders. I could hardly walk. I certainly couldn't lift my son. I don't know how I functioned. I also have hypothyroid and actually thought my meds had to be kicked up. This is where it gets tricky. People with hypothyroid AND Lyme disease have another problem since Lyme blocks the synthetic hormones from doing their jobs, so in essence, the meds are ineffective. But the lab results will say all is well. The other thing is that Lyme disease may not be detected by a test for 4-6 weeks and then there's still no guarantee of a false negative. People I know are stunned that the dr. didn't just start me on antibiotics anyway. Well? I have another appointment. My symptoms took a turn this weekend, after two weeks since their onset. I now have joint pain and aches. It's painful to walk, and climbing stairs seems ... a triumph. This is how I imagine arthritis to feel. I found this worksheet on the web and it seems helpful to bring to a professional if you think you may have been or have been bitten by a tick. I'm filling it out and bringing it in with me. As you can see, there are tons of symptoms. There are also more tick-borne viruses beyond just Lyme disease. A friend of mine was suddenly hospitalized with one that attacked her liver and nearly killed her. She rides horses, so there is her risk factor, but she never saw a tick. Here is the worksheet: __________________________________________________________ RISK PROFILE (PLEASE CHECK) Tick infested area__ Frequent outdoor activities__ Hiking__ Fishing ___ Camping ___ Gardening ___ Hunting ___ Ticks noted on pets ___ Do you remember being bitten by a tick? No__ Yes__ When? _________ Do you remember having the "bull's eye rash"? No__ Yes__ Any other rash? No__ Yes__ Have you had any of the following? (CIRCLE ALL YES ANSWERS) 1. Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing 2. Unexplained weight change--loss or gain 3. Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina 4. Unexplained hair loss 5. Swollen glands: list areas_______________________________ 6. Sore throat 7. Testicular pain/pelvic pain 8. Unexplained menstrual irregularity 9. Unexplained milk production: breast pain 10.Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction 11.Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido 12.Upset stomach 13.Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea 14.Chest pain or rib soreness 15.Shortness of breath, cough 16.Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block 17.Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse? 18.Joint pain or swelling: list joints________________________ 19.Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back 20.Muscle pain or cramps 21.Twitching of the face or other muscles 22.Headache 23.Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain 24.Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains 25.Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy) 26.Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity 27.Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity 28. Increased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance 29.Lightheadedness, wooziness 30.Tremor 31.Confusion, difficulty in thinking 32.Difficulty with concentration, reading 33.Forgetfulness, poor short term memory 34.Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places 35.Difficulty with speech or writing 36.Mood swings, irritability, depression 37.Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening 38.Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading and I hope this helps!  |
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