Lisa and the tick

I returned home from my trip to the beach house and the next day I found a tick on me.  Heavy sigh. I would like to say that I was calm, cool, and collected but that wasn't the case.  The tick was removed, the tick wasn't engorged, the tick was still moving and, the tick was placed in a zip lock bag.  Why you ask - well, most of my Lyme websites talk about keeping the tick in case you want it tested for pathogens.

Once the tick was removed I then proceeded to cry.  Crying helps right?  I was scared and worried and basically neurotic.  I am not as strong as Heather.  It was more fear of the unknown, but also knowing how sometimes a tick bite can be life altering.

 Heather was so brave when she was diagnosed.  Maybe it was because for over a month they were unsure what was wrong and they were running so many tests and ruling out so many awful things.  She was so brave during her MRI of the brain, spine scans, numerous blood tests,  CT Scans, and nerve conductivity tests.  Her amazing team of doctors included an internist, rheumatologist, hematologist, gastroenterologist, and an infectious disease specialist.

So.......I turned to the internet - the more you read, the more you "think" you know, and the more you worry.  I tried to compare my tick to images on the internet.  Even with a magnifying glass and my reading glasses, I couldn't determine the type of tick.

Then, I stumbled upon this AMAZING site.    You take a picture, include your email, state, zip code, and they email back a response within a few days - and this service is FREE.  Twelve hours later they sent a detailed email telling me that they thought it was a lone star tick and that these don't carry Lyme disease.  However, they said they needed better pictures.

24 hours later I took the tick out of the zip lock bag and the damn thing was still alive.  I took better pictures, emailed them, and they responded that it was definitely not a deer tick.

In the mean time I called my doctor, we discussed a three week course of antibiotics if I saw a rash or felt ill, but I passed on that since I felt fine and the "tick professionals'" were confident that it wasn't a deer tick.

I am sending a donation to this site.  It brought me peace of mind.  If you find a tick on you and are concerned, I 100% recommend this web site.

I didn't tell Heather about my tick adventure until I knew everything was fine.  No need to make her worry.  I wish Heather had seen her tick and had the opportunity to start treatment.  That is one of the awful things about Lyme disease - remember 50% of the people never see the tick or the rash.

The picture for this blog was taken in 1993 at the beach house.  It was so amazing to pull into the driveway and see a wild horse in your yard.  Even more incredible to be sitting on the beach and watch them stroll by.   By 1997 all of the Corolla wild horses were relocated to the northern beaches of Carova, NC, which were (and still are) only accessible by a 4WD vehicle. Two sound to sea fences were constructed 11 miles apart to keep the horses from wandering into more congested areas - one is located along the northern Corolla border, and one close to the Virginia state line. As a result, this wild horse habitat offers the horses over 7,500 acres of coastal shoreline, maritime forests, and all the dunes, marshes and small estuaries in between.


Things to ask yourself if you find a tick:


    Step 1 - IS MY TICK RISKY? TickSpotters helps identify the type of tick and assesses the riskiness of your TickEncounter. Submit a tick picture to TickSpotters and receive a customized reply full of best practice, next steps advice in just 1-3 days.

    http://www.tickencounter.org/tick_testing

    Step 2 - IS IT INFECTED? TickEncounter now partners with UMass Laboratory of Medical Zoology and their TickReport.com to offer reliable, high quality tick testing with the lowest cost and fastest turn-around time in the industry.

Oh dear - It's a deer

On our first night at the beach house, Heather and I were returning from our evening walk on the beach sipping cocktails, talking about her move from New York to North Carolina, her health, and her new job.  We approach our driveway and what do we encounter - Bambi.  This young doe was as mesmerized  by us as we were of her.  I have to admit she was cute, but my association of deer with Heather's Lyme disease hits too close to home - literally.  We stood frozen and then Bambi ran back into the yard. 

We are still unsure where Heather encountered her tick.  I don't blame the deer, but I don't want them grazing so close to home.  This picture of Heather was taken on the upper deck of the beach house.  You can see all the wonderful vegetation that is home to many deer (and snakes). 

