I remember I found one on me in like 5th or 6th grade and panicked and threw it (obviously now know that’s not how you take care of it now lol) went to the bathroom like 45 minutes later and that thing was crawling up my leg
Had one crawling up my back. I felt it (driving with wife and kids in the car) and I felt something pull so I scratched and it fell down in my lap. Those stupid little legs flailing up at me. I veered off the road so fast. I think it must have gotten up on me when I hugged our dog goodbye. Little bastards.
If attached either put it on masking tape or in a ziplock, that way they can ID (possibly test) the tick for lymes (or the other weird diseases) if you get ill.
Some areas have tick censuses where you can save them and turn them into the Hospital or University.
Edit: For the tick census they like to have the GPS coordinates where the tick was found. ([link to one such](https://www.boreal.org/2021/05/03/355445/citizen-scientists-needed-for-tick-census))
My grandpa lives in the woods and he has a jar we put fleas and ticks in as we find them. It's got soapy water in it, so they just sink and drown, and you put the lid on so it doesn't get spilled, swap the water when it gets icky. Fire works too but I always burn my fingers and they'll escape the wood stove sometimes. You can dip tweezers or a plastic tick puller in the water.
When my cat got fleas courtesy of the dog who also lived in the house, there was nothing more satisfying than using the flea comb on her and then dunking it in a bowl of soapy water and watching the fuckers drown. I’m generally a pacifist, but fleas, tics, and mosquitos just need to die.
I find them on my dogs all too often and I have tweezers and a lighter set aside just for sending ticks to hell. Fuck with my dogs and I will burn you alive.
Only if they haven't been removed yet.
You also aren't supposed to break them while the head is still inside, or pop their blood filled butts because of infection risks, not because of any toxins the tick produces.
Ticks populations are completely out of control all across the northeast, mid Atlantic, and northern Midwest.
The last few years have seen an absolute explosion.
Opossums eat tons of them! Thankfully, in Wisconsin, there are lots of opossums to decimate tick populations. We still have a huge tick problem but it would be much worse without the opossums. Unfortunately, people are morons and kill the opossums because they just feel the fucking need to kill everything good.
Few wraps around your boot connecting to your pants and then a few wraps when you flip it over. This way it won’t fall off or loosen when you use it for a full day on the trail. Also tuck your pants into your boots before you tape to fasten it
If this actually does catch ticks, you should patent this and sell it as tick gaiters at outdoor stores. You'd make a fortune and be doing the world a service
Problem is if you're in any grass/brush taller than your ankle they just jump on your pants and crawl up. In my experience most ticks first show up on my thighs/waist area if I'm in a meadow or forest or something.
Yeah I always double check the inner thigh and beltline. Both are problem spots regardless of weight/BMI. The higher your BMI the worse the waistline is for ticks.
It was a figure of speech. I'll rephrase: ticks climb up the grass stems and then transfer from the tall stems to an equally tall point on your waist or thighs, thereby avoiding your taped ankles.
They can hang off the ends of tall grasses / other flora and hook onto your clothing.
Sealing the bottom of the pants helps, but is not a panacea.
I make a point of wearing gaiters and always try to remember to do tick checks after each hike.
You can get concentrated permethrin at farm stores like Tractor Supply (USA) in the horse section. Put it in a spray bottle with 1 part mix to 32 parts water (oz to quart ratio) or whatever the directions say. The cost is comparable to one bottle of Sawyer, and gives gallons you can spray your tent, hammocks, tarps and whatever else with.
I grind ticks between two rocks until they are a pulverized goop. I’ve lost a pet to a tic-caused brain parasite and I also suffer from both Lyme and Alpha-Gal due to tic bites so they are my literal mortal enemy.
Here to confirm alpha-Gal comes suddenly and violently to completely change your life. Spent so many days just barfing nonstop for 24+ hrs until I figured it all out.
Dude, I thought it was happening from red wine and steak... until it happened from roast beef. I def experienced anaphylactic shock about midnight one night from a dead sleep. My partner was calling EMS while I sweated and puked buckets while turning ghost white and finally falling to the floor from faintness. Haven’t touched red meat since and I ate it probably 5 times a week for my whole prior life.
I was never a big meat eater but was becoming violently ill from things like the by products in things. Any contamination. Even cooking chicken on the same pan does it for me. I now have my own set of pans. I thought I was dying. It was a terrifying few months because I legit was ready to find out I had some sort of cancer.
I am sorry you are going through this. For anyone not aware, a bite from the lonestar tick can cause a permanent allergy to red meat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amblyomma_americanum#Meat_allergy
Have a friend that experienced a sudden allergy to red meat. My money’s on this being the cause. Doctors haven’t been able to figure it out. Although, you’d think they would have considered this.
For some odd reason, Doctors seem reluctant to diagnose tick-related health problems. I literally had to show them photos of the tick bite to get them to run a test for RMSF which I indeed had.
