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How to prevent Lyme disease this summer

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Re: How to prevent Lyme disease this summer

#141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was in reference to after every bite, not once a year. Antibiotic resistance is not hyperbole. It is a real problem, and potentially a big one. What would be hyperbolic is if the part of the world that lives in tick infested regions would be pretty much on a constant antibiotic binge during season. A full dose is two weeks and you are likely to be bitten again. I don't know if the suggestion was in reference to…

By far the weirdest thing to me in this entire thread, as someone who had long-term Lyme disease, is the dudes bragging about how often they remove ticks from themselves and their children, yet who are more scared of antibiotic resistance the Lyme. Simply does not compute. Do you, like, get off on risking contracting infectious disease? I feel bad for your children.

That's perhaps the weirdest insult attempt in a long time.

Perhaps not removing the tiny spider like creatures that suck your blood could be something to brag about in some overly macho context. But removing them? Of course I remove them, from myself, children, pets, and anyone else. Ticks are a fact of life, and you will get bitten if you live in their areas.

A vaccine can not some soon enough. In the meantime, Lyme can be cured by antibiotics. Staying put indoors or constantly being on antibiotics during summer is not an option.

If I contacted my practitioner and wanted prophylactic wide spectrum antibiotics I'd be kindly shown the door. That is a controlled substance for a reason. That reason is antibiotic resistance, a well studied scientific fact, and not something where our own opinions matter much.

Re: How to prevent Lyme disease this summer

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

10-20 ticks every year??? I can’t imagine that and I often run in grassy fields (not tall grass) and at most I found 1-2 ticks on me or my kids. How do you get that kind of numbers in the first place?

I think that is just what happens if you live in tick-dense areas and do a lot if outdoor activities. I take every precaution, and remove approximatively the same number of ticks per season. Some places are just like that. Once, I rested with my right hand against the ground, just a couple of seconds, and upon lifting it up I noticed around 30 ticks crawling on it.

This is disturbing what state? Where do you find the ticks hiding on your body?

Re: How to prevent Lyme disease this summer

#143
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

10-20 ticks every year??? I can’t imagine that and I often run in grassy fields (not tall grass) and at most I found 1-2 ticks on me or my kids. How do you get that kind of numbers in the first place?

Why would you not believe it? It's normal where I live too. I definitely get dozens of bites every year and have been formally diagnosed with and treated for Lyme twice because it's pretty easy to miss one. Tick bites are very often completely painless and they often choose very discreet locations for their meal. Keep in mind tick season is March to June and September to December (although it started in February this…

I’ve never had a tick bite I could miss. They form a blister and itch like crazy for a couple of days. I wonder if the inflammatory response goes away if you get bitten too often. I know it happens with mosquitos if you get bitten too often.

Re: How to prevent Lyme disease this summer

#144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You had not heard the phrase "second opinion" before this experience?

Even for HN, that's a tone deaf response to a thread of stories of mistaken trust in GPs

What's tone deaf about it? Should the comment offer hugs and kissing before offering obvious, practical advice that anyone at all can take?

Re: How to prevent Lyme disease this summer

#145
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you not believe it? It's normal where I live too. I definitely get dozens of bites every year and have been formally diagnosed with and treated for Lyme twice because it's pretty easy to miss one. Tick bites are very often completely painless and they often choose very discreet locations for their meal. Keep in mind tick season is March to June and September to December (although it started in February this…

I’ve never had a tick bite I could miss. They form a blister and itch like crazy for a couple of days. I wonder if the inflammatory response goes away if you get bitten too often. I know it happens with mosquitos if you get bitten too often.

I get a strong reaction after I remove the tick (like a little necrotic volcano that itches like mad and takes about 18 months for the blemish to disappear completely). While the tick is there, I usually feel only nothing and find them by inspection. Tick checks are your best defence.

Re: How to prevent Lyme disease this summer

#146
post #13
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's "Lyme disease," named after Lyme, Connecticut (which, in turn, gets its name from Lyme Regis in England). Not "limes," that's a fruit.

Sure, but I'm not a doctor and anyone who is living in an area that I'm speaking to will understand what I wrote and those that don't (perhaps yourself included) might learn a new colloquial phrase given the context of the comment.

Maybe you couldn't get treatment because you told your doctor you "had limes" rather than "are exhibiting symptoms of Lyme disease after a tick bite."

Precision matters in medical contexts.

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