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Tick alert

Original Post
Ian Cotter-Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 10,141

I think I got bit by a tick with Lyme's at Devil's Lake yesterday so beware, it is the season.

Remo · · Madison, WI · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 13,727

Not fun Ian, but good thing you caught it early.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

How do you know it has Lyme so soon after the bite?

Ian Cotter-Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 10,141

A bruise or bullseye develops around the bite shortly after... at least from the research I've seen. It's pretty common around this area too. Hopefully I'm wrong or the medicine works..

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280
Rock Warrior Films wrote:A bruise or bullseye develops around the bite shortly after... at least from the research I've seen. It's pretty common around this area too. Hopefully I'm wrong or the medicine works..
These are the signs of a bite by the correct tick that CAN carry the disease,,it is not a sign you got Lyme right at that bite moment. Most people do have pretty good immune systems to fight off a slight bout, but meds do solve the problem if caught immediately. The tick is pretty dam small, not the usual large wood tick that is very visible. Check body for the ticks immediately after getting back out of the wooded area each day.
Scott Phil · · NC · Joined May 2010 · Points: 258

You can also get Lyme disease and never develop the classic bullseye reaction. This is when it gets dangerous. I was lucky that I had the classic reaction when I had Lyme 20 years ago. The doc took one look, realized that it was Lyme, and prescribed some very powerful drugs. I still felt like death warmed over for about a month. For what it is worth, I never saw the tick.

Since then I've met several people who did not develop the Bullseye and were subsequently misdiagnosed. One lost her job, a year of her life, and is still not back to full health. Lyme Disease is serious. If in doubt get checked out.

Ian Cotter-Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 10,141

Well hopefully I caught it early enough ... Or maybe didn't get it. That sounds better.

chris tregge · · Madison WI · Joined May 2007 · Points: 11,036

If I pulled one off that had a little rash around it after 12 hours I probably would forget about it. Closing in on 24 hours with a rash or even a little red area, I'd take prophylactic meds even if convention is 36-48 hours. Why not? Joint swelling and inability to walk sucks. Paralysis sucks.

sherb · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 60

I recently removed a tick from someone who had been climbing. At first I thought it was a loose mole but then I saw it had legs. I took a tweezer and pulled it out from close to the head. It was a lone star tick, and pulling it out was really fun! I squeezed the tick feeling bad for the pain I must have caused it by squeezing it, and put it in the trash. The next morning it disappeared and I found it lumbering around on top of the trash can, good as new. I was freaked it would come look for me so I put it out down the main chute.

Craig T · · Chicago, IL · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 0

Where at the lake? Nothing to report from Old Sandstone, but its definitely less bush-whacky than the bouldering areas

Ian Cotter-Brown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 10,141

The South Bluff. Also got one at Steinke Basin. Both were the bad small ticks.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

From locations, I'm guessing these were boulderers who got the ticks. Close to the ground alot, in dense thickets, approach in woods, etc. I've never had a tick on me from roped climbing in traditional areas up CCC trail and such. Unless there is a new rash of tick infestations around the park lately that I've not been aware of.

teece303 · · Highlands Ranch, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 596

I kicked a tick out of my camera bag in Castlewood Canyon on Sunday, in Colorado.

Caprinae, you are very nice. I don't generally kill insects, but I make exceptions for spiders in my house, and a tick that has feasted upon my blood!

Just read an interesting article in Outside magazine on ticks.

I'm itchy all over suddenly....

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
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