Sunday, July 20, 2014

Ticks The Silent Insect


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.   

15 comments:

  1. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rocky 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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sure 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.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey 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.

    ReplyDelete
  5. River
    I 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

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mel
    Antibiotics in shot form is the best treatment. Thanks for the comment

    ReplyDelete
  7. Howard
    I 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

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mark
    You are lucky, we are loaded with deer here, hope you don't encounter the type tick that bite me. Thanks for the comment

    ReplyDelete
  9. I hate ticks! I have been "tick paranoid" ever since my 5-tick experience last summer. Thanks for the article.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Juan
    Summer is the worst time of the year to get tick bites--thanks for the comment

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are lucky. I am suffering my second attack of lyme disease. Hasn't stopped me from fishing though!

    ReplyDelete
  12. RM
    I feel for you and hope you get over the lyme disease soon. Thanks for the comment

    ReplyDelete
  13. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  14. David
    Yes hard to kill with a killing bite. thanks for the comment

    ReplyDelete
  15. Pen
    I am finally seeing results of the medication I have been taking. Thanks for the comment

    ReplyDelete