04/27/2018
one post was REALLY informative, please read it!! And if you simply squeeze the body of the tick to remove it...you've squeezed the gut contents BACK into your bloodstream. The gut is where tickborne diseases are harboured, like some of the 100 strains of Lyme worldwide. Also, Bartonella, Babesia, and other new diseases like Powassan that can be deadly in a short amount of time.
I grew up on a farm, hiking woods and creekbeds, fishing and hunting, was an outdoor girl who continued the hunt, fish, hike, camp plus garden life.
When your immune system is strong it may fight against these pathogens for years. Findings show some of them lie dormant for years or decades. The verdict is still out on much of this and doctors and scientists now say it is a very controversial phenomenon...tick disease and it's testing and treatment.
So, take note. Prevention is key. Avoid the bite. If a tick is attached do NOT squeeze or pull with fingers. Some say don't even touch ticks with a "naked" hand.
I thought it is no big deal.
I've had so much damage from tick disease...heart irregularities, paralysis, hearing loss, thyroid issues, joint and other severe pain, Neuro involvement. Extreme weakness. Disabling illness.
Lyme specifically is a spiral bacteria (spirochete) that can drill into any body tissue and eat through like Swiss cheese. Some people do die from it...Some are horribly disabled by it.
I'm 17 years in and completely changed my life. Lost my job. Changed my kid's lives. I seldom drive due to dizzy spells and brain fog.
It's not just a lil "bug" anymore. Ticks are now called nature's dirty needles.
They harbor so much disease and are so hearty and resilient, military/government has admitted using for bioweapon research during wartime. (WW2, specifically German scientists).
The U.S. borrowed this thought and has conducted much of this "study".
Ticks with various diseases are spreading through the U.S. and other countries. Bird migration is said to be a big transport.
Sadly, most Americans are unaware.
The CDC had tried to track tick disease, especially Lyme. They now admit they underscored it by 90% .
What they thought was 30 Thousand new cases every year in the U.S. is actually 300,000 and growing. CDC, up til a few years ago admitted an average of 15% do not get well from the conventional Lyme treatments. That's 45 THOUSAND + people a year that end up like me.
Testing is horrible for false negatives, and you are asked to test during a VERY short window of a few weeks in order to get more accurate testing. (3 to 6 weeks after suspected ttransmission). The test is an antibody one...If tested too early, antibodies will not show up. If tested too late, the stealth pathogen can fool or disable the immune system. Many do not develop the classic bullseye rash. Many don't remember seeing a tick Because they can be SO tiny. As "babies", they can be the size of a period at the end of a sentence.
Much is to be learned. We can expect to find and HOPE to find future advancements.
A new vaccination is being formulated but unless they can conquer all tick diseases and ALL strains of Lyme, it's not looking good.
The first vax failed.
Prevention is the best bet.
Large and small animal vets understand. It's everywhere and can be very debilitating.
It can take down an elk and kill off herds.
Ticks are a menace and clearly not just a nuisance "bug".
