Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association - Forums

Hey I just wanted to let everyone know that I recently got Lyme Disease (from Belmont I believe).  I got home from riding about 3 weeks go and my girl spotted a tick on my hip. I flushed it, and forgot about it. Well about a week after that I got a small rash on my hip, which grew to the size of a football with a red mark in the middle. The rash had a red ring outline. I didnt know what it was, and then it dawned on me that it was Lyme Disease. I got some medicine, which is the same stuff they use for malaria. I didnt get any symptoms, except the rash and my joints were achy. I would have never known what it was, and it can be a really serious disease. So please check for ticks when you are done riding, and if you get any rashes, dont be so quick to blame that girl (or guy) you took home from the bar.  ;D

good reminder.

I don't know if the bite and rash itself automatically means Lyme's but it's good to have a dose of antibiotics just in case. And I'd also go back 3 or 6 months down the road and check for the Lyme's again. Often it doesn't show up for a few months.

Yea good call. I got the Lymes. A few months ago a bruise appeared near my airpit. I don't bruise so I got checked out and sure enough it was lymes. I had the aches and feel lathargic sometimes but otherwise I got it treated before it got serious.

Did you get this diagnosis from a doctor?  Just checking because you never mentioned going to a Dr.  If you didn't I would definitely go and get checked out.  If you did, do what Jesse said and go back and get checked out again in 3 to 6 months.



I just bought OFF repellant last night, which is supposed to help deter ticks, among other insects. 

Wear repellant and always have someone help check out out after a ride.

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Did you get this diagnosis from a doctor?  Just checking because you never mentioned going to a Dr.  If you didn't I would definitely go and get checked out.  If you did, do what Jesse said and go back and get checked out again in 3 to 6 months.



I just bought OFF repellant last night, which is supposed to help deter ticks, among other insects. 

Wear repellant and always have someone help check out out after a ride.


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Rico, yea I had a doc check it out. It is too early for it to show up, but it was pretty obvious that it was Lymes. Thanks though. I have a prescription for it so I should be okay.  I will def be keeping an eye on my mood and symptoms. Yea I have been rocking the OFF since this happened (should have been doing it all along).

Hopefully everything will turn out okay. 

Everytime I finish a ride, I'm thinking to myself, are there any ticks on me?  I should have brought some insect repellant.

I was in CVS last night and there was a end cap full of all different kinds, so I finally remembered to get some.

Wow - I was just thinking about posting a thread about ticks and Lyme disease.

Check out this week's edition of the Philadelphia Weekly (PW). There is an interesting article regarding the disease and how hopeless the majority of medicos are in recognising/treating it.

The bottom line is you should be on antibiotics for at least 4 weeks, preferably 6 weeks, or you risk not completely eradicating the bugs. If you feel your doctor is apathetic/clueless, find a doctor who is clued-in on Lyme disease. Sounds like the long-term consequences of an untreated infection can be pretty brutal.

Also remember, not everyone develops the bulls-eye rash! So if you are bitten and develop symptoms, insist on getting a blood test. The problem is if you don't know you have been bitten, so keep in mind any weird aches/pains/fevers that cannot be explained  :o


That being said, I am really lax in checking myself after riding, so I'll have to step-up on that front. I'll be spraying down with DEET before rides now, too.

I found a tick burrowed behind my knee a couple of years ago. Like others, I'm pretty sure it was from Belmont. That is one of the reasons I prefer Wissahickon - Belmont is a lot more overgrown, so I figure more chances to come in contact with foliage and ticks. There are enough dogs walking through Wissahickon that I figure they soak up all the ticks for me :D

Has anyone picked up a tick from Wissahickon, and did it progress to Lymes? Even though deer are carriers, there are several other mammals (including some mice) that carry it. I'm sure the deer-cull helps to an extent.

I had a tick bite last fall at Wiss that showed up on my stomach with the bullseye pattern.  Got to the doc within 2 days and got on Doxycycline (I think).  Never had a problem, but I understand that it can crop up any time.  I also think that the bullseye is from the bite and not necessarily symptomatic of Lymes, right? 

Jon, from what I have heard you are correct.  The bullseye is from the bite and not necessarily a sign of having the disease.

Not to purposely hijack this post, but since we are on the topic of Ticks I might as well ask about another problem we riders face - Poison Ivy or poison anything.

I used to get Poison Ivy breakouts when I was camping as kid, and just this week I noticed a small breakout on my knee.  I'm treating it now, but is there anything you guys do to help prevent that?  I know its not as serious as Lyme disease, but it sure is an annoyance. 

And no, I'm not wearing pants on 80+ degree days. 

I definitely agree with everyone's opinions on Ticks.  Bug Spray has become part of my pack now that the fooliage is back. 

I picked up some topical ointment that is supposed to remove the oils from poison ivy, oak, etc. from your skin if you have come in contact with it.  I forget the name of it, but if you go to CVS it is with the rest of the poison ivy treatment items.

From what I know, the bullseye is from the bite, but it IS symptomatic of the disease. This is a quote from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website:
"A key component of early diagnosis is recognition of the characteristic Lyme disease rash called erythema migrans. This rash often takes a bull's-eye appearances and is observed in about 80% of Lyme disease patients."
So you might not get the rash, and never know you had Lyme. It happened to both my Dad and Uncle. I am just happy to make people aware. And after all this, I was still riding Belmont last night and forgot OFF!

