PSA While Out Shooting...

[Rob_in_NC]

Lots of responses here.... Definitely on the mend here. Was even outside a bit today. Some joint soreness and a little less wind than normal, but I'll take it!

I'd heard about the red meat thing...holy hell that would be awful. That'd ruin me..

Had NOT heard about the liver thing though... that's no joke

Noted on the Maganese and I'll get some this week!

The tick collars in blousers, we did that when I was stationed in Germany... they had these TINY ticks there that would embed themselves fully inside you. Those in the know would wear panty hose under their BDU's out in the field. The rest of us would make fun of them, until we were digging out those things with a knife and then we didnt find it so funny.

Dishwashing soap.. I've heard that trick, but I just always yanked them out and make sure I get the head. I did not realize that Lyme could be sexually transmitted though... yall better leave your wives behind when you go to the Hickory Airgun show this year!

Thanks for the well wishes, folks. All good here and hopeful there will be no lasting effects!

 

[Str8tshooter]

I live in the Forest and this is my biting insect arsenal. I killed this tick today that I picked up at my buddy's house.

 

[dv8eod]

I carry a bunch of these with me in my personal first aid bag. Most of the places I work are in the Mid-Atlantic and I can drop them off at the environmental offices to be checked. When I'm at home, VA has a lab tech that can check them on staff. Biggest thing that bothers me is bringing something home that doesn't belong there, so I wash and vac the truck before heading back to the house.
Alpha-Gal is the cause for the red meat allergy, and to make things more interesting, here's a thread I started a year back with a new one.

Tick season and a new threat

https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/tick-borne-virus-heartland-lone-star/2022/03/17/id/1061690/

www.airgunnation.com

 

[orangeokie]

Lyme disease is extremely serious and can be crippling. Good thread. I spent 16 years on the pipeline, and most of it was up in the Northeast where ticks are rampant, as well as Lyme disease.

 

[fishing43]

I live out in the sticks, and am in the forrest frequently. These two I keep on hand, and every so often treat the cab of the truck. Hope you feel better soon.
View attachment 376779

Works great

 

[wimpanzee]

Permethrin is the good stuff. I treat all my outdoor/hiking/hunting/camping gear with it. Backpacks, tents, hammocks, clothes...never brought a tick home since I started using it diligently.

 

[JDR]

Deet is your friend. I live out in the country and ticks are common here. I've been around them my whole life save for my stint in the Army and never thought anything about pulling them out of me.
Last year was really bad and I was catching 2-4 a day off me. This year, not as bad, but still finding a couple each week. About a month ago, one left a mark and instead of me taking notice, I just figured I'd left the head in so I dug around with a knife and after finding no head, I forgot about it. Until earlier this week. Started with a headache... shoulders...neck...back.... then fever. Then all joints aching and finally me in convulsions.
Trip to the doc after that night.
So yes... it appears I've contracted Lyme disease. Antibiotics now have me feeling human again and today has been the first day I've been moving about.
I know a lot of you might live in the sticks like me and dont think of preventative measures for ticks and view them as a simple annoyance. I know I did. Not any more.
Stay safe out there!

Hope you are getting better. My brother got it in Southern Indiana. He was very sick. He was more focused on chiggers with his deet. I got eaten up by chiggers while shooting on his mowed lawn. Now when I go up there, going to spray with deet and prior my clothes and shoes with Pyrethrum. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Treefrog]

Thanks for the reminder, Rob. I just treated the cats because they tend to bring ticks in.

Happy to see you're getting better.

J~

 

[Bigragu]

I kid you not, a buddy from high school was initially diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, and after six years of battling with that it came out that he was misdiagnosed and all that time had Lyme disease. But by the time the Drs figured things out it was too late.

When I saw my friend last, it was two years before he passed, and he looked like Stoltz did when he filmed the movie the mask-

Tge disease rendered no control of any muscle in his body, so everything just hung. His chin was down almost to his belly button. It’s a very sad way to go. The last two things he had control of were his eyelids, and it was used to help communicate yes/no answers

 

[HogKiller]

Chiggers....yes... wife and I got into a mess of those a few years back and it wasnt fun.
Your wife having any lasting effects from Lyme? I've read that flare ups can happen even after treatment.

A friend of ours in CA was getting a Christmas tree decades ago, contracted Lyme disease, wasn't promptly treated, think of the worse possible outcome and you will be short of what happened to her.

 

[maxtrouble]

@Rob_in_NC - I hope you are feeling better! Ticks are thick this year. I recommend this stuff. I spray my legs down before I go to the archery range or setup the air range targets. No more ticks.

Ranger Ready Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray in Scent Zero

Long-lasting effective protection against mosquitos and ticks for up to 12 hours. Our 20% Picaridin insect repellent formula is odorless, DEET-free, not oily or sticky, and suitable for use on the whole family. Shop Ranger Ready Picaridin products today.

rangerready.com

 

[MACTEN]

Deet is your friend. I live out in the country and ticks are common here. I've been around them my whole life save for my stint in the Army and never thought anything about pulling them out of me.
Last year was really bad and I was catching 2-4 a day off me. This year, not as bad, but still finding a couple each week. About a month ago, one left a mark and instead of me taking notice, I just figured I'd left the head in so I dug around with a knife and after finding no head, I forgot about it. Until earlier this week. Started with a headache... shoulders...neck...back.... then fever. Then all joints aching and finally me in convulsions.
Trip to the doc after that night.
So yes... it appears I've contracted Lyme disease. Antibiotics now have me feeling human again and today has been the first day I've been moving about.
I know a lot of you might live in the sticks like me and dont think of preventative measures for ticks and view them as a simple annoyance. I know I did. Not any more.
Stay safe out there!

Glad you are feeling better. They are all over that state including the piedmont. My sis lives in Candler and they have been covered in them this year.

 

[fuznut]

Well not to pile on but Lyme is no joke. Hate to hear you contracted it. Suffering convulsions early on is alarming. Even though you are feeling better Would suggest you seek out consult and see multiple doctors with extensive experience treating lyme. Even if you need to travel to do it. Lyme is serious you need to take it serious. Early treatment is the best and frankly only defense you have against it. Don't blow it off because you feel ok now or bet your life on the opinion of one doctor. So sorry to hear, God bless you, will prey for a quick and full recovery.

 

[Bigragu]

Keep us all posted on your recovery rob. The positive to all of this is it was identified early and you’re on the mend under a Drs care

 

[cavedweller]

Yes she has a flare up from time to time.
Headache and joint aching. My personal fear of those things is getting that disease ticks give you where you can't eat red meat.. (can't remember what the disease is called) not being able to eat cow would be the worst

She may need to go on a deep drip antibiotic protocol

 

[Bob-in-WV]

Even my dog caught Lymes and it caused him to go lame. First thing the vet tested was for Lymes and he had a bad case of it. He is better after treatment but has never been quite the same.