Lyme Disease

[brummievet]

Hanneke, I think you'd be the perfect person to contribute to an article. Experience counts for everything.

I can't say I know more than GPs! I think we vets have probably seen more cases of tick-borne disease than most GPs just because, by nature, animals spend more time in areas inhabited by ticks and are the desired hosts. I regularly pluck ticks off animals so it brings tick borne disease more forward in my thinking. The drugs available to prevent ticks (and so the number of studies) have become much better recently, possibly due to the growth of the market due to a relaxation in pet travel rules and due to the increasing number of tick attachments. I am also a member of the BMC who, I have to say, have been very good and put out a lot of information in climbing guides etc.

[IanDarkpeak]

I would be willing to write an article for Fellrunner Magazine, who do I approach? I haven't been a member for a few years now, too depressing, so not sure who to contact. I think it would be very useful.I have done a LOT of research, largely to get myself well, and know quite a few fellow sufferers. If it would help stopping even one person of getting as ill as I am, it would be worth it!

To answer a question of one of the people above: I can just about walk again. I haven't cycled since August last year and can only do a little bit of therapeutic pedalling, trying to build my wasted leg muscles to support my wasted knee joint. It is dire, but one has to stay positive so the fact that I can now ride the 6 kms to the next village and back is HUGE! Even though it is at a snails pace. I have sold all but two of my bikes, as I can't use them and am not exactly motivated to ride again, as it is such a mega-effort to go a few miles at a snail's pace, but the surgeon has instricted me to pedal, in whatever way, to strengthen my quads and it is the only way. I started off with 5 minutes on the turbo, so the fact that I can now potter for an hour is something I suppose.

The knee is so bad, I am never to run again, not even to the bus... and walking downhill is out of the question too. As I am not strong enough to walk uphill, this isn't really an issue. I have become a couch potatoe I am afraid, with resulting change of shape and weight :'( but I am in less pain than I was a few months ago and can sleep again, which gives me more energy, so onwards and upwards, looking to do 1 hr 15 minutes on the bike soon... I try to get out once a week, but it doesn't always happen, it has to be a good day...

Send it to Britta in the short term Hann

[Hanneke]

Thanks IDP

[Adnan Khan]

Just read back some of the posts. Its so scary. I got ticks on 2 occasions. Once in Scotland and once in Lakes. The weird thing was they managed to get so close to my groin. I don't know how they got through the shorts though :-O. I think I'll invest in Smidge. Is that the best with least harmful effects out there ? I saw a natural repellent on facebook recently, mix 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 of water and add some plant based oil for the scent and apply it on the skin should work as a deterent. Does this sound any good? What's the best tick removal tool? I tried tweezers before but wasn't successful.

[IanDarkpeak]

Just read back some of the posts. Its so scary. I got ticks on 2 occasions. Once in Scotland and once in Lakes. The weird thing was they managed to get so close to my groin. I don't know how they got through the shorts though :-O. I think I'll invest in Smidge. Is that the best with least harmful effects out there ? I saw a natural repellent on facebook recently, mix 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 of water and add some plant based oil for the scent and apply it on the skin should work as a deterent. Does this sound any good? What's the best tick removal tool? I tried tweezers before but wasn't successful.

I've heard of lots of home recipes, Vinegar Garlic etc...all unproven so take with a pinch of salt?

I use one of these and they are in most of the group first aid kits I use for DofE

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/16088...f14=108&ff19=0

http://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/dogs...AqgaArWE8P8HAQ

2 links in case one doesn't work.

I once got bit by one and didn't have a tool but I had a sewing kit. in true Bear Grylls style I improvised and pushed a loop of cotton through the eye of a needle and threaded it over the tick until it was close to my skin and gently pulled the loop back until it lassoed the tick and I was able to gently pull it off. Not recommended but I was miles from any where at the time.

[Adnan Khan]

Thanks Ian. Will order one. Is that as easy to use as in the videos? And also get some smidge.

[Daletownrunner]

I've always found removal very carefully with tweezers does the trick for me, frowned upon by my doc, I tend to check as soon as I get in, as the ticks haven't blown a tick remover wouldn't grab 'em anyway, unfortunately I seem to be a tick magnet, I get them when nobody else does :-s

[IanDarkpeak]

Thanks Ian. Will order one. Is that as easy to use as in the videos? And also get some smidge.

Prevention is better than cure. As Dale says if it just attached then it can be tricky, you might not even know for a day if they are small ones, the bigger ones are more obvious. have a good look in all your nooks and crannies afterwards...!

[Daletownrunner]

Mrs DTrunnner is the nook and cranny spotter in our house :-)

[Daletownrunner]

Definitely agree that uk doctors are generally pretty complacent about the dangers posed by ticks, I was 'recalled' to the doctors after a visit after I'd had a nasty looking tick bite in Denmark, although I'm on the edge of the Lake District I'm pretty certain that the doctor I spoke to didn't know what I was actually talking about and only recalled me after speaking to a colleague, for the record, my record is four ticks on one run, I have heard of someone who had thirteen!!!! The ones behind my knees seem to always be particularly bad, although I am still 'scratting' the Danish one on my ankle which I got well over a year ago.