I just found out I have lyme disease. I know some one else has had it. How long befor I feel human again? I feel like crap... all my joints hurt. I have spent all my life out doors and never really worried about ticks befor. I will have to spay down befor I go hunting...what will I do during bow season ...


any thoughts or comments would be good.

urdubob

I have had it 18 years now.It totally changed my life.I went from a very strong 27 year old to someone who had a hard time at anything from then on.It effected me in the heat most of all.I could not go out in above 80 degree weather.I moved from Georgia to Alaska to Solve that problem but its gotten warmer here every summer.I have learned to deal with it for the most part but it can effect you the rest of your life.I have tried lots of things to help but its a hard row to hoe for sure.I didnt let it get me but I keep trying every day to over come its horrible effects.You can email me at muskox1@excite.com if you would like take care you can still hunt and fish but it can change you life in many ways.Mike

Sounds like the tick got you a while ago; most of the folks that I know who've had it caught it early enough that they didn't start getting the joint aches, etc., although one guy at work started literally passing out in the office. I'm not sure how long it takes to recover once you had a good infection, but the people I know who did have symptoms like yours recovered after a good course of antibiotics.

The only thing that I can say is not to let this worry you too much. Up here, in the suburbs of New York, it's just a fact of life. My father got it walking around his backyard. The guy at work was one of the least outdoors-oriented people I ever knew, but managed to end up with Lyme. Families of people I work with are being tested, and doctors find that the entire families have the antibodies for Lyme in their bloodstreams, even though some aren't showing symptoms. One of my friend's bird dogs even was diagnosed, after she started acting lethargic.

I'm certainly a candidate. I end up getting a few ticks embedded during bird season every fall. So far, no symptoms, but I wouldn't be surprised if I also have the antibodies indicating previous infection floating around in my blood. I spray, but if there's any chink in the repellent armor, ticks find a way in. It's just a price we have to pay for being outside whenever possible.

Don't let the bloodsuckers' worry you too much. I figure that if the IRS's bite doesn't keep me from going to work, the little sips the ticks take aren't keeping me out of the woods. They're just the price of admission.

Feel better.

dgr--

Never knew anyone who had it so bad. I guess I have to retract my earlier comments, and start to think about this more seriously.

urdubob,

It's been over fifteen years since I had it......I was sick for a long time.....I didn't pay attention to the red rings under my watch after removing a tick....I recall I started feeling like myself after about 6 weeks.....just make sure you listen to the doctor and don't take chances with it as it can lead to more serious health problems down the road if not properly treated. I started using Permanone or Duranon on my clothes and it helped to keep the ticks down during the early season.

One of the nice things about moving to Alaska is no ticks, no rattlesnakes. Take care of yourself....

Joe

My sister-in-law has it and she's allergic to all the tetracycline-family antibiotics used to treat it. She's a mess.

Urdubob, there's a gent at www.24hourcampfire.com who just got out of the hospital after treatment for Lyme's... may want to post over there too.

Damn ticks are a curse! I got Rocky Mountain Tick Fever in 2000... that was a real drag...

Thanks for the replys... I was bitten about 4 weeks ago. Had several ticks on me from turkey hunting I didn't find one for about a day. I pulled him out and got a red welt on my side. I just thought I left his mouth parts in and they would fester out. The next three weeks went by... I thought I had the flue or a cold. I would work until about four in the afternoon then just have to sit down...I could not even get off my seat. Then all my joints started to hurt: knees,hips, ankles,elbows and shoulders.

They started me on Doxycyclene for the next 30 days.

I passed on the steroids and antidepressants they wanted to give me.

urdubob

Seems Lymes hits folks in different ways. My 70 yr old father had it last summer and the antibiotics turned things around for him almost immediately.

Take Lyme disease very seriously, as if not properly treated, it will disable you for life. If you have questions about Lyme disease, check out the Lyme Disease Foundation web site at http://www.lyme.org/.

Dave

"if not properly treated it will disable you for life" A good friend got it before Lyme desease was identified and treatment discovered. She's been going downhill ever since !! Take it seriously !

I had it in 88 into 89 wasn't good. I fully recoved I think. But with lymes one never really knows. A friend of mine had really bad. Many times in the hospital. left him crippled up.

