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No work for me

Somerville

Somerville

DP Veteran
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Messages
18,582
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9,219
Location
On an island. Not that one!
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Socialist
No work for me for another couple weeks -- I had an encounter with a wood tick and am now enjoying the consequences of Lyme disease. Two weeks of an antibiotic have been prescribed and then another visit to the doctor. Yesterday, having a drink on our neighbour's porch, found out that he had enjoyed Lyme a couple years ago. Then during a visit to our island grocery store, chats with a couple friends was told that they had both enjoyed the disease and its consequences.

Humans can't pass it on so it is no problem interacting, but it - at least with me - takes away one's energy, to the extent there have been a couple days I didn't get out of bed except for toilet visits.

Any other DPers enjoy such bug bite results?
 
Well, that stinks...I just hope they caught it early, Somer, I've read there can be long term effects if not, some severe...no, I haven't had it but just wanted to say, "take care and take it easy...and take all your antibiotics...:)
 
Somerville said:
No work for me for another couple weeks -- I had an encounter with a wood tick and am now enjoying the consequences of Lyme disease. Two weeks of an antibiotic have been prescribed and then another visit to the doctor. Yesterday, having a drink on our neighbour's porch, found out that he had enjoyed Lyme a couple years ago. Then during a visit to our island grocery store, chats with a couple friends was told that they had both enjoyed the disease and its consequences.

Humans can't pass it on so it is no problem interacting, but it - at least with me - takes away one's energy, to the extent there have been a couple days I didn't get out of bed except for toilet visits.

Any other DPers enjoy such bug bite results?
Click to expand...
I haven't had Lyme, but years ago my sister had a friend who suffered from it for a long time and eventually died. Not sure exactly what was the cause of death in the end.

I hope you feel better soon, please take good care of yourself and take it easy. Hope you have a full recovery. Good luck.
 
I was bitten by a brown recluse 2 years ago - on the neck.
It could have been devastating. Sometimes the reaction to the venom results in catastrophic necrosis. And since it was my neck - yeah.
It was a scary few weeks not knowing if it was going to get bad or not.
Fortunately it only resulted in swelling and a small dot about the size of a pea that was necrosis.
 
iamwhatiseem said:
I was bitten by a brown recluse 2 years ago - on the neck.
It could have been devastating. Sometimes the reaction to the venom results in catastrophic necrosis. And since it was my neck - yeah.
It was a scary few weeks not knowing if it was going to get bad or not.
Fortunately it only resulted in swelling and a small dot about the size of a pea that was necrosis.u
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You were lucky. Funny, how our bodies react in such different ways to those nasty little bugs that get into our systems.

While living in Florida, I was bitten by a brown recluse, spent 3 days in hospital. After returning to work, one of the mechanics dropped by and asked where I had been.
"Got bit by a brown recluse, ended up in the hospital."

"Oh yeah, those little buggers can cause a problem." He leaned over and rolled up one pants leg and revealed a 'nice' little trench in his calf. "Got bit and didn't think anything about it until I was having trouble walking. By the time I made it to the doctor, the bite was gangrenous."
 
Somerville said:
You were lucky. Funny, how our bodies react in such different ways to those nasty little bugs that get into our systems.

While living in Florida, I was bitten by a brown recluse, spent 3 days in hospital. After returning to work, one of the mechanics dropped by and asked where I had been.
"Got bit by a brown recluse, ended up in the hospital."

"Oh yeah, those little buggers can cause a problem." He leaned over and rolled up one pants leg and revealed a 'nice' little trench in his calf. "Got bit and didn't think anything about it until I was having trouble walking. By the time I made it to the doctor, the bite was gangrenous."
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yeah... the Doc said after it was clear that my body was not going to eat itself there that it could have resulted in loss of my voice forever, and reconstructed throat/esophagus
And it was 100% a recluse, after it bit me it fell to the floor and I stomped on it. Didn't think anything till my wife started to freak out because my neck was turning beet red. Went to emergency room, with spider in tow. I pretty much knew it was a recluse, and they confirmed it.
Very damn lucky
 
BirdinHand said:
My husband had severe Lyme back in the early 90’s when it wasn’t something diagnosed as quickly as it is now.