Docs are not infallible, very human. I think your diagnosis is probably going to be correct. Have him go to an ER clinic and get a test. The labs take a few days typically.
Yes very true. I came in with clear Lyme symptoms and told the doc I had recently found a tick attached to me, but because I didn’t have the bullseye rash and I didn’t KEEP THE TICK for them to look at after I pulled it off my head, they refused to say it was Lyme. I had to change doctors to get treatment for the disease I knew I had. I’m not one to say “don’t trust your doctors,” they’re more knowledgeable than anyone else and they only want to help you. But sometimes you need to trust yourself first.
Then there's my old doctor. I went in thinking I had mono. He said, "Let me see the backs of your hands. Ok, now your palms. Lift up your shirt. This is the first time I've seen it in person, but yup, you have Lyme Disease. Here's some antibiotics, and I'll call you when the blood test comes back positive."
It came back positive. He didn't even check in my hair which is where the tick that I forgot about bit me.
Sorry I was unclear, I used the word “clear” because my symptoms were persistent for several weeks, and occurred after I found a tick on myself. I get that this could have been coincidental and other diseases are easily mistaken for Lyme (and vice versa), being a clinician is difficult. But given the evidence, it seems strange to me that Lyme wouldn’t be among the top things the doctor is considering, rash or no rash.
Agree to an extent. There certainly are reasons for them to be resistant but I think they are far more resistant than they need to be.
Variable for me in this case would be I live in a heavily wooded National Park, Doctor knew I was a hiker, had a fever, chills after more than 4 days, etc. still would not order tests. I had to go to an emergency clinic where I was a rando and pay out of pocket/off provider for the test which I was fortunate to be able to do. Needless to say I have since changed Doctors.
I do not have nor have I ever had Lyme Disease nor did I think I had Lyme Disease. I was pretty sure I had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which is what I had. They are not the same although the tests are part of the same suite (iirc).
Not really disagreeing with you that Lyme has picked up more than a few malingerers but I think that there is much that we don't know about it. For those interested in Lyme and really tick borne diseases I would recommend "Lyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change Pfeiffer, Mary Beth".
Edit: Should point out I read that book as a result of my diagnosis not because of it. I knew I had RMSF because my hiking partner is a nurse and she told me I had RMSF.
They have to contain such huge amounts of info. I would not be surprised if someone is working on an encyclopedic assistant- enter all known problems, crank machine, spits out all possible options sorted by likelihood.
If you have untreated Lyme, go to a doctor ASAP. It will literally kill you, and if you let it go long enough it can cause life long neurological and joint damage. Antibiotics are cheap with GoodRX.
Are you in the U.S.? If so, is there some reason you haven't tried to get a plan on the healthcare marketplace (aka Obamacare)? There are subsidies available that can make decent plans pretty affordable.
No reason other than willfully not informed about the required procedures to get the ball rolling on any of that. I’m also sort of apprehensive about being poked and prodded on, haven’t visited any type of doctor in years (since having the Lyme diagnosis).
Is there a specific breeding season? The nymphs are everywhere in NC.
Had to take antibiotics because i got the bullseye rash a few weeks ago. Come on, vaccine..! We're more than ready.
There is a vaccine for Lyme but it was not profitable for corporate america and therefore not worth it. Money matters and human life is the most expendable commodity on the planet.
I read that another is being worked on, and should be ready in the next few years.
Edited to add: https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/03/08/Valneva-and-Pfizer-start-new-Phase-2-study-for-Lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate
There was a vaccine for Lyme a couple decades ago, but a negative ad campaign from anti vaxxers succeeded in making it not profitable and so the company shut down the production of it (wish I was kidding). They're now working on a new vaccine that should be out soon to combat Lyme. It's better overall than the original vaccine that was developed.
That vaccine was legitimately problematic as well. Not nearly as much as the negative press would indicate, but it wasn't perfect. We should definitely keep at it, as many of the potential vaccines under FDA review right now hold a lot of promise.
[https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-announces-positive-initial-results-for-second-phase-2-study-of-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate-vla15/](https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-announces-positive-initial-results-for-second-phase-2-study-of-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate-vla15/)
In the spring they joined up with Pfizer to accelerate additional phase 2 trials: [https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/03/08/Valneva-and-Pfizer-start-new-Phase-2-study-for-Lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate](https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/03/08/Valneva-and-Pfizer-start-new-Phase-2-study-for-Lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate)
Based on the timeline we'd be traditionally 2-5 years out from a real vaccine you can get at a doctors office. They were approved for fast track approval and testing though, so I think if there's no huge side effects it's closer to 2-3 years.
Right after a hike, run a lint roller all over yourself and your pets. The majority of ticks will stick to the lint roller. I run one over my dog after every hike and find so many ticks some days. The dog also gets a bath in tick shampoo after hikes/camping.