Thanks for the clarification.  Hopefully I got it treated in time and won't have any long-term effects. 

Re poison ivy - there's stuff called Tecnu that's supposed to prevent it if you smeer it on you before you go out.  I've used it occasionally but can't vouch for its effectiveness.  The reports about it are pretty good, though.

Yeah, that is what I think I bought in CVS.

Check it out here:

http://www.tecnuextreme.com/ (http://www.tecnuextreme.com/)

Tecnu works well. I go through tons of this stuff. But, you are not suppose to smear it on before, you are suppose to wash off with it after exposure. I keep it in the shower and use it when I get back from a ride. Generally I just scrub my arms, legs, face and neck, unless I've been doing trail work then I basically take a bath in it all over. The sooner you wash off with it the better.

Also for Poison Ivy, 99% Isopropyl alcohol will dry it up unless it's a real bad infection. I have had poison ivy to the point were I had to go to the hospital three times. It was nasty.

Ouch.  I've been to the doctor for it before, but never the hospital.

Yea I think my leg rubbed against some because the break out is just on my right knee (at least for now).  I made sure not scratch it to much because I don't want them to open up and spread.  I bought Calamine lotion this morning.  Hopefully that will do the trick and I won't have to worry abou after a few days.  I go on vacation on Friday, the last thing I need is a real bad poison ivy outbreak

(ps, has anyone ridden on sand dunes before?  If not, I'll let you know how it panes out.  I guess this is what happens after you've been riding for a little while.  your fam asks you to bring the bike on vacation to ride from the house to the beach and all you can think about is where can I take the thing off-road.) 

I will definitely pick up this Tecnu stuff.  Sounds like it is really helpful.

I'd stay away from sand unless the bike is a rental  ;)

Yeah I wouldn't mess with the sand on your ride Danny.. sand gets in everywhere... EVERYWHERE....

Thanks guys.  I will avoid the dunes. 

I'll be out for the next week. 

Have fun riding everyone.   :'(   

Dealing with a case of the poison ivy myself now- it sucks - I used to be immune, I guess that's not the case.  Tecnu is good when you first suspect or know you came into contact - not so great a couple of days down the road.  REI's  got a ton of different tecnu products.  I have to say that the tecnu anti itch gel is bollocks.  Don't waste your cash.  Go for the good stuff and get benadryl cream.  If it's still bugging you, take some benadryl caplets and perhaps you won't fantasize about skinning yourself with a bowie for relief. 

Aaarrrggg!!!

Just came down with poison ivy Sunday ~ another option via your doctor is methylprednisolone which is a 6-day dose pack and great if you've got a bad case.

Me too!!! I got it on Saturday at our work day. Hard to avoid it when you're working on the trails. I am in an all out galactic battle with it right now to prevent it from spreading. Sometimes when I get it, I have a hard time getting rid of it.

Yep same here... must have gotten it trouncing around ripping out devil's walking stick...  I generally don't get PI, too!

as for ticks in the Wissahickon...I picked one up a couple weeks ago.  I found it the next day feasting on my inner thigh.  I got him out clean but there is still a very small bump in that spot...no rash.  I'm wondering if I should see a doctor about it.  I haven't had any unusual tiredness or aches and pains.

I've picked up a couple of ticks before in Belmont, but caught them before they had a chance to bite.

Latest vicitm here...

Never saw the tick itself, but developed large red spot last week, which became classic bulls-eye pattern yesterday, got prescription for antibiotics today.

No major pain yet, but feeling like crap overall, very much like flu, runny nose, stuffy sinuses, watery eyes, slugishness... hoping catching it early and getting treatment right away will take care of it for good...

damn...

dz

Sorry to hear that. I was feeling like crap before, but am starting to feel better. Hopefully you will too. Its tough to remember to take those meds. Did you get it at Wiss or Belmont?

no idea where or when exactly i got bit.

the rash appeared last week. researching it now i see that "The incubation period from infection to onset of erythema migrans is typically 7 to 14 days but may be as short as 3 days and as long as years."

erythema migrants - is the name for the rash

so i might've been bit any time in the past. I know i've been bit on the stomach about a month, month and a half ago, but the rash appeared in a different spot, making me believe it a separate incident.

I also learned that in 50% or more cases there is no tell-tell sign bulls eye rash... it all adds up to one big case of suck when it comes to lyme....  >:(

dz

Sorry to hear that Dimitri :(

Was your doctor sympathetic? How long are you on antibiotics for? From what I have read, there does not appear to be a universal/consistent standard of treatment.

I've started spraying myself down with sweat-resistent OFF (15% DEET) before I head out. It smells weird and burns a little, but it will hopefully help keep any unwanted ticks off.

10 days 3 pills per day...

I'm reading that the oral antibiotics treatments range from 10 to 28 days, seems like lately most docs agree on 10-14 range being the best option. I wish he ordered 14 days to be safe, but he said given that I caught it early, 10 should be good.

How about others, