posted
It's been two months since the positive test, two weeks since the diagnosis changed to chronic. 8 weeks of abx. and 8 weeks of mom and dad being terrified of letting the kids (one with lyme, one without) out into the yard to play. For the first 4 to 6 weeks, he didn't really want to go out anyway (photophobia)This seems to have eased, I see the longing and frustration, and now inventiveness. It started like this: "Mommy, how about a deck? Can we build a deck for my playhouse so the bugs can't into it?" ever since he's been working industriously on developing a blueprint for the deck and shopping list for materials, sometimes on paper and sometimes on his computer, with lots of help from mom and dad cause he's 5, and can't spell very many words yet, or work the draw program effectively enough yet to have his work look anything like a deck. his idea isn't a bad one. We just might do it!
The fact that he's coming up with solutions reminds me that adversity often brings out our strengths. It's made my husband a better dad, as he's learned how to respond with love and support when our son goes into fit of impulsive behaviors, or is feeling so sick that he can't be the nice kid he usually is.
Now as to the tick phobia thing. we've been told no bug spray (or sun block for that matter) because, well, I'm not sure of the because, but I think it has to do with the idea of not adding anything else to the mix/his body is going through enough right now. And for our little one, who does not appear to have Lyme, it's not an option because he has excema, which means his legs are always a red scabby mess (eucerin every night looks better in the am, bad as ever at night, reluctant to use cortisone cause I don't want to get a steroid anywhere near my other kid) Our kids have never been in the woods, so although I suspect that our neighbors house two houses down the street (which borders a wooded area) was where the bite happened, I can't be sure and I can't rule out our yard. We just don't know. So we try to keep them busy inside or plan fun day trips (aquarium, museums, ect.) I still feel rotten for keeping them in though! If someone knows a better way, let me know!!
an added note: the other day my son went into the yard, to "install pipes" (the idea came from Liberty science center) I saw him kneeling in the grass, asked him to come inside. A little while later I checked his socks, saw a teeny weeny black speck that MOVED. I caught it, put it in an empty water bottle, the bugger jumped, I got it onto a piece of paper, then as I put it back in the bottle, it hung suspended for a few moments (at which point I decided it was probably a baby spider)then I capped it off for good. even with magnifying glass we could tell for sure what it was. nothing like that to feed a case of tick-phobia, eh??
Posts: 394 | From tinton falls nj | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
When my son was diagnosed with RMSF two years ago he and my husband were building an amazing tree house. We all developed quite a tick phobia. It truly saddens me that just when we were getting up the nerve to go back out and finish it(this spring)two of my other children were diagnosed with Lyme. Since then both my husband and I have also been diagnosed with lyme.
The tree house sits untouched. The bright side...now that we are all on abx, I guess we can all go out and work on it together without fear.
I think that it's natural to have those fears, I don't know how to overcome them successfully. (especially for parents of uninfected children)
Good luck!!!
-------------------- Every victory, no matter how small, deserves to be celebrated. Please excuse me while I do a little dance. Posts: 25 | From North Carolina | Registered: Jul 2007
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
Sorry to say,,,I cant see a deck as being 'tick' proof.
They can crawl up the legs,or steps. Dogs (any animal) can carry them up and deposit them.
Birds can carry them onto it.
Maybe slick galvanized metal on the bottom legs in vertical position would 'improve' your chances somewhat. but again, ONLY if you slick up the steps approach too.
It would beat laying in the grass,,BUT no guarentees.
I have heard of ticks really loving trees and if you sit on a log or lean against a tree trunk,,,your really in 'THEIR' territory,,,and bound to get some hitchhikers.
I would think a treehouse is only an extension of the real deal tree.
Think I would get some Tempo spray going there,,,it is so safe they can use INSIDE resturants.
Absolutely NO smell I can detect. Smells like you are spraying water!!! it may NOT get them all,,,but improve your odds and not be sensitive to the kids.
You can spray the inside of the house for bugs with it too. Supposed to be made from Geraniums,,,so if you have flowers around,its about as toxic.
Just what "I" would do!!being--just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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Just Julie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1119
posted
Just don is right. Tempo spray ( I bought mine off the internet, and sprayed it myself in our screen porch room for the flea infestation that we had--worked beautifully, and NO SMELL) does work. It is a chemical, but it seemed to not cause any obvious effects if you take care when spraying.
To the person who said that everyone is on abx in the family, so back out to the tree house, I say WATCH OUT! It doesn't matter if you are on abx, if you get bit by another tick, and it's go co-infections that you are not being treated for with whatever abx you might be on, you'll be set back even further.
I wouldn't do it.
I avoid tick infested areas period. It takes awhile, it took me my first year to wrap my brain around what changes were necessary to do this, but I did it. Then, I had to do it x 2, because I have 2 sons, both with Lyme, and both at the age where they wanted to be out doing everything. We have ticks out our back door, but it's all concreted there, until it reaches our hillside, and then there's a chainlink fence (built by the last owner) that keeps you from going up the hill where the deer/wildlife roam.
It's been an ongoing, uphill battle, never any plateaus, or breaks. I'm in battle right now over my 15 yr old wanting to go to his Sadie Hawkins dance thing at school, it's in Berkeley in this regional park area that is GORGEOUS, stunning in it's outdoor beauty, but it is also a place where ticks are very likely. I hate this, I am refusing to budge and let him go. Last time I relented on something I found a tick crawling across my own stomach! Wake up call! Never again!
It's really sad, but you have to either fish or drop bait. Or something like that. Poop or get off the pot? Sorry, my analogies are off this a.m.
-------------------- Julie Posts: 1027 | From Northern CA | Registered: May 2001
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