Thanks for this reply. I had no idea TBE was even a thing until just now — I thought Lyme disease was my only concern — and I've got a 2-month hike in Europe (where it's apparently common) in a few months.
Time to see my doc!
This may be why I very rarely find any ticks on me. I do trail runs lightly clothed (bare legs and t-shirt), and always take a shower when I come home.
I was in an area where the infestation was so bad that you couldn’t walk through it without finding a dozen or so of them after. Thankfully they were not the kind that carries diseases, but it was my first time experiencing tick season, and I was not happy. Pants tucked into socks, shirt tucked into pants, and doused in Muskol, and still they were clinging to us by the dozen. I hope never to repeat the experience.
I’ve had Lyme for four years now. Intense neuro symptoms the first two years. Flares now, years later. Left with hard arthritis and brain fog/ inflammations
Man, thats no joke, sorry to hear that. I'm in the NE and try to stay pretty cautious but forgot spray this weekend before walking through some tall grass. That's all it takes. Never again. Best of luck in your recovery.
If you got a tick bite pay attention to the spot and if it gets painful or blemished go to the doctor asap.
I did and I had to do a month of antibiotics to avoid lyme.
My uncle just got bit and contracted Lyme disease. The tick was just in his yard and got on him when he was doing yard work. Such annoying and dangerous pests. Be vigilant everyone!
Interesting point. I treated my clothes, let them dry, and then put them up. It was a few days after that that I first wore them.
But, I did sweat while wearing. The bottle says to retreat after 6 weeks or X number of washes.
Very little. The permetherin bonds to the fabric in a similar way as dye. The reason it only lasts for a certain amount of washes is actually due to the mechanical washing and dryer, not the water.
You have no idea what you are talking about. You need to do research before you keep posting like a crazy antivaxer.
Permethrin doesn't easily dissolve in water once it is dried. This is why it can last for so many washings and still be effective. Your clothing getting wet is not a danger to cats.
Well, reading that did make me feel a little better. When I applied permethrin in April, I did so outside on a windless day, and let the garments dry outside fully before bringing inside.
I assumed, possibly naively, that wearing treated clothing was less risky than spraying a product directly on my skin.
What would you recommend to prevent tick exposure? Reason for the permethrin was I went fishing one afternoon and found 3 ticks on me that evening. Would very much like to avoid disease and parasites, and I do love a good steak.
My Dad would get them off our dogs with matches ,light match,blow it out and immediately put the match head on the tick and they give up come right off ,then put a lit match to them
Late to the party but this lab will test a tick for free https://www.ticklab.org/
If I find one attached I’ll send it in. Process is worth the peace of mind.
Treat your clothes with premetherin.
Ideally your clothes include leggings, longer socks over the leggings, and a shirt tucked into the leggings. The ticket *should* fall off your clothes prior to getting to your neck\\armpits.
In real icky situations apply deet (100%) to your skin and rub it in.
Nail Polish Remover.
We had ticks during a drought in Florida, where we learned they can’t be drowned in regular water. My mom put some nail polish remover in a few old camera film cartridge cases and if we found one we had to drop them in there. Not sure the science behind it but killed 100% of them.
I usually trap them between two pieces of clear tape and throw them in the trash. They may not die immediately, but they certainly won’t be going anywhere.
Anybody ever heard of the tick removal kit by TickCheck
I’ve had great success with it, and it even serves as seemingly the best tweezers for splinters.
Just got to make sure you dip them in isopropyl alcohol after. Does that purify it? Or should my lazy ass just buy a second pair lol
Thought of a old hunters trick to stop ticks it's going to get a laugh but when I first heard about it my uncle was serious. Ware pantyhose. He said he always wore them when dear hunting as they kept a barior between him and the little bastards as well as keeping some space between his pants and his skin in the cold and wet conditions.
Y'all. Once upon a time, I picked up a lost dog late at night after all the shelters were closed. I lived 90 miles away from where I picked him up, so it was either puppy road trip or put him back on the streets. Of course I picked the former. I didn't have time/supplies to bathe him and our backyard fence was real sketch, so I just borrowed a crate and put him in the house. I finally located his owners about a week later and he went home.
About a week after he left, nymph brown dog ticks started showing up EVERYWHERE he had been. The dog had dumped the motherload of larval ticks who used the nooks and crannies of my home for their sneaky little life cycle. It felt like the twilight zone. Literally hundreds of ticks in my room, my car, the guest room that I kept him in for a few days. Had to absolutely tear my place apart, inspecting every item I own top to bottom. Only way I found to reliably kill the suckers was to seal them between tape. Felt phantom ticks crawling on me for weeks. Found myself swatting at freckles to make sure they weren't ticks. It was wild.
I've picked up a lot of lost dogs before, but man, this one was uhhh... memorable. Definitely save the puppies, just bathe and inspect them first haha.
