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15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

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Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#51

Post by beaker52 »

stevenjgarner wrote: post #42
beaker52 wrote: post #41

I didn’t discover that ticks were a problem until I was in my mid 20s, and had been rolling around in deer-filled brush for years. Either I got very lucky, or have a chronic tick-borne disease. I’ve been battling unexplained anxiety, fatigue, poor sleep and cognitive decline throughout my 30s. I’ve had every blood test under the sun, numerous sleep studies and tried every vitamin. I’ve had no answers and no change. S…

That's rough. Same symptoms of low testosterone, which a blood test can measure. This can be caused (even in younger men) through daily exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like BPA and phthalates, heavy metals, and pesticides. Poor lifestyle exposures such as chronic stress, lack of sleep, and high ambient air pollution also significantly suppress hormone production.

Indeed. Thanks for the pointer. My testosterone level is in a happy range, as are most of my levels.

Chronic stress, now that's an interesting one. I've never regarded myself as stressed. Or, if I am stressed, I'm always stressed and it's just normal. But I see no reason to be stressed, but maybe I am. And I wonder, how much of stress is a cause, or a result. I've taken a year off work. Am I better for it? It's hard to say. I'm yet to find anything that I can say helps. I've only really found things that make it worse. Like alcohol, and sugar. Diabetes? Yeah, I've considered it. I've got 6 months of blood sugar monitoring data, with no discernible correlation between my levels and how I feel. Funny world <3

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#52

Post by beaker52 »

thebruce87m wrote: post #48
beaker52 wrote: post #41

I didn’t discover that ticks were a problem until I was in my mid 20s, and had been rolling around in deer-filled brush for years. Either I got very lucky, or have a chronic tick-borne disease. I’ve been battling unexplained anxiety, fatigue, poor sleep and cognitive decline throughout my 30s. I’ve had every blood test under the sun, numerous sleep studies and tried every vitamin. I’ve had no answers and no change. S…

The poor sleep might be the root cause. I’ve got some of the symptoms that you describe but I’ve always had nasal issues that I think are wrecking my sleep through snoring. That’s my theory anyway so I’m pursuing that.

Easily proven or disproven with a sleep study. You can get home tests too. Wishing you the best!

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#53

Post by xandrius »

nkrisc wrote: post #46
AnimalMuppet wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't mind there being some selection pressure against biting humans.

At the same time no tick that I’ve ever removed from a person survived, even without testing it for anything. I don’t think anyone removes a tick and sets it on its merry way.

Ticks are extremely tough to kill, compared with the myth that some people hold that they can only be drowned (you can obliterate them pretty well with a rock) I'm pretty sure many return to the wild unscathed.

And some even just pull them off and squish them a bit and then throw them down the toilet, bin, outside. Those very likely survive for a new bite.

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#54

Post by Foobar8568 »

aorloff wrote: post #23
CamperBob2 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We always covered them with coal-tar ointment (ichthyol / ichthammal) for a few minutes. They detached without a problem after that, with nothing more than a subtle hint from the tweezers. Just breaking out the tweezers and yanking away was most emphatically not recommended. It can leave the mouth parts behind, if nothing else.

On dogs my friend likes to strike a match, touch the extinguished tip to the back of the tick, and then pull it out with tweezers. Seems to work

Considering how often dogs in my area were covered with ticks, I am surprised we never got one as teenagers, we were running or biking in the same place.

30+ years ago we would use ether to remove them, and I enjoyed burning them afterwards, it was so satisfying...

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#55

Post by dlahoda »

beaker52 wrote: post #51
stevenjgarner wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's rough. Same symptoms of low testosterone, which a blood test can measure. This can be caused (even in younger men) through daily exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like BPA and phthalates, heavy metals, and pesticides. Poor lifestyle exposures such as chronic stress, lack of sleep, and high ambient air pollution also significantly suppress hormone production.

Indeed. Thanks for the pointer. My testosterone level is in a happy range, as are most of my levels. Chronic stress, now that's an interesting one. I've never regarded myself as stressed. Or, if I am stressed, I'm always stressed and it's just normal. But I see no reason to be stressed, but maybe I am. And I wonder, how much of stress is a cause, or a result. I've taken a year off work. Am I better for it? It's hard…

Do you drink coffee?

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#56

Post by nkrisc »

xandrius wrote: post #53
nkrisc wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the same time no tick that I’ve ever removed from a person survived, even without testing it for anything. I don’t think anyone removes a tick and sets it on its merry way.

