|
Welcome to
The Bluebird Box
since 1995 |
TicksDate: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 15:50:01 EDT How's that for a subject line? What product or products have you tried to keep the ticks off? Up until this year I think I have tried all the store products, but I do prefer to use something that I don't have to apply to my skin. I have tried Deep Woods Off, Cutters, and even a Citronella Oil all with varying success. I have never had a tick get it's jaws into me but I have had them as close as my neck many times. I have directly applied these both to my skin and just to my clothes. Well, several years ago at an Iowa Bluebird Conference I won a raffle prize "Permanone Tick Repellent" (active ingredient of Permethrin) that you spray on you clothes only. Not supposed to sprayed on your skin. (actually I have been told that this is more because it is so expensive that if you spray it on your clothes you can wear them repeatedly (two or more times) and the repellent remains effective -- I don't know if this is true, I kind of think there is another reason). Actually this stuff not just a repellent it will actually kill the ticks if they do decide to go for a ride. I had never used it until this year, and as is the case with most things I don't follow directions real well but tend to adapt them to my purpose. I ran out of what I had been using and decided to give it a try. I spray my shoes, socks, and pant legs up to my knees just before going out, rather than as directed to spray and let dry with clothes off of the body. I have actually witnessed a tick climbing up my leg. Getting about half way up and starting to falter and then die. There is supposed to be enough in the $6.95 (price in 1994 dollars) can for treating two pairs of clothes. Instead I just spray as I mentioned just before I go out. I have been using this can for about two months and it is still about one-third full. So what ticks you off, and how effective is it? Jim McLochlin Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 15:50:42 -0400 There's an article in last month's Consumer Reports about insect repellant. The Deep Woods formula was one of the highly recommended ones. Citronella was said to be almost worthless, as was the Avon Skin So Soft. I don't have the article handy, so can't recall what others were recommended. Tick season is definitely upon us. I was out picking wild cherries (to add to my homemade suet mixture) last week and got two on me. ... Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 17:00:55 -0400 Jim, and anyone interested..... Thanks for the info!!! Been disgusted with the results from the "other products" and did not want to use DEET (too many known side effects). Did a search and came up with a phone number, and they asked where I had heard of the product and directed me to this site http://www.chinookmed.com/chinook.html (They have changed the name of the product to Sawyer's ,but it's the same stuff! and it's still at the 1994 price! I can't wait to get mine and try it out on these Kentucky Ticks! Walking the "ticky" Trails, Lin Towler ... Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 16:55:38 -0700 I don't have the experience with ticks, but I can speak of one biting creature that Avon Skin So Soft works for, and that is the biting Beach Fly. On the shores of Lake Superior, these things look like a house fly and bite like a hornet, have the persistence of moles, and swarm like nuclear fallout. No bug spray I have ever tried will faze these things, but the Skin So Soft works quite well. Nicholas ... Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 17:16:47 EDT Jim, I used to use nothing. After contracting Lyme Disease last year, I've begun spraying Deep Woods Off to my clothes...Has it worked? Hmmmmmm. So far. However, this is supposed to be a terrible year for ticks in CT. I am thinking about spraying my lawn..at least the perimeter with a pyrethrum based application that my lawn company offers. If I do it, I will wait at KK's suggestion until at least day three after the last fledging..which should not be for at least another six weeks. I'm interested in reading all the replies to your posting. I also wonder what people are using on their pets. My dog is allergic to Frontline, so he simply wears a Zodiac collar. The other day he shared one of his dog ticks with me. I found it attached to my ear lobe. Double YUCK! Nancy Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 17:34:17 -0400 http://hazard.com/msds/h/q110/q461.html -- Dixie Dickinson New England Yankee ... COULSTON INTL -- 80812-00101 PERMANONE TICK REPELLENT Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 18:01:56 -0400 This is the tick repellent...also known as Permanone and as Duranon. Sawyer's is DEET. http://www.chinookmed.com/cgi/smart.cgi?command=listitems&type=group&group=travel_3 -- Dixie Dickinson ... Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 17:25:29 -0500 Jim and others wanting to use Permanone (which works good for ticks and chiggers): The spray should be applied outdoors and the fumes not breathed in since they are a strong chemical. The active chemical works good after it binds in the clothes and dries completely, so follow instructions on allowing the clothes to dry for hours. It is such a good binding with the clothes that they can actually be washed and they will still retain the active chemical. I would guess applying it while clothes on the body allows the chemicals to absorb into the skin could cause health problems. Always follow instructions. Anne Lincoln, NE ... Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 19:46:47 EDT Orig. Message: "Well good, now the list has turned into a division of consumer reports! Does the word BLUEBIRD in bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu mean anything to anyone anymore?" Whoops, don't know what your terrain is, Chris, but for many of us ticks are a real hazard when we monitor. The original posting was entirely in line with the purpose of the list, IMHO. To add to the tick subject: If you do get a tick on yourself, there is something much better than tweezers to get it off (tweezers can cause fluids to be squeezed from the tick back into you-- EEWW.) TICKED OFF is a small white plastic device shaped like a measuring spoon with a V cut into it; the V is slid under the tick so it falls into the spoon portion. (Made right here in N.H.) TICK NIPPER, also white plastic, is more like a little pair of pliers, with the jaws shaped like a spoon split down the middle; you close the scoopy jaws under the tick and lift it off. Works on humans, horses, or dogs. You probably can find one of the items in a pet store, or the feed store with dog/cat items. Rhonda Watts Wilton, N.H. Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 20:40:03 -0400 Nancy and all, I totally agree with yours and Jim's posting about ticks. I constantly have to be on the lookout for them as we have both the deer tick and the dog tick in large numbers here in Westport MA. My dog does have the disease. We all should be aware of the seriousness of Lyme Disease if it is in your part of the country. I have had a Lyme tick bite in the past but caught it in time before any damage was done. Also,thank you Rhonda for the info about Ticked Off and Tick Nipper. Sounds like I could easily make one from a Wendy's spoon. Have often thought those spoons are too good to throw away.! Ruth Edwards Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 22:33:26 -0500 Lin - I don't see a tick repellent product on that website. Do you have a company address or telephone number? Thanks! Bluebird Bob. Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 23:45:04 -0400 (EDT) Gee, Chris. Makes sense to me that people might encounter ticks while monitoring their boxes. Nicholas... Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 22:59:09 -0500 I usually ignore a comment like this (Consumer Report) but this information is definitely important and of interest to anyone who lives in tick infested areas, especially with Lyme disease and other problems. We do need and want specific Bluebird info primarily, but anything that helps to make monitoring easier and safer certainly has a place on the listserv. Bluebird Bob. Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:26:20 -0400 Thanks for your support! I'm the person who mentioned the article about bug repellant in Consumer Reports and was amazed at the stir it created. Never occurred to me anyone would find it "off topic." This was, additionally, my first post to all on the Bluebird L after having observed the action for a few days. This would be enough to scare some newbies away from the list for good, and that would be a shame, because I've found most of the folks here are pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful. Completely lost in the ensuing "debate" was the fact that I mentioned in the same post that I was gathering wild cherries to put in the homemade suet recipe I make for the BIRDS when I got the darn ticks on me. And this was at the edge of my yard adjoining 25 acres of woods - not in the woods. I am not an employee of Consumer Reports, nor am I advertising for them. The article in question is in the June 2000 issue, by the way. :-)... Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:33:40 -0400 Sheesh! What an uproar over doodly-squat! Anyone who goes out birding at all, or monitoring a Bluebird Trail needs to know about tick control. In my area it is really, really bad. Maybe in yours it's not. Evidently I goofed in posting that url to Chinook Med....the site I went to said that they were the Vendors for Permanone, and when I called they led me to believe they were, too. BTW...in searching through the net, I did see where permethrin is used to kill head lice, and is the main chemical in all of the dog "dips" so skin contact does NOT seem to be a problem. The original url I posted took you to a product named Sawyer that had permethrin as the main ingredient. Deet was used in the majority of their other products, but they also have the one with permethrin. (you have to search for permethrin to get there) I have called both area Wal-Marts, and they do not carry it, nor seem to have a clue over the product (and I was persistent, being on hold through several different depts, and managers *LOL*) So it appears the internet is my only option.I will check out Coulston, Thanks, Dixie, I think perhaps the one site I was on, had these two companies listed but had the products they made reversed. I for one, am happy that Jim posted, and I feel it was a very informative post. And for my area, I can't wait to try it out! Gonna use it on the doggies too! (I have 4!!) Lin Towler Boyd County, KY Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:00:39 -0500 Since we are on to insect bites, here is something easy to do, and works for most people, but not all. I take a dose of vitamin E daily. Mosquitoes and ticks may crawl on you, but won't bite. (That is, most people) Each persons body chemistry is a little different. Ask an experienced bug specialist (don't know how to spell etymologist) Bill Savannah, TN... Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:07:42 -0700 (PDT) When I monitor my trails I use Deep Woods OFF, it works like a wonder. Koby Prater ... Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 22:55:36 -0500 Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 11:15:57 EDT
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 17:21:31 -0600 Today the editor of the NABS publication BLUEBIRD, Jim Williams, posted the following to our Wisconsin Birders' Listserve. Although this is will be of particular interest to those who monitor nestboxes in Wisconsin and Minnesota, it may have value to others as well. FYI Dr. Thomas Nicholls is the wonderful master bander of whom I am a fortunate sub-permittee doing my bluebird banding study here in southern Wisconsin!!! Ann Wick Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 17:52:06 -0600 forwarded by Ann Wick thanks, once again, to Jim Williams, BLUEBIRD editor: Ann Wick ---- From: Nightline listeditor"at"abcnews.go.com You want a speicific treatment for an illness not officially
recognized by Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 17:37:09 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA It is unclear if it is for life. My doc didn't know, nor my friend's doc. Perhaps someone on the list knows???? :-) H From: Greg Jenkins GJenkins"at"NASHOLD.COM When I contracted Lyme disease last year, my doctor told me the good news was once you had it, you could never get it again. Kind of like, in most cases, chicken pox. I don't know if that would hold true for the vaccine, though. Greg Jenkins Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 16:34:08 -0700 From what I understand that if you are 65 yrs or older you can not get the vaccine. Norma Zier From: "jodyrose" jodyrose"at"bright.net I am in the health care field and wasn't aware there was a vaccine for Lyme's Disease. I found information on the website: www.mayohealth.org Anyone interested may read the nice article on Lyme's Disease, it's causes, treatments, and prevention. It seems the vaccine is no longer on the market. Toward the end, it explains why. (To find the information, click on "diseases and conditions A to Z", then click on "L", then on "Lyme Disease". ... I witnessed something Saturday I had not seen before. 2 males were fighting at the edge of the yard. They would clash then fall to the ground and roll around. There was a female that would hover above them, then fly a little way away, then return. There were also several tree swallows swooping down and chattering, like they wanted them to stop. Has anyone ever witnessed 2 males fighting before. Do you supposed they were fighting over the female? Would they fight to the death? I think one of them finally flew away. Love this list!! From: "Karen Louise Lippy" brdbrain"at"superpa.net Greg, You can 'get over' Lyme. If you are symptom free for 5 years,
my doctor said you can consider yourself 'cured'. Karen from
South Central PA Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 13:33:56 -0400 Prevention is a really important part of the management of Lyme disease. The vaccine is not being manufactured at this time. So, supplies of the vaccine will gradually dwindle. We will need to rely upon proper prevention. What are we trying to prevent? Bites by the deer tick, Ixodes spp. This is a very small tick, usually about the size of the head of a pin. Having feasted on the blood of a deer, infected with the disease, the tick climbs up onto tall grass or low bushes especially near wooded areas. Waiting. Waiting for another chance to bite some warm skin. Some areas of the country are more at risk than others. NY, NJ and nearby states are high risk areas, as are some parts of WI and MN. For a neat map of the states and their risk see www.cdc.gov Go to the Lyme disease section. Even in high risk areas, not all ticks are infected. That is, a tick bite doesn't mean you will get the disease. But why take chances? Take preventive measures! Prevention means: Check your skin for ticks when you get home. This means undressing and looking in a mirror. A shower at this time could wash away any ticks which haven't attached yet on the skin. If you find a tick which is attached, don't panic. Gently pull it off, and save it to bring to your physician. Removing a tick within 24-48 hours of attachment is usually enough to prevent any disease. But play it safe. See your physician. Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics. However, it has some severe complications, including joint pain and disablity, which means it should not be taken lightly. Here are two Web sites with more useful information: www.cdc.gov www.mayohealth.org Dawes Miller From: "Karen Louise Lippy" brdbrain"at"superpa.net Haleya, The Lyme vaccine is still basically in the testing stages.
In the labratory, they had 100 percent success, but it seems
to be ineffective for adults over 60 and had not been tested
on children. Many people who get the shots get arthritic symptoms
similar to Lyme. For most people, this is only a temporary issue. From: "judymellin" judymellin"at"netzero.net Being a birder who is ALWAYS in tall grass, I echo very heartily everything that Karen has said. I would add one item, though- well, maybe two! Even in the heat of summer, wear a lightweight , light-colored long-sleeved shirt and ALWAYS, ALWAYS long pants. And, after you are all covered and tucked, spray your clothing with insect repellant. Even for those of us who hate to do this, it is a great safeguard. This way, you are protected but the repellant does not touch your skin. I lead bird walks through our grasslands every year and I always have an icebreaker to get people to interact: we spray someone who we do not know! It's a great way to meet your neighbor! Judy Mellin Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 06:47:38 EDT re. getting off embedded ticks without squeezing them--I have several devices (in house, in barn, in truck...) which work very well on people, horses, dogs. One--marketed as TICKED OFF--looks just like a little white plastic measuring spoon with a V notch cut in it. You scoop the tick's head at the V, and he falls into the spoon. Even better is the one that looks like a pair of white plastic pliers, with the 2 jaws of the pliers forming a hemisphere (or scoop). You close the two halves of the scoop around the tick's head and pull him out. That one is called TICK NIPPER. Rhonda Watts Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 12:05:55 EDT Where did you purchase the Ticked Off and Tick Nipper products? Try a feed store or pet supply--I got mine at Agway and Blue Seal stores. Even picked one up for the school nurse! (I just checked the Foster & Smith pet supply catalogue; no luck there.) Rhonda From: "H. Lee Banks" hleebanks"at"coastalnet.com There seems to be quite a lot of good information being passed along on the Lyme disease topic, but from my personal experience on the Appalachian Trail last year one important fact has not been mentioned. The bite of the infected tick will have a bullseye rash surrounding it during the first couple of days. If you are treated with antibiotics, for about a month you will not contract the disease. However, once you pass this window without treatment you will always have the disease and I am not sure what medication you have to take for the disease at that point. Someone that I was walking with was bitten behind the knee and the bullseye went around the sides of the knee, down to the calf, and up on the rear of the thigh. Ironically, he was treated by a doctor in Kent Conn. not too far from Lyme Conn. Also, during this treatment you are very susceptible to sunburn and have to wear cloths or sunblock "all over your body". H.Lee Banks From: "Karen Louise Lippy" brdbrain"at"superpa.net H. Lee, Proper treatment is important. Doctors prescribed antibiotics for so many trivial things for so long, that now there is a fear that we may be creating super diseases resistant to the antibiotics on hand. That is why doctors are reluctant to treat Lyme. And antibiotics are the only effective treatment. Symptoms are so variable that it is hard to get a good diagnosis and there is no effective test for Lyme. What is tested is your body's reaction to the disease--how many antibodies your are producing to fight the disease. And doctors say this can be an indication of any serious infection. Keeping any engorged tick found on your body to show your physician will result in better treatment. You must show him/her the evidence of the bite. And many doctors will not recoginze the difference between a deer and dog tick. Dog ticks go through larval, nymph and adult stages, too. There is a stage where the nymph dog can be mistaken for the adult deer tick. And an engorged deer tick is often bigger than deer ticks are thought to get. The medical community is not recognizing the problems caused by this disease. It is up to you to make them as aware as you possibly can if you are to be treated. It may be that with a single prescription lasting 3 weeks, you will be cured. It may also be that it may take 2 or 3 doses. You may have to fight for proper care, but the alternative is extremely unpleasant. Karen from South Central PA From: Torrey [mailto:torrey_canyon"at"yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 5:54 PM Subject: OT: fun bird facts We're having a warm spell right now & birds are moving around more, but spring is still a good bit off. This fun (& kinda gross) bird fact is more for people who are getting nestbox activity. About 5 years ago, the nature center helped in a Lyme