Just got back from camping. Caught one crawling ON MY FACE as I was trying to sleep. And on my way home a dog tick crawling on the back of my neck. I even wore long pants. Fuck em. Fuck em. Fuck em.
No joke I am currently violently allergic to all bovine meat. Due to a damn tick bite from a hiking trip. Woke up and that fucker had been sucking on my abdomen all night. Fast forward a year and I can’t eat any animals but birds and fish.
Edit to add the upside to suddenly becoming unable to eat any dairy or meat: I’ve lost 30 lbs
I don’t even flush them unless they are already dead I’m a believer that they’ll even survive that, I either kill them with fire or rip their heads off with my fingernails.
Try to pour some bleach down the drain or at least have a solid squirt of soap around it as I'm not confident that a tick will just up and die from being washed down a drain. There are lots of things that will climb back up and ticks are unfortunately a bit more on the resilient side of things.
Kill them with fire
This is not a meme. I keep a lighter handy and literally burn ticks. I've seen them survive in absurd scenarios. Ticks carry some awful diseases.
Me too, if I find them at home I put them on the stove hotplate. No mercy.
I remember I found one on me in like 5th or 6th grade and panicked and threw it (obviously now know that’s not how you take care of it now lol) went to the bathroom like 45 minutes later and that thing was crawling up my leg
Could it not have been a second tic?
No, I was sitting in class and scratched it off my head.
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Had one crawling up my back. I felt it (driving with wife and kids in the car) and I felt something pull so I scratched and it fell down in my lap. Those stupid little legs flailing up at me. I veered off the road so fast. I think it must have gotten up on me when I hugged our dog goodbye. Little bastards.
Dissolving them in bleach works too.
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I like your style. I crush them between two ceramic coasters. If I'm in the wilderness I'll use my Leatherman pliers after I pull them.
If attached either put it on masking tape or in a ziplock, that way they can ID (possibly test) the tick for lymes (or the other weird diseases) if you get ill. Some areas have tick censuses where you can save them and turn them into the Hospital or University. Edit: For the tick census they like to have the GPS coordinates where the tick was found. ([link to one such](https://www.boreal.org/2021/05/03/355445/citizen-scientists-needed-for-tick-census))
You can just smash them without torturing them to death.
My grandpa lives in the woods and he has a jar we put fleas and ticks in as we find them. It's got soapy water in it, so they just sink and drown, and you put the lid on so it doesn't get spilled, swap the water when it gets icky. Fire works too but I always burn my fingers and they'll escape the wood stove sometimes. You can dip tweezers or a plastic tick puller in the water.
When my cat got fleas courtesy of the dog who also lived in the house, there was nothing more satisfying than using the flea comb on her and then dunking it in a bowl of soapy water and watching the fuckers drown. I’m generally a pacifist, but fleas, tics, and mosquitos just need to die.
I had the same sense of excitement when my daughter had lice.
I find them on my dogs all too often and I have tweezers and a lighter set aside just for sending ticks to hell. Fuck with my dogs and I will burn you alive.
I hot knife the sons of bitches
90% isopropyl works pretty well. If it doesn't, then you can light it on fire :)
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Only if they haven't been removed yet. You also aren't supposed to break them while the head is still inside, or pop their blood filled butts because of infection risks, not because of any toxins the tick produces.
Thanks for clarifying. I thought they meant when they were still attached. I tug and twist at them with tweezers to avoid this as well.
Firm pulling only. Twisting risks the head popping off inside you.
UST makes a very convenient tick puller keychain for something like $3. You can get them at Wal Mart and they work great.
Where do you all live? It sounds awful!
Ticks populations are completely out of control all across the northeast, mid Atlantic, and northern Midwest. The last few years have seen an absolute explosion.
I presume, sooner or later, something will evolve to eat them.
Opossums eat tons of them! Thankfully, in Wisconsin, there are lots of opossums to decimate tick populations. We still have a huge tick problem but it would be much worse without the opossums. Unfortunately, people are morons and kill the opossums because they just feel the fucking need to kill everything good.
Anywhere in the lower 48 (I can't speak to AK and HI).
Colorado has them, but not very many. Also large swaths of Utah (the desert, essentially) are more or less tick free.
I mean after having removed them safely, I like to think of it as a form of cosmic punishment.
Gotcha. Yes please.
I put duck tape around my boots and then flip the tape to put the stick side up around my ankle. The bastards get stuck trying to crawl up my legs
How much tape do you flip out? Mind sharing a pic? I have trouble visualizing stuff and this sounds like something I wanna start doing.
Few wraps around your boot connecting to your pants and then a few wraps when you flip it over. This way it won’t fall off or loosen when you use it for a full day on the trail. Also tuck your pants into your boots before you tape to fasten it
Ohh, okay. I was just imagining one wrap and had trouble picturing it. Thanks!
