Stormy
100+
Advocates putting smokers in a "Sin Bin"
Needs to learn to keep his big mouth shut.
Posts: 153
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Post by Stormy on Jun 7, 2006 12:00:27 GMT
I took up Field Target shooting in February - it's an airgun sport where you have to knock down 25 - 40mm (1" - 1 5/8") metal discs out to 50m (55yds) using a rifle with a fairly beefy scope (mine goes up to 50x magnification).
On Sunday we had the first round of the club competition to decide who will be on the teams for the regional shoots in the autumn, and this was done in the woods behind our usual "plinking" field. It was a really nice experience shooting in dappled shade for the first time - much more pleasant than the direct sunshine we normally have to put up with.
I woke up at 4am on Tuesday covered in bite marks, only to discover that they were caused by tick larva/nymphs. I had noticed a couple of bite/sting marks on Monday, and had picked out what looked like the stinger from a wasp from each - it turned out that they were actually tiny ticks. Eleven ticks and 30-odd very swollen bite-marks later, I seem to finally be free of the little blighters.
Has anyone else ever had more than a couple of ticks in one go - I was absolutely astounded that I had picked up so many (even though I was essentially sitting on my bum in long grass, wearing shorts for 2 1/2 hours).
Now I just have to wait for the Lyme disease to kick in. Ooh the joy. I think liberal application of insect repellent might be a good idea next time.
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Jun 7, 2006 18:23:40 GMT
I am absolutely phobic about Lyme Disease coming from the state where the town is located bearing the name of the disease-Lyme,Connecticut. Because my state is heavily wooded we have a very healthy tick population so dealing with the little bastards is a regular event with a "Tick Kit" being a regular part of any day pack first aid kit. couple of points- 1-most ticks you encounter will be the "wood tick" which is not a carrier of Lyme Disease.These puppies are pretty big so easy to detect then get rid of. 2-It is the "Deer tick" that is the carrier of the Lyme Disease and to make matters worse they are so small they go undetected often which compounds the problem tenfold. home.ptd.net/~insect/tickpics.htmlThere is also the tell tale bullseye rash but since this is not something you get 100% of the time,another reason why Lyme is so dangerous-non detection until you have serious medical problems Best way to avoid the problem is to wear light colored clothing (easy to see a tick on it),long pants and long sleeves plus do a visual search for ticks after every single excusion to the great outdoors.For total control tuck your pant leg into your socks then spray DEET on all clothing entry points then a milder repellant on your exposed skin.I say milder 'cause this shit is highly toxic and will absorb into your body through your skin which is to me not a good tradeoff when all the intel says it can do central nervous system damage in children ! I would rather risk a tick bite then knowingly poison my own body
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Stormy
100+
Advocates putting smokers in a "Sin Bin"
Needs to learn to keep his big mouth shut.
Posts: 153
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Post by Stormy on Jun 7, 2006 22:00:39 GMT
The ones I pulled off me were about the same size as the Deer Tick Nymph shown in your picture - body approx 1mm long - tiny little buggers.
I seem to be failry sensitive to the bites, so I caught a lot of them before they'd got much if any blood in them. From what I've read they take a while to transmit the disease spirochetes, so even if any of the were infected deer ticks I might be better off than I could have been if I hadn't spotted them until they were fully engorged. I have read about the symptoms and I'll keep a close eye out.
Thanks for the advice Rick!
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Jun 7, 2006 22:41:31 GMT
that is my understanding,the longer the little bugger is in there more likley you will get the disease.As for symptoms this is where Lyme disease becomes dangerous.Not only is the bullseye marker iffy at best but the symptoms can hide or worse be misdiagnosed as something else entirely (injury,arthritis,flu...) with the only true test an actual bllod test looking for the disease rather than a random "look for whatever" type blood test.
Th reason I know this is my middle son actually contracted the disease but because we never actually found a tick and he never had any of the classic symptoms had no thought at all that he had it when he complained of pain in his knee. Because the doctors also had no reason to screen for this it was assumed he had injured his knee somehow so every time it filled with fluid they drained it (PAINFUL !!!!!!!!!!!) during his week long hospital stay until one doctor on a whim tested for Lyme which it turned out was the problem.
Anti biotics cured the problem but what if they never found the real problem ?
Nasty nasty disease and especially so because it hides so well
my pleasure,happy to be of some help
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Jun 7, 2006 22:41:59 GMT
that is my understanding,the longer the little bugger is in there more likley you will get the disease.As for symptoms this is where Lyme disease becomes dangerous.Not only is the bullseye marker iffy at best but the symptoms can hide or worse be misdiagnosed as something else entirely (injury,arthritis,flu...) with the only true test an actual bllod test looking for the disease rather than a random "look for whatever" type blood test.
Th reason I know this is my middle son actually contracted the disease but because we never actually found a tick and he never had any of the classic symptoms had no thought at all that he had it when he complained of pain in his knee. Because the doctors also had no reason to screen for this it was assumed he had injured his knee somehow so every time it filled with fluid they drained it (PAINFUL !!!!!!!!!!!) during his week long hospital stay until one doctor on a whim tested for Lyme which it turned out was the problem.
Anti biotics cured the problem but what if they never found the real problem ?
Nasty nasty disease and especially so because it hides so well
my pleasure,happy to be of some help
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