disease study. We checked ground-feeding birds to see if they were carrying ticks. A lot were, in fact, but no deer ticks. They were just as small, tho -- Smaller, since most of them were young nymphs. (Baby ticks have only 6 legs & go thru several stages, called nymphs or larva, before they get to their final adult form.) You find most ticks on a bird's head, & most of those in the ears. A bird's ears are located right where you'd think they should be, a bit behind the eye, only they're covered up with feathers. There's also no cartilage surrounding the ear hole. Gently blow the feathers away or use a slightly moistened finger to push the feathers back to expose the ear. Any ticks found will be *very* small. We used magnification & "needle-nosed" tweezers to remove them. We did this study in fall during migration. Sparrows seemed
to have the most ticks, which isn't surprising. Some questions: Do birds transport ticks between North & South America? Are they important vectors for ticks & tick-borne diseases? How important are birds as hosts? So, if you've got a bird in hand, say a house sparrow or a bluebird, check out its ears just for fun. ===== RE: Summary of tick advice * Wear light colored clothes; ticks are easier to remove that way * Tuck socks over pant legs or wear boots with pants tucked into boots * Only the smaller deer ticks carry lyme disease * Lyme disease is not an issue in Ohio. See this map for local information: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/riskmap.htm * Remove ticks with tweezers (ask for more details if you need them). Do NOT use vaseline or a match. This makes it WORSE because the tick may throw up the contents into your skin. * Removing a tick in under 24 hours significantly reduces your risk of getting bitten. * DEET is probably the "best" way to deter bugs, but it is definitely not without risk. Read the labels if you plan to use it. * Permethrin can be applied to clothes ONLY to kill ticks on contact. It stays effective for approximately 2 weeks or 2 washings. * 95% of humans with an animal contracted illness originated from ticks. * Ticks actually use a glue substance to attach themselves to the skin. * Many people give testimonies to garlic and/or B vitamins (sometimes B1 or B12 in particular) to help ward off insects, however, there are studies that disclaim this. I did not investigate the legitimacy of the studies themselves, however. * There are a variety of herbs for eating, wearing, and oils for rubbing that are recommended for bug repellent, for both people and dogs. Here's the complete list (these are probably not tested): eucalyputus oil, Brewers Yeast, fresh Basil, Oregano, Cinnamon, borage, henbit, lamium, marigold, nasturtium, pennyroyal, peppermint, rosemary, rue, sage, spearmint, thyme, lavender, tansy, onion, chives, lemongrass, catnip, lemon balm, osage (horse apples), juniper berries, ginger, garlic, cayenne, hot peppers, mustard, cloves, oregano, nasturtium flowers, garlic, clover, mustard, or oregano. * There is some general suggestion that bugs are not as likely to eat "bad" tasting blood like that rich in garlic, however, they are also attracted to good "healthy" blood, like those who take daily vitamin supplements. So repellants and attractants may counter each other in this case. References (partially incomplete, because some of these stats Scott gave me without revealing the link): http://www.answerbag.com/a_view.php/14599 http://www.freep.com/money/consumer/gsidea2_20000702.htm http://botanical.com/site/by_you/acandee_bugs.html http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/pubhealth/west_nile/wnv_factsheet_8.html http://www.myccr.com/SectionTechnique/Problems/WhatWorks.htm http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ http://www.quantumhealth.com/news/articledeet.html http://www.queensjournal.ca/articlephp/point-vol130/issue3/features/lead3 http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Infectious_Diseases/Vector_Borne/ http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/insects.htm http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tickbites.html From: Tree Greenwood [mailto:doctree"at"crosslink.net] Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 12:06 PM Subject: Re: Things you can pick up out in the field. On Fri June 3 2005 17:59, Maynard Sumner <m-r-sumner"at"juno.com> wrote: Maynard, thanks for the reminder. I hate long sleeves and trousers tucked into boots in summer but they're important. Having someone else check for ticks is also critical. Your description of your symptoms sounds like Lyme disease though it's uncommon in Michigan. Take care of yourself. R J 'Tree' Greenwood From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com] I do know that a certain kind of tick can paralyze a dog, but I