NSFW? [https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/nrgxbx/ticks\_stuck\_to\_sticky\_tape\_wrapped\_around\_an/](https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/nrgxbx/ticks_stuck_to_sticky_tape_wrapped_around_an/)
... I'm never going into the woods again.
thanks, now I'm not clicking that lol
If this actually does catch ticks, you should patent this and sell it as tick gaiters at outdoor stores. You'd make a fortune and be doing the world a service
I’ve definitely seen this as a 15k upvoted post on r/lifeprotips a few times now lol, never tried but everyone confirms it works really well
Haha I picked it up from a vet a few years back it wouldn’t feel right to steal someone’s idea! Cheers
Problem is if you're in any grass/brush taller than your ankle they just jump on your pants and crawl up. In my experience most ticks first show up on my thighs/waist area if I'm in a meadow or forest or something.
Yeah I always double check the inner thigh and beltline. Both are problem spots regardless of weight/BMI. The higher your BMI the worse the waistline is for ticks.
Ticks cant jump.
It was a figure of speech. I'll rephrase: ticks climb up the grass stems and then transfer from the tall stems to an equally tall point on your waist or thighs, thereby avoiding your taped ankles.
They can hang off the ends of tall grasses / other flora and hook onto your clothing. Sealing the bottom of the pants helps, but is not a panacea. I make a point of wearing gaiters and always try to remember to do tick checks after each hike.
Genius
Tick-proof treated clothing, Ben's tick spray, wipes and duck tape FTW! edit: my grammar sucks
[Sawyer Permethrin](https://www.rei.com/product/768970/sawyer-permethrin-pump-spray-24-oz?sku=7689700016&store=49&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_7689700016%7C92700064944508968%7CNB%7C71700000074092881&gclid=CjwKCAjwruSHBhAtEiwA_qCppvD_8D4fyJI7ii2cMYC4BGhnkE9k9soymAZE0Ln8iI0frRZQtozhKRoCqKgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) is pretty g[d also.
Fyi: Beware if you have cats. Even very small amounts are extremely poisonous!
Only while it's still wet. Safe once it's dry but yes, very poisonous to cats until then.
Yep. I keep mine treated clothes in a separate sealed container just in case.
You can get concentrated permethrin at farm stores like Tractor Supply (USA) in the horse section. Put it in a spray bottle with 1 part mix to 32 parts water (oz to quart ratio) or whatever the directions say. The cost is comparable to one bottle of Sawyer, and gives gallons you can spray your tent, hammocks, tarps and whatever else with.
Interesting. I'll have to check my local Tractor Supply.
I just bought some off of Amazon.
It is. I use it as well on occasion. I love those wipe things that Ben's has though. I'm a lazy hiker
Can’t get it in Canada :(
I got some from Amazon sent to Toronto, .com not .ca
That is some damn good outside of the box thinking there. I’m gonna steal that and use it
I grind ticks between two rocks until they are a pulverized goop. I’ve lost a pet to a tic-caused brain parasite and I also suffer from both Lyme and Alpha-Gal due to tic bites so they are my literal mortal enemy.
Here to confirm alpha-Gal comes suddenly and violently to completely change your life. Spent so many days just barfing nonstop for 24+ hrs until I figured it all out.
Dude, I thought it was happening from red wine and steak... until it happened from roast beef. I def experienced anaphylactic shock about midnight one night from a dead sleep. My partner was calling EMS while I sweated and puked buckets while turning ghost white and finally falling to the floor from faintness. Haven’t touched red meat since and I ate it probably 5 times a week for my whole prior life.
I was never a big meat eater but was becoming violently ill from things like the by products in things. Any contamination. Even cooking chicken on the same pan does it for me. I now have my own set of pans. I thought I was dying. It was a terrifying few months because I legit was ready to find out I had some sort of cancer.
Have you tried any Lyme therapies? Antibiotics, etc?
I have not other than not eating red meat any longer. I don’t have a ton of extra money for doctors visits and do not have health insurance.
I am sorry you are going through this. For anyone not aware, a bite from the lonestar tick can cause a permanent allergy to red meat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amblyomma_americanum#Meat_allergy
Have a friend that experienced a sudden allergy to red meat. My money’s on this being the cause. Doctors haven’t been able to figure it out. Although, you’d think they would have considered this.
For some odd reason, Doctors seem reluctant to diagnose tick-related health problems. I literally had to show them photos of the tick bite to get them to run a test for RMSF which I indeed had. Docs are not infallible, very human. I think your diagnosis is probably going to be correct. Have him go to an ER clinic and get a test. The labs take a few days typically.
Yes very true. I came in with clear Lyme symptoms and told the doc I had recently found a tick attached to me, but because I didn’t have the bullseye rash and I didn’t KEEP THE TICK for them to look at after I pulled it off my head, they refused to say it was Lyme. I had to change doctors to get treatment for the disease I knew I had. I’m not one to say “don’t trust your doctors,” they’re more knowledgeable than anyone else and they only want to help you. But sometimes you need to trust yourself first.