He wound up hospitalized and getting IV antibiotics for a while.

He suffered no long term impacts.
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The female half of one of our closest couple friends contracted it about nine years ago. It wasn’t diagnosed soon enough and it affected her cognitive functioning. She was an extremely intelligent woman and it got so bad she had to take a break from work and her husband took a sabbatical to care for her. It was like a 50 year woman with significant dementia. It was sad and scary.

Eventually, she recovered—it took about two years—and is back to about as good as one could hope after where she was.

Needless to say, we are crazy vigilant about ticks now.
 
Somerville said:
No work for me for another couple weeks -- I had an encounter with a wood tick and am now enjoying the consequences of Lyme disease. Two weeks of an antibiotic have been prescribed and then another visit to the doctor. Yesterday, having a drink on our neighbour's porch, found out that he had enjoyed Lyme a couple years ago. Then during a visit to our island grocery store, chats with a couple friends was told that they had both enjoyed the disease and its consequences.

Humans can't pass it on so it is no problem interacting, but it - at least with me - takes away one's energy, to the extent there have been a couple days I didn't get out of bed except for toilet visits.

Any other DPers enjoy such bug bite results?
Click to expand...

Oh shit, that's bad. Giving you good energy.

I think my older brother, who goes deer hunting from time to time and spends time in the woods anyway, ended up getting a case last year. Was never confirmed but had some serious malaise for a while.
 
Thanks for all the nice words and expressed compassion about my silly problem. After finishing the antibiotic course, my doctor ordered an ECG, which turned out OK. Still a bit up and down as far as energy but looks like I'll be back to work next week.
 
Somerville said:
No work for me for another couple weeks -- I had an encounter with a wood tick and am now enjoying the consequences of Lyme disease. Two weeks of an antibiotic have been prescribed and then another visit to the doctor. Yesterday, having a drink on our neighbour's porch, found out that he had enjoyed Lyme a couple years ago. Then during a visit to our island grocery store, chats with a couple friends was told that they had both enjoyed the disease and its consequences.

Humans can't pass it on so it is no problem interacting, but it - at least with me - takes away one's energy, to the extent there have been a couple days I didn't get out of bed except for toilet visits.

Any other DPers enjoy such bug bite results?
Click to expand...


My niece's husband got hit so bad by it that he is now permanently disabled.
He can walk and function somewhat normally but he keeps having relapses of certain side effects from the infection and it caused him to get a medical discharge from the Army, and it has damaged his liver.
This guy was a six foot four "Greek god" kind of guy, and he was going to enjoy a long career in the military until this happened.
 
IMG_3959.webpIMG_6195.webpLyme Disease? Trippy T raises his hand: YEP; twice.

In 1981, spent 5.5 months hiking the Appalachian Trail 2100+ miles; not a single issue with a tick.

Summer 2001, took a family trip, at least a dozen people, to Outer Banks NC. Lots of woods, deers and ponies. Wood tick entered my body in a tender area behind my right knee. Didn’t think much about it. 2nd leg of that vacation, wife #1 and our two pre-teen daughters, transitioned to a Maryland cottage on the Chesapeake Bay. I started to itch, I mean like REALLY ITCH! Would rub my back against oak trees; hug oak trees.

Back to the point of tick entry: over the course of maybe ten days, spirally rashes spread up and down my right leg. I went to a walk-in clinic. No one diagnosed Lyme Disease. I took Benadryl and used calamine lotion. Finally, at home in Sarasota FL, a dermatologist determined Lyme Disease, prescribed an antibiotic. My body kicked out the worst of the symptoms in about four weeks. The palms of my hands looked blistery, like a snake shedding skin.

Three years later, during an 80mile hike in northern Georgia, I contracted Lyme Disease again; same point of tick entry, behind my right knee. Based on experience, much easier diagnosis the 2nd time. It took about the same amount of time to recover from the worst of the symptoms. My hands peeled again.