never heard it doing it to a human. We've had it to happen to one of our dogs. The vet told us to get all the ticks off it and it got better within an hour. This Evelyn Cooper From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 12:20 PM Subject: Not so fun factoids about lyme disease and deer ticks (long) I think Lyme disease is probably the biggest health threat faced by bluebirders, because they are common in meadows/tall grass near forest edges where deer AND bluebirds hang out. Of course Hantavirus is deadly, but it's rare, and bluebirders are generally only exposed to it when cleaning out mouse nests. (See http://www.sialis.org/mice.htm#haz) I just got Lyme disease for the first time, which is kind of amazing since I lived and worked in Suffolk County, Long Island for several years. Suffolk and Nassau counties have the highest incidence of Lyme disease in the nation (probably because of the exploding deer population - over 700 per square mile in some areas. 10-20 deer per square mile is an ecologically sound population level.) I never got a rash, but about 3 weeks after being bitten by a tick, the other symptoms came on very quickly - malaise, low grade fever (100-102), chills, body and joint aches that made me feel as though someone had pummeled every square inch of my body with a rubber mallet, which along with the fever and chills also made sleeping difficult, a mild headache and even a bit of a sore throat. I have always worried about it Lyme, but this season was too lax about wearing light colored clothing and spraying my clothes with DEET (I like Deep Woods Off because it isn't as stinky as some Here are some interesting points about Lyme disease. There is more excellent info at - Lyme disease is now the leading cause of vector-borne infectious illness in the U.S. Bet from CT PS Selective feeding and overbrowsing by deer can dramatically change the landscape. Forest health and wildlife diversity, including wildflower and grassland songbird populations, suffer as a result. In fact, I just read that last years' Audubon "State of the Birds" reported that nearly 30 percent of all bird species in the continental US and Canada are in serious decline, primarily due to loss of habitat. They noted "Birds are wonderful indicators of our overall environmental health, and as the environment is stressed and biodiversity reduced through habitat degradation and loss, the most sensitive species send out the signal first." So if house sparrows are actually in decline in the U.S. like they are in England, they are not alone. Deer overpopulation can also affect animal and human health (e.g., animal starvation or disease, Lyme disease from deer ticks, and collision injuries), and result in property damage (to cars, landscaping, farm crops and forests.) Deer management focuses on maintaining populations at a sustainable level (about 10-30 deer/square mile), in balance with the rest of the ecosystem. Birth control has been tried in areas like Fire Island, but has proven costly, labor-intensive, and not very effective. Hunting is the most effective means of controlling local populations. Hunting (tax on gun sales and ammo, and hunting license fees) also funds many wildlife restoration programs. Of course some groups are opposed to active controls. The CT Audubon did it as a last resort at the Greenwich Audubon Center, where every species of ground and shrub-nesting bid formerly present on the property, except for the turkey, had disappeared. During the hunt's first season, the Director received a lot of hate mail, but then the furor died down and the program received strong local support. Unfortunately, it can take decades to restore native plants. Bet from CT From: John Schuster [mailto:wildwingco"at"earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 10:37 AM Subject: O/T Lyme disease, stay out of the sun! Dear Friends, After years of suffering and being miss diagnosed, my partner Bob G...., was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. Though Bob suspected he had lyme disease, and asked to be tested for same, the doctors told him, "No lyme disease is not prevalent in California" so they tested Bob for other aliments, coming up empty with every test. Finally they tested Bob for Lyme disease and he tested positive. Bob is now going through intensive antibiotic treatments, and is starting to feel heathy again, but Bob can not be exposed to sun light because the antibiotic treatments makes Bob's skin more sensitive to UV, so he burns easily If you are being treated for Lyme disease with intensive antibiotic treatments, please be careful when you are outdoor (during the day light hours) because Bob went on a camping trip last 4th of July weekend, and though he stayed out of the sun, he still burned himself so badly that he now