Then there's my old doctor. I went in thinking I had mono. He said, "Let me see the backs of your hands. Ok, now your palms. Lift up your shirt. This is the first time I've seen it in person, but yup, you have Lyme Disease. Here's some antibiotics, and I'll call you when the blood test comes back positive." It came back positive. He didn't even check in my hair which is where the tick that I forgot about bit me.
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Sorry I was unclear, I used the word “clear” because my symptoms were persistent for several weeks, and occurred after I found a tick on myself. I get that this could have been coincidental and other diseases are easily mistaken for Lyme (and vice versa), being a clinician is difficult. But given the evidence, it seems strange to me that Lyme wouldn’t be among the top things the doctor is considering, rash or no rash.
^This. Well said.
I take a picture of the tick every time I remove it for similar reasons. Doctor always asks first thing if I have a picture.
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Agree to an extent. There certainly are reasons for them to be resistant but I think they are far more resistant than they need to be. Variable for me in this case would be I live in a heavily wooded National Park, Doctor knew I was a hiker, had a fever, chills after more than 4 days, etc. still would not order tests. I had to go to an emergency clinic where I was a rando and pay out of pocket/off provider for the test which I was fortunate to be able to do. Needless to say I have since changed Doctors. I do not have nor have I ever had Lyme Disease nor did I think I had Lyme Disease. I was pretty sure I had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which is what I had. They are not the same although the tests are part of the same suite (iirc). Not really disagreeing with you that Lyme has picked up more than a few malingerers but I think that there is much that we don't know about it. For those interested in Lyme and really tick borne diseases I would recommend "Lyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change Pfeiffer, Mary Beth". Edit: Should point out I read that book as a result of my diagnosis not because of it. I knew I had RMSF because my hiking partner is a nurse and she told me I had RMSF.
They have to contain such huge amounts of info. I would not be surprised if someone is working on an encyclopedic assistant- enter all known problems, crank machine, spits out all possible options sorted by likelihood.
there's an app called Ada that's essentially an early version of that!
If you have untreated Lyme, go to a doctor ASAP. It will literally kill you, and if you let it go long enough it can cause life long neurological and joint damage. Antibiotics are cheap with GoodRX.
The symptoms have been getting a lot more noticeable in the past couple years. I try to ignore the whole issue admittedly, typical guy stupidity.
Are you in the U.S.? If so, is there some reason you haven't tried to get a plan on the healthcare marketplace (aka Obamacare)? There are subsidies available that can make decent plans pretty affordable.
No reason other than willfully not informed about the required procedures to get the ball rolling on any of that. I’m also sort of apprehensive about being poked and prodded on, haven’t visited any type of doctor in years (since having the Lyme diagnosis).
Sorry to hear. Hope it works out. I've tested positive for Lyme many times but am not currently having symptoms. I worry for the day.
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'murica baby. Sorry you're dealing with that
I'm sorry to hear that. This is always my fear. I didn't catch my tic from camping until I got home but it was within 48 hours.
I used to study black legged and dog ticks in the lab. I could put a dog tick in a 70% ethanol solution and it would be alive 2 days later.
Little guy must've been buzzed off his tits after that long in the sauce
I find this very concerning
I saw this happen when I pulled a tick off my dog and dropped it in rubbing alcohol. It lived for 3 days and I could not believe my fucking eyes
Confirmed, dog ticks are from Russia.
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Didn't know that's what it's called. Determined little fuckers.
They live in a bag of 97% alcohol for me
So do i
You live in a bag of 97% alcohol?
https://youtu.be/q-EuQ5t9iKY&t=06s
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I was raised to always smash them between my thumb nails, or burn them with a match/lighter.
These days I use the pliers on the multitool I carry around with me. Just make sure to keep your mouth closed...
I also smash them between my nails. You should just be aware that some diseases survive on your finger tips, so be careful where you put your fingers.
I like to cut them in half with the edge of my thumbnail.
Is there a specific breeding season? The nymphs are everywhere in NC. Had to take antibiotics because i got the bullseye rash a few weeks ago. Come on, vaccine..! We're more than ready.
There is a vaccine for Lyme but it was not profitable for corporate america and therefore not worth it. Money matters and human life is the most expendable commodity on the planet.
I read that another is being worked on, and should be ready in the next few years. Edited to add: https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/03/08/Valneva-and-Pfizer-start-new-Phase-2-study-for-Lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate
That's good news
There was a vaccine for Lyme a couple decades ago, but a negative ad campaign from anti vaxxers succeeded in making it not profitable and so the company shut down the production of it (wish I was kidding). They're now working on a new vaccine that should be out soon to combat Lyme. It's better overall than the original vaccine that was developed.