Speaking of Bambi - why are there so many sad Disney stories - Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo, Old Yeller.  I could go on.  Excellent movies, but some very sad scenes.  Everyone knows Bambi’s mom dies, yet it’s still unbelievably gut wrenching when watching it.  A parent sacrificing themselves for their child is the most noble way to die. Bambi’s reaction is the reason this scene is so sad. He thought they had gotten away from the hunter. Watching the slow realization that he was the only one to actually get away, is the stuff that tears are made from.  

Heather still remembers watching "Where the Red Fern Grows" when she was ten years old.   We were at the video store looking for a movie and Heather asked if this was a sad story.   The VHS box said "Where the Red Fern Grows is the heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages about a young boy and his quest for his own red-bone hound hunting dogs."  It didn't say anything about purchasing a box of Kleenex to go with this movie.   Spoiler alert......we cried.

Back to my dear deer.  The next morning I went to Home Depot to get stuff to spray around the property.  I purchased an OFF product that offers outdoor protection for up to 8 weeks against mosquitoes and 110+ other insects - including DEER TICKS.  I know the deer will still roam - and I am fine with that - but at least I feel I can maybe deter the deer ticks.

The bonus find was a product called "Snake B Gone".  The packaging caught my eye - it resembled the awful snake that I encountered in my house and on my deck.  Apparently you sprinkle it around your foundation and those lovely snakes will stay in the yard where they belong - not inside my house or my deck.  

I love this false sense of security that these two products offer.   I also felt somewhat empowered.  Bye bye ticks and snakes.

Three insecticides have been found to reduce tick infestation by 70 to 97 percent: chlorpyrifos (brand name: Dursban) or carbaryl (Sevin), which are available in liquid or granular forms at garden-supply stores; the other type, cyfluthrin (Tempo), is an insecticide available only from professionals in pest control.

Granular forms of insecticides are the easiest to use and can be applied like fertilizer to lawns and ornamental ground where people walk.  You'll need only two applications each year to do the trick. "One spray the first of June will eradicate 90 percent of ticks in the nymphal stage and another spray in late September will lead to an 80 percent reduction in remaining adult ticks,".

But are they safe? For a pesticide to kill ticks, it must be toxic to the tick. But just because a substance can kill an insect does not mean it's harmful to us. The tremendous difference in body weight between ticks and other animals or humans ensures safety if you follow label directions carefully.

Beach therapy

It’s hard for me to put into words why I like the beach so much. I do believe that the ocean heals the heart, mind, and soul.  I know that this "beach therapy" will be wonderful for Heather.  

The cottage was purchased in 1986 when Heather was four years old.   She was blessed with spending several weeks a year at this wonderful place.  The cottage is named Ducky Irene.   It is located near Duck North Carolina and the "Irene" was for my beautiful Grandmother.  Heather and I both have her middle name, but I also felt that this magical, peaceful place should be named after her.  One thing for sure, I never have to worry about any other cottage having this name. 

On one of my many walks on the beach, I collected shells to spell out Lyme.  My intention was to get a picture of the shells as the waves slowly washed over them.  Since I am a wanna be photographer I was trying to capture that artsy picture. 

There I am, sitting in the sand, spelling out Lyme and just before I could finish, a gentle wave would scatter my shells.  This happened several times before I realized that I needed to move back.  I know several people were watching from their beach chairs wondering what in the world this crazy beach lady was doing.   As I watched my "Lyme" wash away, I wished and hoped that the waves will also wash away Heather's Lyme disease. 

I have a good feeling about this summer.  I think this change will be good for Heather.  I read somewhere that at the beach we live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.   Pretty simple and oh so right.  Hello summer of 2015.

Deer ticks thrive in grassy areas that have low sunlight and high humidity. Woodlands and fields are prime habitats, but these ticks can also be found in the long grasses adjacent to beaches. The ticks are not confined to rural settings. In suburban areas, they can live in overgrown lawns, groundcover plants, and leaf litter.

The exact time of year for risk depends on a geographic region's seasons and how they affect the tick's breeding cycle. In general, the highest risk for Lyme disease onset is from June through August, and the lowest risk is from December through March.