has skin ulcers on his upper lip and nose. Good luck and stay out of the sun. ... John Schuster From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 10:46 AM Subject: RE: O/T Lyme disease, stay out of the sun! I do wonder about under-reporting and misdiagnoses in states where Lyme Disease is not prevalent, as doctors are not used to seeing it. In New England it's so common that it's usually one of the first things they check for. I have heard of people taking doxycycline (which induces sun sensitivity) wearing SPF 45 but still getting sun poisoning or the equivalent of a chemical burn on eyelids, fingertips, or other missed/very exposed spots. It's like being a vampire since I don't go outside unless it's dark out. BUT I felt a zillion times better within 3 days of starting the antibiotics. Early diagnosis and treatment are apparently key to avoiding long term effects. Bet From: Tree Greenwood [mailto:doctree"at"crosslink.net] Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 4:23 AM Subject: Lyme Disease I am being treated for Lyme disease infection. PLEASE review prevention and detection guides: The tale of my bout with the disease follows if you want to read on. If not, please take care of yourself. Lyme disease is unpleasant, at best. Actually, it's pretty miserable. My job keeps me at a desk surrounded by radio consoles, computers and video monitors in a dimly lit room for 8 to 12 hours at a time. When I'm not working, I prefer to be outdoors. Hobbies include landscaping, gardening and wildlife. Over the past year, I needed several fairly minor surgeries. The last, about ten weeks ago, was a hernia repair. The doctor's post-op orders said "no vigorous exercise" and "no lifting over 10 pounds" for six weeks. I wanted to get all the spring chores done but my wife reminded me of the consequences of tearing the repair. I put off the heavy work and 'puttered around' a lot, accomplishing a lot less than I wanted to. I fudged a little in the sixth week. The Martins were due to arrive and I wanted to get a new pole set and a new Purple Martin gourd rack raised. I felt good and the weather was great. Digging the hole was a snap and the 60 pound bag of Quikcrete didn't strain anything. I jumped back into my routine, trying to catch up on neglected chores, including making sure all the other birdhouses were ready to go plus gardening and landscaping. A week later, around the first week of April, I felt terrible. Everything ached and every joint in my body hurt, especially my shoulders and elbows. I felt tired, dead tired. I usually get along fine on 6 or 7 hours of sleep a night but I suddenly needed 9 hours and still felt exhausted. My wife asked me what I did to myself and pointed out a red spot on the outside of my right forearm near my elbow. It didn't hurt or itch so I ignored it. It got bigger, then darkened like a bruise on the inside as the red expanded, then started to heal from the center. It started to look like a Bull's eye target. My wife and I went to visit the grandkids last week. My daughter saw 'the spot' and told me to get to a doctor "right now." She worked as a medical assistant in a family practice clinic for years and correctly identified 'the spot' as the bull's eye rash, a key sign of Lyme disease. She told me that the doctor would start treatment right away if he saw that sign instead of waiting for lab results. About a third of people don't exhibit (or notice) the bull's eye rash, delaying treatment. I got an 'urgent - same day' appointment. The doctor took one look, asked a few questions about how I had been feeling and told me, "I'm going to start you on antibiotics now. If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and acts like a duck, it's a duck." It can take weeks or months before a body develops enough Lyme antibodies to show up in lab tests. He didn't even order the test. He was sure of his diagnosis without lab work. So I'm taking lots of antibiotics. I'm sleeping a lot, not getting much done. Aspirin helps. I should recover completely with no residual pain or disability. If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, permanent damage to the joints, nerves and heart are common. But even with early treatment, it takes time for the symptoms to go away. For years, doctors kept patients on antibiotics as long as symptoms were present. That caused more serious problems. In the days since my diagnosis, articles on Lyme disease seem to be everywhere. The Quantico Marine Corps base's newspaper had an article on Lyme disease. The May issue of 'Virginia Wild- life Magazine' has a very informative feature, too. I doubt that I'm going to follow all the rules. R J 'Tree' Greenwood From: Jimmy Dodson [mailto:rocks_and_flies"at"hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 9:10 PM