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Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

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Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#131

Post by opwieurposiu »

nouveaux wrote: post #4

I've recently gotten into backpacking and learned that the most effective way of dealing with mosquitoes and ticks in nature is Permetherin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin . It is intended for clothing and not the skin. The best way to apply it is to soak your clothes and let it dry. Spray on applicators are also available. Once it is dry, it is very stable and safe. It does breakdown with UV and washes, so…

Note that Permethrin is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Do not wash anything treated with permethrin in a stream or lake. A big problem in Africa is people using Permethrin treated mosquito nets as fishing nets. This kills off a lot of fish.

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#132

Post by magduf »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #114
go_ruby wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So was your spouse reinfecting you?

I believe so. Of course, I can't prove it and I find the question flabbergasting given that I already stated that insisting on condoms was fairly promptly followed by my condition stabilizing and improving. For the record: I eventually divorced him. I've been celibate for medical reasons for over 14 years, in part because men I dated could not follow the simple instruction to bring a damn condom for health reasons an…

I'm not trying to be snarky or insensitive, but is it really that hard for a woman to find a casual sex partner who will use a condom when asked? Surely you could browse the profiles on OKC (where you can see much longer profiles and get a much better idea of someone's personality before meeting them) and find someone suitable. A lot of guys might not say right on their profile that they're available for "short term dating" or "hookups" because they think it looks bad, but they'll probably be happy to take you up on the offer if you ask directly.

Again, sorry for the unsolicited advice, and congratulations on becoming healthy again.

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#133

Post by magduf »

stupidboy wrote: post #129
consp wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What they thought me for first aid was: remove the tick with a proper tool, wrap it in some scotch tape and put it in something storable (back then a photo roll plastic thingey) and give it to the person affected and send them to a doctor or emergency service. That was over 20 years ago. Apperantly the "save the tick" advice is not as wide spread as I believed it to be as you were the first to mention it (my reading)…

Yeah, that's proper procedure--except for the scotch tape. Our lab techs need to tediously remove ticks from adhesive every day because some authority (first-aid manuals?) is telling people to do that. It ends up in pieces after extraction which hinders us from identifying the species, life stage, and duration of engorgement. Hopefully this practice phases out with time.

So how else do you store the tick? I can see why they would recommend scotch tape: deer ticks are tiny, and the tape helps keep you from losing them. Don't say "put it in a film storage canister" because no one has those any more! I haven't seen one of those in decades. I'm not sure what I'd do with one honestly; I have some small Tupperware containers I could use, IF I happen to be at home when I pull the tick off.

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#134

Post by DoreenMichele »

magduf wrote: post #132
DoreenMichele wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe so. Of course, I can't prove it and I find the question flabbergasting given that I already stated that insisting on condoms was fairly promptly followed by my condition stabilizing and improving. For the record: I eventually divorced him. I've been celibate for medical reasons for over 14 years, in part because men I dated could not follow the simple instruction to bring a damn condom for health reasons an…

I'm not trying to be snarky or insensitive, but is it really that hard for a woman to find a casual sex partner who will use a condom when asked? Surely you could browse the profiles on OKC (where you can see much longer profiles and get a much better idea of someone's personality before meeting them) and find someone suitable. A lot of guys might not say right on their profile that they're available for "short term…

A. I did say "in part." (Among other things) I also eventually concluded that celibacy was the best policy for my own health. Semen isn't the only way germs get traded.

B. This is an overwhelmingly male forum. While I'm quite comfortable blathering on about all kinds of personal things that give other people the heebie-jeebies, it's my general policy to not discuss my sex life here in a way that actively encourages such interest in me.

Suffice it to say, I'm really not in any need of dating advice. My remarks were pertinent to a meaningful discussion of health and that's the only thing I'm interested in discussing here.

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#135

Post by voidlogic »

erentz wrote: post #71

Unfortunately there’s no way to know that one currently has Lyme disease unless the symptoms are close in time to a tick bite. Treatment is with antibiotics, usually doctors will use a combination of two types of antibiotics (eg doxycycline and cefdinir) for which there is some research suggesting better results. In rare cases IV antibiotics may be required, especially if evidence of cardiac or neurological involveme…

>Unfortunately there’s no way to know that one currently has Lyme disease unless the symptoms are close in time to a tick bite.

