I'm sure all of us HATE ticks... hate probably doesn't begin to describe it. Well I've become really scared of ticks, rightfully so. However it's starting to take over my mind in lots of ways.
Actually I haven't seen a tick since 2 years ago when I found one on my stomach. Thank God! I live in West Texas and you really don't see them that much. We've had our dogs on K9 Avantix ever since and it has kept them away!
I used to the love the summer months, but now I'm just terrified of getting bit by another tick or worse my husband or son getting bit. I've been having nightmares about it.
When we go outside I can't even let my son be a normal kid. He wants to rolls around the grass with the dogs and I'm constantly yelling at him to get up.
Also I'm terrified of him getting LD from me. I never share drinks with him anymore or food for that matter. I hate it because I shouldn't have to be so careful... The other day he came up and gave me a sloppy open mouth kiss (he's 3 ) and afterwards I was so worried that maybe some of my salivia got into his mouth.. I don't even know if it can be transferred that way??
I know some of my fears are irrational but I just don't know how to get past this.
Anyone else feel this way?
Posted by Gert (Member # 13584) on :
I feel the same exact way as you....I used to be an athlete, spending 90% of my time out doors by running, jogging, power walking, rock climbing and rappelling, hiking and everything else in between.
NOW I am terrified to be outside. Last weekend, I had my first encounter with ticks. I totally freaked out and ended up inside about riping my clothes off looking to see if any were on me.
I hate living like this :-(
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
Lauren,
Probably the majority of people on the board feel this way. I'm like you, though, simply horrified.
Meanwhile, I never even saw the tick (or ticks) that left their mark on my life. I have two dogs and am vigilante with their Frontline plus, have had them tested for everything even though they have no symptoms.
THIS is how paranoid I am. My dear grandfather passed away last year and my mother's entire side of the family (and my brother's family) are all headed to Maine this summer to disperse his ashes in the Maine woods.
This is where we spent every summer and I'm certain that's why my entire family are Lymies. I loved/love my grandfather but I cannot bring myself to drive two miles on a dirt road into the thick of the woods and stay in that house where I'm certain my whole family was attacked.
Clearly the rest of my family is not as paranoid (or maybe they just didn't suffer as much as I have) but I'm the only one not going and I will not feel guilty because I would simply be H-O-R-R-I-F-I-E-D to be re-infected.
So you're not alone. This disease messes with your perception and makes you a bit obsessive compulsive based on the fear of revisiting the hell we've all been through.
Hang in there.
Best,
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
I can't say I like ticks, but I certainly don't hate them.
Besides, I was out in the yard a month ago rolling around in my flower beds, getting eaten by mosquitos (but no ticks), and after only 10 minutes outside stooping down to help my daughter plant a tree in a neatly trimmed garden, I ended up with a tick on my eyebrow.
I think part of my attitude stems from the fact that I believe I harbor ALL tickborne infections anyway, so what difference would it make?
I still will wash my hands before I pet my cat if I sneeze, for instance.
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hey Lauren--
I am with you on being scaired of ticks -
I got bit again 2 months ago --
Ticks are not like Lighting - Ticks can strike you many times- -Jay-
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm with you, Lauren. I won't even walk on grass!
Clarissa, I would do the same as you... absolutely.
tailz... Your bacterial load goes up each time you get bit. Not a good thing. Are you afraid of giving your cat a cold?
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
It's left me very paranoid, yes!!!!
Not only for myself but for my husband. I tell him not to walk in grass and I stay off it myself. I'm even paranoid walking on the sidewalk and usually look down whenever I'm walking just to make sure I don't "see" any around.
I still go to the park, but stay on the sidewalk. But now it's gotten to the point that when we walk under a tree, I check my hair for ticks and check my husband's hair for ticks. Then when we get home I run in the house and take off my pants and throw them in the dryer in case there was any on my pants.
It's sad that it's done this to me. My husband tells me that when we decide to have kids, my kid is going to be so sheltered and miss out on a lot because I'm not going to let him run around in the grass or go camping, etc.
I just don't want it to happen to myself again or to anyone I know or love. This disease is horrendous and an absolute horror. Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
I think I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Not exagerating!
Melissa
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
I really think bartonella is what's making me miserable, even more so than babesia, and I don't want to give my cat bartonella. He seems to have bad days right along with me.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I'd take 100 ticks over a snake any day!
That being said, I am not paranoid, but careful.
I don't walk in the woods anymore. I try my hardest to stay out of the tall grass.
I wear insect repellent and tuck my pants into my socks when picking blackberries.
My concern is that the tick is not the only vector we have to worry about here.
We have been sprayed for mosquitos twice by truck and once by a plane overhead in two weeks.
That is alot.
Of course we did notify the mosquito department (we are part of the Parish wide abatement program).
While they vehemently deny that mosquitos can carry Lyme,
They have certainly stepped up their spraying.
I wonder if that spray kills ticks too. It certainly kills the fireflies.
I never saw the tick that got me.
Maybe if I did, I would be paranoid too.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by roro (Member # 13383) on :
I am very paranoid. I barely go outdoors anymore. its sad because I used to hike, camp, etc.
I got bit by mosquitoes a lot, and sandflies, a wasp, spiders, so I am convinced all bugs carry disease.
the other night my sister-in-law had a campfire outside in her yard. I had my pants tucked in my socks, hands inside sleeves, my hood up, and the string of the hood pulled so tight that my whole face was covered up to my glasses. the only thing exposed was my nose, and sure enough I got bit on the nose.
Posted by slappy2779 (Member # 12193) on :
Yeah, I HATE TICKS!!! They are one species I wouldn't mind if they went extinct. And if I could make that happen I so would. Lyme's can't be spread through saliva though so don't worry about that. Only through blood transfusions, hence why I am not allowed to donate blood. I know it's still on your mind though, I still subconciously worry about it everytime I kiss my wife. My biggest worry is whether or not the Lymes will go to my unborn baby. My wife is 12 weeks pregnant, and it's something that recently has been on my mind. As far as being reinfected, recently that's a fear that I don't have anymore since I am dealing with a relapse lol. (not funny, but funny at the same time).
Posted by Dawnee (Member # 15089) on :
I will be going back to middle Tennessee in July to visit for a week and my sister tells me on the phone that every time she goes outside she finds ticks on her... they are that bad right now.
So I am terrified! My kids will want to play and go on the trails through the woods like we use to. I'll be staying on my parent's property.. which is where I got re-infected back in 2003.
My stomach gets uneasy just thinking about it, but I'm not going to be a spaz. I keep telling myself that. We are all going to have a good time, take some extra precautions and do good tick checks.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
No No No!!!
PLEASE... NO No No!!!
Don't Let The Tick WIN!!!
I use to be afraid... and I can tell you... afraid or not... you can NOT get bitten or you WILL get bitten. Being afraid doesn't stop nature from taking its course.
Don't let the fear take away what life you have. PLEASE try to enjoy... just be aware.
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Thank God! I live in West Texas and you really don't see them that much. We've had our dogs on K9 Avantix ever since and it has kept them away!![[Smile]](smile.gif)
) and afterwards I was so worried that maybe some of my salivia got into his mouth.. I don't even know if it can be transferred that way??![[shake]](graemlins/shake.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)