For all of us who have
encounter the Tick weather on a stream fishing or just hiking outdoors, the
bite can be punishing. This post is a follow up to the hiking trip my Grandson
and I took the other day in Tennessee . We were hiking a trail near a stream when somewhere
along the trail I got bite by a tick. I didn’t know it until the next day when
I discovered some red spots on both hips and both legs below the knee. I have
been bitten by ticks before and been able to find it on my body; this tick was nowhere
to be seen. What puzzled me about this bite were the multiple reds spots that
showed up the next day and the day after. Usually a tick will attach itself to
your skin to suck blood and one can see the tick if they look closer enough,
but this tick was something completely new to me.
I went to the doctor
Wednesday evening and the doctor had blood work done and prescribed a powerful antibiotic
with some medication for itching. He told me that some ticks can leave multiple
red spots, beside the traditional one bite mark. He ruled out Lyme Disease, and
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, because I didn’t have any symptoms related to
either disease, which are: Fever, Joint Pain, vomiting, muscle aches, or severe
headaches. I did go back to the doctor on Friday and he gave me a shot for
further infection, which has helped I believe more than the medication I am
taking. After five days of dealing with I can see signs of healing taking
place, because the red spots are not as pronounced as they were Tuesday and
Wednesday. I hope all you guys will take heed to this post and be extremely cautious
when you are in the woods, whether you are fishing or just hiking as I was
doing. I am including a link that I found extremely helpful in explaining the
in results of tick bites.
Bill, Thanks for sharing your ideas and experience with ticks. I live in upstate NY and have seldom had encounters with the pest-- until last year, and now this year (like never before). Its range seems to be expanding northward with climate change.
ReplyDeleteRocky Mountain Spotted Fever is pretty common here. I forgot to check after my last couple of trips out. Thanks for the reminder Bill...good advice.
ReplyDeleteSure appreciate you offering this information for all of us to read and remember to check after longs days outdoors or on the trail. I have had a tick problem once in my life and it freaked me out. Modern day treatment is better than what our parents had available to them. Hope you get too feeling better.
ReplyDeleteHey Bill. Always a problem out here. Lyme disease is prevalent especially with all the deer we have. I always wear long pants and have been lucky (knock on wood). Haven't been ticked yet.
ReplyDeleteRiver
ReplyDeleteI have read that a huge deer population will bring on the ticks, and we have that here in the south. I hope you guys see less up that way. thanks for the comment
Mel
ReplyDeleteAntibiotics in shot form is the best treatment. Thanks for the comment
Howard
ReplyDeleteI am still waiting on the results of my blood work, I should know something by the end of week. I think I will be clear of the RMSF. Thanks for the comment
Mark
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky, we are loaded with deer here, hope you don't encounter the type tick that bite me. Thanks for the comment
I hate ticks! I have been "tick paranoid" ever since my 5-tick experience last summer. Thanks for the article.
ReplyDeleteJuan
ReplyDeleteSummer is the worst time of the year to get tick bites--thanks for the comment
You are lucky. I am suffering my second attack of lyme disease. Hasn't stopped me from fishing though!
ReplyDeleteRM
ReplyDeleteI feel for you and hope you get over the lyme disease soon. Thanks for the comment
What bothers me most about them is when i find one that is not attached I can't seem to ever kill them with my fingers. They are so tough. The perfect silent vampire assasins.
ReplyDeleteDavid
ReplyDeleteYes hard to kill with a killing bite. thanks for the comment
Pen
ReplyDeleteI am finally seeing results of the medication I have been taking. Thanks for the comment