I thought you could test for bacterial nuclear material in the blood?

Edit found it: Its a PCR Assay: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26469112

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#136

Post by stupidboy »

magduf wrote: post #133
stupidboy wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, that's proper procedure--except for the scotch tape. Our lab techs need to tediously remove ticks from adhesive every day because some authority (first-aid manuals?) is telling people to do that. It ends up in pieces after extraction which hinders us from identifying the species, life stage, and duration of engorgement. Hopefully this practice phases out with time.

So how else do you store the tick? I can see why they would recommend scotch tape: deer ticks are tiny, and the tape helps keep you from losing them. Don't say "put it in a film storage canister" because no one has those any more! I haven't seen one of those in decades. I'm not sure what I'd do with one honestly; I have some small Tupperware containers I could use, IF I happen to be at home when I pull the tick off.

Good point about the size. Unengorged nymph ticks are tough to spot. That's why most people don't notice them until after multiple days of feeding. The adults are much easier to catch early, and thus pose less of a threat.

For storage, a Ziplock bag works well (especially for mailing). Just make sure it's sealed air tight. A prescription pill bottle works great too because of the secure lid.

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#137

Post by gregcrv »

nouveaux wrote: post #4

I've recently gotten into backpacking and learned that the most effective way of dealing with mosquitoes and ticks in nature is Permetherin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin . It is intended for clothing and not the skin. The best way to apply it is to soak your clothes and let it dry. Spray on applicators are also available. Once it is dry, it is very stable and safe. It does breakdown with UV and washes, so…

I thought Picaridin (or Icaridin) was the leading alternative to DEET? Anybody knows how it compares to Permetherin?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icaridin

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#138

Post by rayalez »

llamataboot wrote: post #99
cogman10 wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just a note, Chronic lyme disease isn't really a thing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4477530/ This isn't to say you haven't been dealing with a lot of garbage, just that you might need to seek different medical care if your doctors are telling you that you have chronic lyme disease.

I appreciate your concern. I certainly had something. It certainly sucked. I certainly shared a lot of symptoms and remission factors with other people who identified as having chronic lyme. I certainly had Lyme at some point in my past. I agree that "alternative medicine" can be a hotbed of pseudo-science and sketchy treatment, but I also think that in terms of a lot of these chronic auto-immune related conditions,…

Did you get better? What treatments did you use, what did you do?

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#139

Post by bluntfang »

magduf wrote: post #132
DoreenMichele wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe so. Of course, I can't prove it and I find the question flabbergasting given that I already stated that insisting on condoms was fairly promptly followed by my condition stabilizing and improving. For the record: I eventually divorced him. I've been celibate for medical reasons for over 14 years, in part because men I dated could not follow the simple instruction to bring a damn condom for health reasons an…

I'm not trying to be snarky or insensitive, but is it really that hard for a woman to find a casual sex partner who will use a condom when asked? Surely you could browse the profiles on OKC (where you can see much longer profiles and get a much better idea of someone's personality before meeting them) and find someone suitable. A lot of guys might not say right on their profile that they're available for "short term…

>I'm not trying to be snarky or insensitive, but

oh boy, this is how you're starting this comment?

>is it really that hard for a woman...

facepalm. be mindful of your privilege. this isn't a helpful comment from the start. If you find yourself starting lots of conversations this way, I suggest taking a long reassessment on what your goals are when holding dialogue on the internet.

Re: Lyme Disease Cases Are Exploding

#140

Post by Medicalidiot »

erentz wrote: post #71

Unfortunately there’s no way to know that one currently has Lyme disease unless the symptoms are close in time to a tick bite. Treatment is with antibiotics, usually doctors will use a combination of two types of antibiotics (eg doxycycline and cefdinir) for which there is some research suggesting better results. In rare cases IV antibiotics may be required, especially if evidence of cardiac or neurological involveme…

Why do you say cefdinir as the second antibiotic? It's not recommended in uptodate.
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