Subject: RE: Lyme Disease RJ -- Same sentiments that Denise said. I've not had to deal with Lyme's, but I have encountered other tick-borne "bugs" personally. It's definitely a strong regime of antibiotics, so I know how you feel. Doxycyline, tetracycline, etc. aren't things you want to take too often... there aren't many antibiotics that are stronger. There are so many things one can get from ticks that not all are even identified or named. One thing a close friend does... if he finds a tick attached, when he removes it he tapes it into his planner... no I'm not kidding. Then, if he starts feeling "weird", he has the date of when he found the tick... AND the tick itself -- they can test the tick specifically if they so choose. It is actually good you expressed symptoms the way you did. It makes things easier & helps convince them to treat you quickly. Take care and good luck. Jimmy Dodson From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 6:23 PM Subject: Lyme Disease Time of Year http://www.sialis.org/lyme.htm Lots of cases of Lyme Disease popping up this past month in CT. Also erlichiosis (symptoms vary, Quick Tips: Don't get bitten! Be especially careful during mid-May through mid-July, and if you live More info on Lyme and Bluebirding here: http://www.sialis.org/lyme.htm Bet from CT From: David Gwin [mailto:David.Gwin"at"cityofcarrollton.com] Howdy, Bet: I recently attended an outstanding lecture on arachnids and the topics of ticks and lyme disease quickly dominated the presentation. The senior entemologist that gave the presentation strongly recommended that once you remove the tick to drop it in a small, air-tight glass jar and write the date that you removed it on the lid. Since the bacteria remains viable in the gut of the tick for quite some time ... this could help your medical professional to make (or confirm) an accurate diagnosis in the event that you are infected. He also warned that there many medical professionals that are still not up on how to properly diagnose this very serious disease ... so for those of us that often frequent tick-infested areas, a little bit of education and awareness in this regard goes a very long way! Take care, P.S. - While areas with significant populations of deer should be of special concern for all of us ... we also need to be cautious in areas with concentrated populations of small mammals as well. Interesting Factoid - Ticks can live without feeding for almost a year! From: SCooke [mailto:ncw001"at"nc.rr.com] Lyme is the one we hear most about but there are other tick-born illnesses that are every bit as bad. For example, STARI is what we deal with most often here in the southeast (NC) You really want to get treatment ASAP if you suspect you may have any of them since the sequelae can be devastating. Here's the link to the CDC's website. Lots of good info http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/stari/index.htm From: Lynn Emerich [mailto:lemerich"at"epix.net] Just a reminder for all you guys running around the fields checking boxes. I had my dog to the vet on Friday and she tested positive for Lyme desease. I haven't seen a deer around here since hunting season started last December, but evidently they left the ticks here. Be careful out there. Lynn near Bernville, PA |
BEST OF BLUEBIRD_L CLASSIFIEDS HOME | Audubon Society of Omaha | The Bluebird Box | Bluebird FAQs | Search | Contact meAll material was originally posted on the Bluebird_L or Bluebird mailing list, and has been reposted here with slight modifications to make the posts more readable in an HTML format. In cases in which quoted material has been deleted to save space, this is indicated by an ellipsis (...)For more information about Bluebird_L, check out http://www.cit.corn.edu/cit-pubs/email/using-lists/index.htm. If you wish to contact the author of a post, you will need to edit the e-mail address, replacing "at" with the "at" symbol (above the number 2 on your keyboard). (This change was made to discourage spammers.)If you are the author of a posting and would like to see a particular post (or posts) removed from these web pages, please contact me with the web page address, title of post, and date and time of the post(s), and I will remove whatever material you like. If you have a different opinion from one posted here, you need not contact me, as often I will have a different opinion too. The intent is to try and provide both sides to the issues facing bluebirders, and to do so in an impartial and objective manner.If you have problems, encounter broken links (unless they are within an e-mail thread, as I do not maintain those links), or have suggestions on how the site can be improved to make it more useful, please contact the Best of Bluebird-L Classifieds webmaster.Website design by
Chimalis
|