Now, 20 years later, nearing my 68th birthday, my back still itches, quite manageable with wife #2’s help. No other noticeable effects. Still maintain reasonably high energy levels.

Shrug. I don’t consider it a big deal. Obviously, it devastates some people.

What little I know about you: avid, experienced sailor (I sail too), strong mind and body, you live on an island of the coast of Maine and know how to avail yourself of medical care and resources, I predict you also make a substantial recovery. If any residual effects remain, you handle them in stride.

July 1981: Appalachian Trail photo near Shenandoah National Park VA
May 2024: Caribbean cruise photo w/ Ms. Trippy
 
Helix said:
Best wishes for a full recovery. I'm sorry that you're under the weather.
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We are enjoying unusually warm weather for Maine with an occasional thunderstorm. We've been staying with one of our daughters on the mainland while I've been recovering. Easier to make doctor visits when you don't have to catch a ferry 4-5 hrs before an appointment. We do have a nice medical system up here in the usually chilly North.

One problem, unrelated to the Lyme disease issue, is my issues with skin cancer - a result of some 20+ years sailing the oceans of the world. I see a dermatologist 3 times a year. Every visit, there are some small bits of skin that get removed though so far none have been extreme. So, another visit this coming Monday and there are a couple spots I know of and I'm sure the doctor will find a couple more.

Thanks for all the kind words. Greatly appreciated.
 
Somerville said:
We are enjoying unusually warm weather for Maine with an occasional thunderstorm. We've been staying with one of our daughters on the mainland while I've been recovering. Easier to make doctor visits when you don't have to catch a ferry 4-5 hrs before an appointment. We do have a nice medical system up here in the usually chilly North.

One problem, unrelated to the Lyme disease issue, is my issues with skin cancer - a result of some 20+ years sailing the oceans of the world. I see a dermatologist 3 times a year. Every visit, there are some small bits of skin that get removed though so far none have been extreme. So, another visit this coming Monday and there are a couple spots I know of and I'm sure the doctor will find a couple more.

Thanks for all the kind words. Greatly appreciated.
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My dad had to have a bit removed. It was probably related to years of farming in the sun. I am also from a "get that burn for your base tan" generation, so I'll have to keep an eye on my skin. Anyway, take care, rest up, and I hope that you're back up to full steam soon. Maine is a state that I would like to visit, but haven't yet. I need to put that one on the list.
 
Somerville said:
No work for me for another couple weeks -- I had an encounter with a wood tick and am now enjoying the consequences of Lyme disease. Two weeks of an antibiotic have been prescribed and then another visit to the doctor. Yesterday, having a drink on our neighbour's porch, found out that he had enjoyed Lyme a couple years ago. Then during a visit to our island grocery store, chats with a couple friends was told that they had both enjoyed the disease and its consequences.

Humans can't pass it on so it is no problem interacting, but it - at least with me - takes away one's energy, to the extent there have been a couple days I didn't get out of bed except for toilet visits.

Any other DPers enjoy such bug bite results?
Click to expand...


I am the outdoors. I live along the Pacific Coast in the Coastal Mountain range and spend, or used to, a lot of time in the wilderness. hiking,climbing, sailing, scuba diving and sometimes just camping out on a mountain top or a glacier.

Lyme disease is preventable with a simple application of bug repellent. Ticks go nearly dormant until their semi-conscious detects warmth through infrared receptors. If they land on a patch of skin with repellent they immediately hop off.

They are resilient creatures: "but their survivability against dehydration drops rapidly after 36 weeks of starvation." Wikipedia.

I feel for those who have it. I know people who have and it sucks. But we live in their world, not the other way around.
 
Fearandloathing said:
I am the outdoors. I live along the Pacific Coast in the Coastal Mountain range and spend, or used to, a lot of time in the wilderness. hiking,climbing, sailing, scuba diving and sometimes just camping out on a mountain top or a glacier.