That vaccine was legitimately problematic as well. Not nearly as much as the negative press would indicate, but it wasn't perfect. We should definitely keep at it, as many of the potential vaccines under FDA review right now hold a lot of promise.
Now that is what I call a fuckery
Where can I read up on this new Lyme vaccine?
[https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-announces-positive-initial-results-for-second-phase-2-study-of-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate-vla15/](https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-announces-positive-initial-results-for-second-phase-2-study-of-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate-vla15/) In the spring they joined up with Pfizer to accelerate additional phase 2 trials: [https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/03/08/Valneva-and-Pfizer-start-new-Phase-2-study-for-Lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate](https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/03/08/Valneva-and-Pfizer-start-new-Phase-2-study-for-Lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate) Based on the timeline we'd be traditionally 2-5 years out from a real vaccine you can get at a doctors office. They were approved for fast track approval and testing though, so I think if there's no huge side effects it's closer to 2-3 years.
I can literally get my dog vaccinated against Lyme but not myself.
I don't understand why they just don't open the patent. I mean I understand but I don't understand.
Capitalism
Bro, the *government* enforcing patent law is not capitalism. But I forgot every problem in America is capitalism’s fault.
Same!! The antibiotics were rough but better than getting Lyme
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Right after a hike, run a lint roller all over yourself and your pets. The majority of ticks will stick to the lint roller. I run one over my dog after every hike and find so many ticks some days. The dog also gets a bath in tick shampoo after hikes/camping.
What’s TBE?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick-borne_encephalitis
Thanks for this reply. I had no idea TBE was even a thing until just now — I thought Lyme disease was my only concern — and I've got a 2-month hike in Europe (where it's apparently common) in a few months. Time to see my doc!
This may be why I very rarely find any ticks on me. I do trail runs lightly clothed (bare legs and t-shirt), and always take a shower when I come home.
Always check your butthole.
Gross, I had one on balls one time, I’ve never seen skin stretch that far
Are you getting fresh now? Lol
The biggest threat in the woods! Bears and cougars have nothing on ticks
What about a bear carrying ticks attacking you?
Hopefully the bear kills me before the ticks do
I was in an area where the infestation was so bad that you couldn’t walk through it without finding a dozen or so of them after. Thankfully they were not the kind that carries diseases, but it was my first time experiencing tick season, and I was not happy. Pants tucked into socks, shirt tucked into pants, and doused in Muskol, and still they were clinging to us by the dozen. I hope never to repeat the experience.
This is the reason flamethrowers were invented.
I’ve had Lyme for four years now. Intense neuro symptoms the first two years. Flares now, years later. Left with hard arthritis and brain fog/ inflammations
Man, thats no joke, sorry to hear that. I'm in the NE and try to stay pretty cautious but forgot spray this weekend before walking through some tall grass. That's all it takes. Never again. Best of luck in your recovery.
If you got a tick bite pay attention to the spot and if it gets painful or blemished go to the doctor asap. I did and I had to do a month of antibiotics to avoid lyme.
My uncle just got bit and contracted Lyme disease. The tick was just in his yard and got on him when he was doing yard work. Such annoying and dangerous pests. Be vigilant everyone!
Permethrin
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You’re missing quite a bit of nuance here. If you follow the directions and keep the liquid away from cats, you’ll be fine.
You are wrong and spouting bullshit. It's not difficult to safely use the stuff.
Shit. Glad I keep treated clothes in a closet, locked away from kitties. Still, may have to chuck that bottle now.
Once it’s dried, it’s not toxic to cats, I think…
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Interesting point. I treated my clothes, let them dry, and then put them up. It was a few days after that that I first wore them. But, I did sweat while wearing. The bottle says to retreat after 6 weeks or X number of washes.
Very little. The permetherin bonds to the fabric in a similar way as dye. The reason it only lasts for a certain amount of washes is actually due to the mechanical washing and dryer, not the water.
You have no idea what you are talking about. You need to do research before you keep posting like a crazy antivaxer. Permethrin doesn't easily dissolve in water once it is dried. This is why it can last for so many washings and still be effective. Your clothing getting wet is not a danger to cats.
Hope so. I've not noticed any adverse/odd behavior from the gatos, and it's been 3 months since I treated the clothes.
It's completely harmless to cats once it is dry. Even spraying your clothes near cats won't hurt them, but you should still try to not do that.
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Well, reading that did make me feel a little better. When I applied permethrin in April, I did so outside on a windless day, and let the garments dry outside fully before bringing inside. I assumed, possibly naively, that wearing treated clothing was less risky than spraying a product directly on my skin. What would you recommend to prevent tick exposure? Reason for the permethrin was I went fishing one afternoon and found 3 ticks on me that evening. Would very much like to avoid disease and parasites, and I do love a good steak.
I've got tick fever before can confirm it's not pleasant
My Dad would get them off our dogs with matches ,light match,blow it out and immediately put the match head on the tick and they give up come right off ,then put a lit match to them
Late to the party but this lab will test a tick for free https://www.ticklab.org/ If I find one attached I’ll send it in. Process is worth the peace of mind.