Ticks are extremely tough to kill, compared with the myth that some people hold that they can only be drowned (you can obliterate them pretty well with a rock) I'm pretty sure many return to the wild unscathed. And some even just pull them off and squish them a bit and then throw them down the toilet, bin, outside. Those very likely survive for a new bite.

I usually trap it between two pieces of tape and then put it in a plastic bag and keep it in the freezer for a few weeks in case someone gets sick and I might need it as a sample.

I have no idea if that is actually necessary, but it's easy and I think that probably kills it.

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#57

Post by rolisz »

beaker52 wrote: post #51
stevenjgarner wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's rough. Same symptoms of low testosterone, which a blood test can measure. This can be caused (even in younger men) through daily exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like BPA and phthalates, heavy metals, and pesticides. Poor lifestyle exposures such as chronic stress, lack of sleep, and high ambient air pollution also significantly suppress hormone production.

Indeed. Thanks for the pointer. My testosterone level is in a happy range, as are most of my levels. Chronic stress, now that's an interesting one. I've never regarded myself as stressed. Or, if I am stressed, I'm always stressed and it's just normal. But I see no reason to be stressed, but maybe I am. And I wonder, how much of stress is a cause, or a result. I've taken a year off work. Am I better for it? It's hard…

About stress: how's your HRV? Look into sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, vagus nerve and it's relation to HRV. It gives you a more objective way to measure stress.

In particular, Garmin smartwatches have a very good measurement and intepretation with their "stress" and "body battery" features.

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#58

Post by close04 »

beaker52 wrote: post #51
stevenjgarner wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's rough. Same symptoms of low testosterone, which a blood test can measure. This can be caused (even in younger men) through daily exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like BPA and phthalates, heavy metals, and pesticides. Poor lifestyle exposures such as chronic stress, lack of sleep, and high ambient air pollution also significantly suppress hormone production.

Indeed. Thanks for the pointer. My testosterone level is in a happy range, as are most of my levels. Chronic stress, now that's an interesting one. I've never regarded myself as stressed. Or, if I am stressed, I'm always stressed and it's just normal. But I see no reason to be stressed, but maybe I am. And I wonder, how much of stress is a cause, or a result. I've taken a year off work. Am I better for it? It's hard…

[dead]

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#59

Post by contingencies »

beaker52 wrote: post #41

I didn’t discover that ticks were a problem until I was in my mid 20s, and had been rolling around in deer-filled brush for years. Either I got very lucky, or have a chronic tick-borne disease. I’ve been battling unexplained anxiety, fatigue, poor sleep and cognitive decline throughout my 30s. I’ve had every blood test under the sun, numerous sleep studies and tried every vitamin. I’ve had no answers and no change. S…

When did you last (1) eat a proper salad with no sugary dressing (2) get up early to exercise (3) achieve a suntan (4) spend a week without caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol? (5) catch a sunrise? (6) wake up at an acceptable hour without an alarm? (7) eat a high fiber meal like a vegetable curry?

Other: Dark, cold, quiet bedroom. Sleep study. Vicious dietary improvement. If all else fails: move and change jobs. If that doesn't fix it, try one of those drug induced purges with ibogaine.

Re: 15-minute at-home Lyme disease tick test

#60

Post by draven »

rolisz wrote: post #57
beaker52 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed. Thanks for the pointer. My testosterone level is in a happy range, as are most of my levels. Chronic stress, now that's an interesting one. I've never regarded myself as stressed. Or, if I am stressed, I'm always stressed and it's just normal. But I see no reason to be stressed, but maybe I am. And I wonder, how much of stress is a cause, or a result. I've taken a year off work. Am I better for it? It's hard…

About stress: how's your HRV? Look into sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, vagus nerve and it's relation to HRV. It gives you a more objective way to measure stress. In particular, Garmin smartwatches have a very good measurement and intepretation with their "stress" and "body battery" features.

I initially thought about sharing this about stress and didn't, but then I read your post.

That's how I learned I was stressed while working. I have a Garmin watch and everyday I get an alert telling me I had a stressful day.

During the day if I do a little check-in where I observe how I feel, I often notice a lot of muscle tension, especially in the plexus area, and that I stop breathing for extended periods of time. I try to consciously relax, which would work for a few minutes before the tension comes again. I end up being exhausted almost everyday. My watch has been telling me I'm either in "recovery" or "strained" for months.

Stress can be difficult to notice, especially when you're stressed.

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