It is nasty stuff. Hopefully like me you well recover.

#1, I don't have it. I have lived and worked in several countries in central and south america and I am HIPER about protecting myself from the crap that is out there.
there is a product out there that is made from a little flower that is raised in Kenya and other countries. I can not remember the name right now, but you can buy this stuff from Cabales. You soak your clothes in it and it keep EVERYTHING from lighting on you include ticks. I have used it with great success.
OK, I JUST LOCATED THE BOTTLE I HAVE REMAINING
It is called "Coulston's Perma-kill 4 week tick killer
This stuff works. I can speak from experience as I have used it for the last ten years and I have never had a tick or flea and in most cases misquitos light on me. It worked in Brazil and Argentina and Central America as well as Florida. This stuff is cheap in comparison to what you will run into if the F---ING tick get on you.
It works for your pets as well.
Get it and use it and you will not he disapointed.
DO IT, THAT IS AN ORDER AND I EXPECT MY ORDERS TO BE FOLLOWED. DON'T DISOBAY ME, EVER
jACK

By the way, This all natural. The active ingredient is Permethrin. The little blue flower is said to be quite lovely. I don't know and I don't care. The crap works. USE IT.
jACK

I knew the professional golfer Tim Simpson on a casual basis years back. He was at the top of his game and had a really bright future on the PGA tour. He was (and is) an avid hunter. He got Lyme disease and went a long time (nearly a year as I recall) before being properly diagnosed. It really derailed him, as it debilatated his joints, and fine motor control.

The good news is, that after extensive antibiotic (and other--maybe steroids) treatment, he got it whipped, and feels mostly human again. The last I read he was still trying to work on his golf game, but was having mediocre success at that time. The crux of the Lyme disease was that early diagnosis was key to handling it well. I hope you are able to beat it down.

Good Luck--Don

Permethrin is the medication used to take care of crabs and head lice. I spray it on my clothes when the grass greens up during turkey season. I also used it on my clothes before my trip to Texas. Works great. Go to one of the Mart's and buy the generic, same stuff.

Permethrin kills ticks!!

I have found that a spray will last as long as I wear the clothes and then respray after washing.

If you ever THINK you have Lyme's get treated. Sooner rather than later. If caught early the lasting effects are not too bad. If let go, the effects can be devastating.

I think I had it alot longer than when I found out and thats why it got so bad.I knew in 1988 in March that something was really wrong but the doctors didnt know what the heck it was at the time.It was not even a legal disease at the time in Georgia.They later passed that it was a real disease.I think only 56 people in Georia had it the year I had it.There were 4 guys I hunted with an all of us got it rabbit hunting we think.I quit turkey hunting because of the ticks.If you didnt spray yourself you would get about 50 ticks on you in the pedimont area where I hunted.I still got a few ticks with spray when I hunted.It seems they were the worst as it warmed up in Febuary till around April in the woods.My dog also got it from a load of pinestraw that was brought in our apartments at the time about 4 years back.He has a scar where the tick bit him.It didnt effect him as bad as me but he came from South Ga and hates the heat.I tried to get him treated as fast as I could.It can be a horrible thing left untreated.I was only 27 when I got it and very healthy.It sure slowed me down and didnt help anything.It seems to lower your system to where you catch about every flu or cold going around and you get it three times worse than any one else.I still hunt as much as possible but it sure changed my ways.

Bob,

I sure hope you get over it quickly....we take health for granted until we don't have it one day....

your health is in my families prayers...

cheers
seafire

Which forum on 24 hour campfire?

quote:

Originally posted by Brad:
Urdubob, there's a gent at www.24hourcampfire.com who just got out of the hospital after treatment for Lyme's... may want to post over there too.

Damn ticks are a curse! I got Rocky Mountain Tick Fever in 2000... that was a real drag...

I had the blood test on Thursday. I never got a rash of any consequence, but have aching knees (and a few other joints). Also, I am sleeping way more than I ever did. I actually overslept the first day of spring gobbler season. It is a real chore to hike up the mountain to my turkey hunting area.
It might be something else, but I think I want Lyme disease ruled out for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by winggunner:
By the way, This all natural. The active ingredient is Permethrin. The little blue flower is said to be quite lovely. I don't know and I don't care. The crap works. USE IT.
jACK

I'm not familiar with your product and am not trying to be argumentative, but "permethrin" is NOT natural. It is a manmade chemical made to duplicate natural pyrethrums, which are not as long lasting or effective for insect repellent or killing as permethrin, which is the active ingredient found in many ant and roach sprays, as an example.