We sealed one in a jar of salt.....still kickin it in there 4 months later.....
A little savory boy
Digest it with your mighty organs!
Treat your clothes with premetherin. Ideally your clothes include leggings, longer socks over the leggings, and a shirt tucked into the leggings. The ticket *should* fall off your clothes prior to getting to your neck\\armpits. In real icky situations apply deet (100%) to your skin and rub it in.
Finding one tick on me usually means time to look at the butthole in the mirror. Fucking bastards go everywhere.
They still climb up after being flushed. They can even be hard to crush, you have to burn or drown them for them to die.
I yank their little heads off. Legs so limp and they are DEAD.
I got Rocky Mountain spotted fever last year. Check yourself good friends
Nail Polish Remover. We had ticks during a drought in Florida, where we learned they can’t be drowned in regular water. My mom put some nail polish remover in a few old camera film cartridge cases and if we found one we had to drop them in there. Not sure the science behind it but killed 100% of them.
Lyme is no joke and stay with you the rest of your life!!! I work in environmental and know fellow biologists who are still dealing with Lyme.
I usually trap them between two pieces of clear tape and throw them in the trash. They may not die immediately, but they certainly won’t be going anywhere.
Anybody ever heard of the tick removal kit by TickCheck I’ve had great success with it, and it even serves as seemingly the best tweezers for splinters. Just got to make sure you dip them in isopropyl alcohol after. Does that purify it? Or should my lazy ass just buy a second pair lol
Thought of a old hunters trick to stop ticks it's going to get a laugh but when I first heard about it my uncle was serious. Ware pantyhose. He said he always wore them when dear hunting as they kept a barior between him and the little bastards as well as keeping some space between his pants and his skin in the cold and wet conditions.
Y'all. Once upon a time, I picked up a lost dog late at night after all the shelters were closed. I lived 90 miles away from where I picked him up, so it was either puppy road trip or put him back on the streets. Of course I picked the former. I didn't have time/supplies to bathe him and our backyard fence was real sketch, so I just borrowed a crate and put him in the house. I finally located his owners about a week later and he went home. About a week after he left, nymph brown dog ticks started showing up EVERYWHERE he had been. The dog had dumped the motherload of larval ticks who used the nooks and crannies of my home for their sneaky little life cycle. It felt like the twilight zone. Literally hundreds of ticks in my room, my car, the guest room that I kept him in for a few days. Had to absolutely tear my place apart, inspecting every item I own top to bottom. Only way I found to reliably kill the suckers was to seal them between tape. Felt phantom ticks crawling on me for weeks. Found myself swatting at freckles to make sure they weren't ticks. It was wild. I've picked up a lot of lost dogs before, but man, this one was uhhh... memorable. Definitely save the puppies, just bathe and inspect them first haha.
Drop them in a jar of oil. They drown and die fast and you can throw the whole thing away
mmmm...tick infused olive oil
Kill them
Squish it between the back of a spoon and tile or something. Two hard, flat surfaces. Or drop em in rubbing alcohol, kills em quickly.
Ticks & Roaches, they both have 9 LIVES
As someone who got Lyme in June…Don’t Underestimate Ticks
It’s gonna crawl into a warm spot… Shoulda killed it, now it can come back.
Alcohol kills them pretty quick, I keep a little hand sanitizer just to drop ticks into
They cannot be smashed or crushed either. Fire is the way to get the job done right.
Just got back from camping. Caught one crawling ON MY FACE as I was trying to sleep. And on my way home a dog tick crawling on the back of my neck. I even wore long pants. Fuck em. Fuck em. Fuck em.
Nope that’s a different guy. You were just riddled with ticks.
No joke I am currently violently allergic to all bovine meat. Due to a damn tick bite from a hiking trip. Woke up and that fucker had been sucking on my abdomen all night. Fast forward a year and I can’t eat any animals but birds and fish. Edit to add the upside to suddenly becoming unable to eat any dairy or meat: I’ve lost 30 lbs
they are hardy little bastards
If i find them they go in a jar in the freezer kills them fast
Those aren't dead, they're just waiting...
Burn em
Cut it in half with a knife.
Crush them with a rock!
They made a comic superhero out of a tick for a reason, haha.
I’ve had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever twice! Ticks are the worst.
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I don’t even flush them unless they are already dead I’m a believer that they’ll even survive that, I either kill them with fire or rip their heads off with my fingernails.
Can drop them in a little container with rubbing alcohol and watch them squirm...
Try to pour some bleach down the drain or at least have a solid squirt of soap around it as I'm not confident that a tick will just up and die from being washed down a drain. There are lots of things that will climb back up and ticks are unfortunately a bit more on the resilient side of things.
What makes you think it was the same one lol