I am VERY much afraid on stepping on grass barefoot, petting a dog, gardening, or leaning against a tree. Things I use to do (and enjoy) prior to Lyme without giving them much thought!
After a long treatment, I am now feeling much better from Lyme but am scared. Or should I say - TERRIFIED! Something in my brain sends a signal of ALERT when I'm outdoors.
I only hike in the winter now and have just realized that this lover of the country is losing that side of her!
Can any of you relate? Will it go away, or am I doomed to walk on paved streets for the rest of my life????
HELP!
Posted by danq (Member # 2126) on :
I can definitely relate.
I used to go anywhere - limited only by dense poison oak. Now, I'm not too keen on being off-trail anymore, unless I'm in my unofficial "no-tick zone" - above about 6,000 ft in the Sierra (coincidentally above the poison-oak line). I realize even that's not really tick-free, but hey - ya gotta breathe!
Here in town there's no problem - no ticks in the middle of corporate agland, as habitat is nil. So gardening here is as safe as taking a bath. Well, safer... no chance of drowning in a garden here!
Dan
Editing to add: I don't think for me it's going to change until/unless there's a definitive cure, or a well-proven vaccine. Because I've had it, it's ruined a good portion of my life, it left me with a permanent disability, and I don't need more of that stuff.
[This message has been edited by danq (edited 14 May 2004).]
Posted by guiney (Member # 4550) on :
Stella, you are not alone!!!!! I am, as you said it "terrified" to go outside.
My daughter asked me to go on a nature walk with her yesterday and I sais "NO WAY"!!!!
Ofcourse I explained why-she's 5, and when she was 1 and a half I got bit..
so most of her life moms been sick. That's all she knows! It's said but true. I check my kids EVERY day...
I am also VERY much afraid of mosquitos too.Nature for me is just plain scary!! I do no gardening, cutting grass, or rake leaves!!! I don't care what time of year it is
I may be obsessed but, hey I've been bit twice (that I know of) and each time I something new and horrible, good luck Jamie
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Posted by lymewarrior03 (Member # 3891) on :
TOTALLY!!!!!! TOTALLY PARANOID. I used to love love love the outdoors. Now when I can get out, I stick to stone and pavement. Awful, really. But truly, this is intelligent fear. We'd be stupid not to be so cautious.
Posted by Oz (Member # 2905) on :
I am have become yard and nature shy too.Every once and awhile I have a lapse and find myself out in the yard weeding or picking up twigs without taking precautions and tell myself,"you dummy". My cat can forget about ever go out again. I don't know where I got bit but it was the first summer I started wearing sandals again. Be careful.
Posted by 3greatkids (Member # 3838) on :
Oh boy, I am so afraid of the big outdoors! I use to be a big hiker,boating with cookouts beside the lake, riding horseback and now I am a hermit crab and just as mean sometimes too. Just kiddin. I try to be nice even when I take my Flagyl(like a good girl). My kids think I am crazy and am armed with srays,etc.Well, I guess we have all learned alot and will have to learn to modify our behaviors, MAKES ME MAD!!!
Posted by frenchbraid (Member # 4225) on :
I'm not as horrified as I used to be. But, I also feel more in control, so maybe that's why I started to let my guard down. We still take Garlic on a daily basis and that is supposed to "offend" ticks, mostquitos, etc.
We also use a spray made from Euculyptus oil and that seems to be doing the trick.
I don't however, take strolls through the woods.
I've come along way though. Just the thought of being in my yard was enough to send me into a pure panic. But, now I'm outside all the time.
It's just routine that we all spray ourselves before we step outside. We don't even think about it anymore.
We have spray bottles everywhere. By the doors, in the car, in the girl's gym bags, etc.
We are never without it.
frenchbraid
------------------ Stay positive. Smile. People care.
Posted by rosesisland2000 (Member # 2001) on :
Are you afraid of the outdoors? NOT ONE I-O-D-A!!!
Rosemary
Posted by rosesisland2000 (Member # 2001) on :
quote:Originally posted by rosesisland2000: Are you afraid of the outdoors? [b]NOT ONE I-O-DA!!!
Rosemary[/B]
Posted by cityzen (Member # 5317) on :
I loved hiking but now because of my fear those days are over. I recently walked on a gravel road in some park hoping I could find joy in that but every time I passed the trails my heart sunk. After a while I just turned back and headed home.
[This message has been edited by cityzen (edited 20 May 2004).]
Posted by john in ga (Member # 4603) on :
I love the woods and have not stopped going to some really beautiful places.We hike in
stay the day.I'm already sick,now the guys I go with are the ones that should be afraid.
