Topic: Want to visit friends, but don't want to get a tick bite--what to do??
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
I have a difficult situation: we have good friends in NJ that we visited a year ago Memorial Day. They live in the "country suburbs" and have a big, furry dog.
When we visited last year, I got TWO ticks on me, one embedded by the time I found it. And I got a terrible relapse, due to Babesia, it seems, as I immediately went on doxy and was already on rocephin.
I probably got the ticks from walking one day and hiking another day. But the dog is another possibility, as, although they use Frontline on her, she gets tons of ticks. And she is in the house and on the furniture.
They've invited us over for dinner this Saturday. I want to go, but CANNOT afford another tick bite!! So, either I can't ever visit them again, OR, perhaps go,but ask them to keep the dog in another room or area (??), and wear clothes treated with permithrin, and do a careful tick check afterwards. And, I surely wouldn't hike again!!
Help! Any feedback?? Their dog is like their child, they wouldn't love keeping her penned up, but they might do it. I'm flummoxed, as they are really good friends, but they don't understand the risk.
Posts: 3770 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- If you are invited during a time when there will be city (or neighborhood) fireworks, they would not be able to keep the dog contained as the dog would need more cuddling due to the noise, I'd bet.
Just another point to consider. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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sutherngrl
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Although I completely understand your hesitation, you can't live in a bubble!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
How about covering yourself in really good tick repellents? Permethrin and essential oil products.
I like using Orange Guard, from oranges. I put a little in a spray bottle, fill with water, spray on clothing, the immediate ground area, even can be lightly rubbed/misted on dog/cat fur for added pet protection.
Thinking outloud here - it's used as a bug spray inside the home too. Obviously, when it's your own home, you can do as you wish.
I know ideally, if their home were sprayed with it, it would kill any ticks inside the home. But your friends have to be willing to do this. It smells like orange for about a half hour as I air out my place when I use it against bugs.
It's sad that people almost literally have to experience the illness before they realize how serious all this is and that we have to be proactive.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Go and don't ask them to change their lifestyle by putting the dog away.
Chances are they most likely won't appreciate your request, will remember it later down the road in an unfavorable light and bringing it up will only make them think YOU are too weird.
Spray your clothes before you go and take the same precautions you would normally take if going in a tick infested area.
And then FORGET about the ticks for the night!
Don't let the ticks win! Declare your Independence!
sutherngrl
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posted
Tincup.....I love that......"Declare your Independence"!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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sammy
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Member # 13952
posted
A good friend should not mind keeping the dog in a different area in the house for awhile.
I've had friends that were scared of dogs or just weren't used to them and didn't want them around. It was no problem for me to put my dog in a different room so that my friends could be comfortable.
I would also be cautious and wear some type of tick repellent just in case. That way you won't have to worry whether you spend time inside the house or outside in the yard.
And most important, try to relax and have fun!
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
No way Jose would I go there with a good chance of getting reinfected. This disease brings on toooo much pain and suffering. I would invite them to your house instead.
If there is not enough time to organize that, then maybe another time. If you go and take the chance and get bitten again and relapse, would you go back again next year?
Put your health first and stay home. The bugs win if you go back and let them feast on you again. Sorry for the rant, but it's just common sense.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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Rumigirl
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Member # 15091
posted
Well, I did talk to them ahead of time and told them my concern about the dog. They kept her away from me (I love dogs, but . . . ).
They said that they now use Advantix on the dog, and that they haven't seen a tick on her in a long time. Plus, I think they thoroughly checked her before we came over.
I sprayed my clothes with permithrin ahead of time. And we did thorough tick checks when we came home. So, unless there was a nymph tick that we can't see or a tick in my hair that we can't see, I guess I'm ok.
I hate having to be so paranoid, but I hate being so ill MUCH worse. Thanks, guys. It's a challenge.
Oh, and the husband, who we've known for decades, said that "he hadn't pulled a tick off himself in a couple of weeks!" I was appalled, and offered to tell him how to avoid tick bites, but he didn't want to know---yikes! It
seems that most people don't want to know unless they've been REALLY ill or know someone who is. Well, he knows me, but he obviously doesn't get it or doesn't want to get it---whew!
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
They live with the ticks!! I don't have that option. My complete pain and suffering with these blasted illnesses is from years and years of ticks before I knew better (from when I was little on).
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Maybe youshould forget about trying to educate him about tick avoidance, but next time you meet up, give him a good tick remover!
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
Still, Rumi, we are the ones who know what can happen, so I wouldn't give up on trying to educate him. Try to figure it out how to get the practical protection stuff handled with him.
Btw, the Orange Guard, or TKO Orange, can be lightly rubbed/misted on dog and cat fur for extra protection - just reporting what many who use it have told me.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Thank you, Robin. Is the TKO Orange available in stores, like a health food store? Is it any more effective than other natural oil based tick repellents? Thank you.
Posts: 3770 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Yes, it's available as Orange Guard. I haven't experimented with other oil-based tick repellents. If anyone has, let us know your experience with them.
Orange Guard/TKO Orange is also a fantastic cleaner - gets spots, stains, odors, mold. It cleaned the walls of chemical smells after a fire here. I already was using it when I found out about Lyme, so I just continued to use it!
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