You are right and I AM WRONG. Senior's moment for sure. I was think of the natural ingredient Pyrethrums which I do believe comes from a little blue flower that I do believe is grown in Kenya. I think I remember that info from one of R. R.'s books on Kenya. It might have been Uhuru.
I never desire to pass BAD INTEL., and I assure all of you this was not the case here.
I appreciate "FatCats" setting the record straight
Now I have to reprogram my old brain. It will not be the first time.
Thanks again for the correct info.
Jack

I really have used the memtioned product and I have had great results. Of course I am probably going to get cancer later in life, but Lymes.
Jack

Lymes is different in many people. I had the painfull joints real bad in late 87 and all was well by mid 88. It returned in 2000 for about 3 months and arthiritis medication knocked it out. I am due again in 2012 if the pattern holds. All the other years I am a perfect iron pumping health nut. My point is when you think it is gone it is only dormant.

Dwight,
Do you think you got it in FL? I didn't think that FL had it?
Jack

You have received very good advice from previous people.
But, If all other treatments fail and you are starting to get desperate Google "Marshall Protocol" and look at the web site. You will have to use your own judgement after inspecting the web site. I have no actual experience with the Marshall protocol, but have decided to use it for other health reasons.
Hope your system is strong enough to make short work of the disease.

quote:

Originally posted by urdubob:
I just found out I have lyme disease. I know some one else has had it. How long befor I feel human again? I feel like crap... all my joints hurt. I have spent all my life out doors and never really worried about ticks befor. I will have to spay down befor I go hunting...what will I do during bow season ...


any thoughts or comments would be good.

urdubob

Lyme was my biggest fear during the eight years we lived in Connecticut. We think we got out of there without it, although I've had sore joints from time to time. I sympathize, it's a serious long-term pain in the butt.

I Can't thank you all enough. I had a great day on Sat.... sunday was another story. I was only out of bed long enough to go to church. I am self employed so I have to work this week. I do think I am feeling some improvement.

I have developed a hang over type headache. I was told this goes along with it.

thanks urdubob

About a 40% of the ticks here in S. Germany carry the infection. I got the desease (Borreliose) 3 years ago but noticed it on time, some antibiotics, Doxycyclin I think, too care of it. My 7-year old git it as well in the face of all spots, we never saw a tick but teh pediatritian diagnosed it correctly. Same antibiotics cure to be applied.

Now my father who'd only worked in his garden and had apparently never had a tick either. Complaint about arthritis, had to give up horse riding but in fact it was a chronical case of Lyme. We very much hope this damn disesase is gone by now.

If you have ticks once in a while, better have your doctor check your blood regularily.

Is it true that there is a vaccination in the US or is this only available for canines?

It's fairly common here in Sweden as well, my father got it a couple of years ago but found out quickly and the antibiotics took care of it.

Hope you get better!

I have a friend back in MN. that has it.He caught it back in the early 80's when no one knew too much about it, he could not find a doctor to treat him for it beacuse the tests never came back positive for it, but he had the rash aound a tick bite. He was buying antibiotics on the black market, finally after several years the test did confirm the diagnosis but it was too late, he is in a nursing home with serious heart damage from it. I never was too concerned about catching it, but I was careful about checking for ticks.

I got it last Labor Day while squirrel hunting. Fortunately I got the picture perfect bullseye rash so the diagnosis was easy. My first doctor followed the old CDC guidelines and gave me the wrong antibiotic, so I went to a infectious disease specialist and got it taken care of. If you catch it early it is very cureable!

quote:

Originally posted by Dwight:
Lymes is different in many people. I had the painfull joints real bad in late 87 and all was well by mid 88. It returned in 2000 for about 3 months and arthiritis medication knocked it out. I am due again in 2012 if the pattern holds. All the other years I am a perfect iron pumping health nut. My point is when you think it is gone it is only dormant.

I was in Ga in the 80s.