Lyme disease is preventable with a simple application of bug repellent. Ticks go nearly dormant until their semi-conscious detects warmth through infrared receptors. If they land on a patch of skin with repellent they immediately hop off.

They are resilient creatures: "but their survivability against dehydration drops rapidly after 36 weeks of starvation." Wikipedia.

I feel for those who have it. I know people who have and it sucks. But we live in their world, not the other way around.
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You have never spent much time in the American South then. Growing up in Rural Arkansas, we would coat our legs with sevin dust in the summer anytime we were in the woods. Deet was next to useless against them. Even then, we would still be pulling ticks off of us. In Arkansas, by midsummer you can just brush up against some brush or tall grass and have hundreds of seed ticks on you.

I can honestly say that I have pulled thousands of ticks off me growing up. However, luckily, for some reason, where the ticks are the worst in the American South, Lyme disease is very uncommon. Up North, ticks are uncommon, but are much more apt to carry Lyme disease.
 
Helix said:
My dad had to have a bit removed. It was probably related to years of farming in the sun. I am also from a "get that burn for your base tan" generation, so I'll have to keep an eye on my skin. Anyway, take care, rest up, and I hope that you're back up to full steam soon. Maine is a state that I would like to visit, but haven't yet. I need to put that one on the list.
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get that burn for a base!

I am from Scandinavian and German stock. I burn easy. As a kid we spent summers at the pool. I’d come home with rainbow vision from all the chlorine and with what felt like walking pneumonia from all the pool water that was inadvertently sucked into my lungs. Back the next day and do it all over again. I started riding motorcycles early. By early May, I would look like a burn victim in the face and on the exposed forearms. Hopefully I can avoid the dermatologist until I can shuffle on. At my age, there are too many “ists” on my calendar!
 
Rexedgar said:
get that burn for a base!

I am from Scandinavian and German stock. I burn easy. As a kid we spent summers at the pool. I’d come home with rainbow vision from all the chlorine and with what felt like walking pneumonia from all the pool water that was inadvertently sucked into my lungs. Back the next day and do it all over again. I started riding motorcycles early. By early May, I would look like a burn victim in the face and on the exposed forearms. Hopefully I can avoid the dermatologist until I can shuffle on. At my age, there are too many “ists” on my calendar!
Click to expand...
I'm from pale and pasty Northern European stock, but I could tan pretty well as a kid. When I was twenty, I got a sunburn, and my first forehead lines came with it. I showed one of my dorm mates and said, "That will go away, right?" He just shook his head. He was right. I lost most of my enthusiasm for getting a tan after that.
 
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Helix said:
I'm from pale and pasty Northern European stock, but I could tan pretty well as a kid. When I was twenty, I got a sunburn, and my first forehead lines came with it. I showed one of my dorm mates and said, "That will go away, right?" He just shook his head. He was right. I lost most of my enthusiasm for getting a tan after that.
Click to expand...
I have the same affliction; worst burn of my life was in Hawaii when I spent all day snorkeling in Hanauma Bay.....I learned very quickly that water proof sunscreen isn't, and that water can act like a magnifying lens for UV rays.
My back looked like I had been laying on a skillet....that was the first and only time I had to seek medical attention for a sunburn.
 
Bum said:
I have the same affliction; worst burn of my life was in Hawaii when I spent all day snorkeling in Hanauma Bay.....I learned very quickly that water proof sunscreen isn't, and that water can act like a magnifying lens for UV rays.
My back looked like I had been laying on a skillet....that was the first and only time I had to seek medical attention for a sunburn.
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I think that my worst one was in Delaware. While I was recovering, my mom told me about her dad's worst sunburn that put their vacation on pause. My worst beach experience, though, was almost drowning during the 1988 presidential race. I tried to Boogie board a wave that was way too big when there was a storm out at sea. I know that it was the 1988 race because I was laid up for a couple days watching it on tv. I was telling my kiddo about it last night. I had a vacation friend who saw it happen and was swimming around looking for me when I didn't come up. I think that I probably owe him one.
 
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