I don't think I can let one stupid bug ruin my life( like it hasn't?).I do try to be
really careful,sprays,tick checks and all. Never sit on ground or lean on trees and
stumps anymore,this is serious.But you still gotta have fun.
Posted by Nancy-OH (Member # 3567) on :
My whole life has changed. I look at the beauty of nature and see bugs.
My daughter is leaving for Maine to go to college and I'm more scared of her contracting Lyme than anything else.
I will probably always be more cautious and aware. No way will I walk off a path in the woods again!
Posted by lifeline (Member # 3445) on :
I was bitten in my backyard while chopping weeds.
I won't even go down to the pond area anymore without a flea collar around my ankles and I also wear boots.
While walking, I go around all tree limbs that are low and could brush up against me. Definitely won't sit on the ground or a log.
I'm always aware that ticks are not my friend. Outdoor life has changed a little.
lifeline
Posted by once bitten on :
I would have to say I am respectful. Just like I am of the water, I would use a life preserver in a boat or canoe. I use tick spray with DEET and I also use the permethrin clothing treatment on my shoes, jeans, sandals, etc. I treat the outside of the house. We treat the horses and cat. I check myself everyday. I have a can of spray in my car, at the door, at the barn, in my friend's car, I do not leave home without it. I do not have a pet that goes indoor or out when I did he got a good brushing first. I got ONE tick on my pants once, in an area where I knew I would get one, and he curled up his legs and dropped off. None of us get ticks unless we do not take precautions. I got bit as far as I know in my old house INSIDE... up here on Cape Cod there are ticks in side the schools, in houses, in our laundry building down at the end of the condo site. A friend found one in a restaurant. They drop of from under cars. One I found on my tick spray bottle, just sitting there under a rhubarb plant in my garden. One of my nurses brought one in ON her to my house she had her dog in the car and got it from him. I was trying on her glasses and saw it tromp across the lens. She thought I was being paranoid, until she saw it in the sink. The little bast*ard was fast too. They are everywhere you want to be, just like VISA. However they hate permethrin and pyrethrin. and DEET. I dont think I would trust garlic or ucalyptus...but hey that's me. so you just have to be aware, use spray on your clothes and treat your yard, etc...get some of the Bug OFf clothing. I am going to die of something, but first I am going to live and do what I like. I am very careful. There are some places I don't go where I know the tick load is heavy.
Posted by Lishs mom (Member # 2344) on :
Nope! I still ranch, hike, fish ....dont camp because its too much work and hard to sleep on the ground.
As anything else in life, there are always risks. Risks can be lowered by being educated, and I do believe that in general most lymies have been well educated on the risks.
We also have a set of skills developed to advocate if we feel our risk has become higher...(go hiking, get a fever two days later...DEMAND treatment...)
If we allowed all the risky behaviours in this world stop up, we would end up...miserable because we could not even close our eyes at night to sleep, for fear that we would not wake up...
Am I more aware, proactive, and protective???? Yes
Am I in fear...heck no
Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :
Lyme and Babesia have taken enough away from me. I simply won't let it take my love of the outdoors, gardening, living in the country, etc. away. We have 2 dogs, 3 cats, 2 rabbits, and 13 chickens on 3 1/2 acres. Wouldn't have it any other way!
As long as we treat the property, do the tick checks, and be aware of the dangers, we will be fine. Unfortunately, so many are not aware of the dangers of ticks. We know all about them and what they can do, and we simply put our knowledge to work for us.
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
For all I know, I could have gotten bit at work.
No, I am not afraid of the outdoors and am looking forward to getting out and about more.
I am afraid of the indoors. HA!. CAbin Fever
But, I do plan on trying to stay on trails now instead of blazing my own...except if I need to go for it to catch that elicit trout.
Posted by lymiecanuck on :
I hear what you're saying. It's for my child I fear. You know kids, in the grass by trees, climbing trees etc.
If I get bit by another tick, probably die instantly.
West Nile is what is really freaking me out this year. Trying to not let it spoil fun for my kid, but it is still on my mind all the time.
I watch Survivor and think, OH, wouldn't catch me out there. I wonder if they are even warned about what they are exposing themselves to. All those BITES. Go home empty handed and sick, with some tropical illness nobody has a clue about here. Hopefully they are taking good care of them.
Lymiecanuck
Posted by kess (Member # 4899) on :
I live on 10 acres of woods and hike with my dogs daily. I love the woods and nature. I refuse to let fear stop me from living my life. I am careful though. That's all I can do.
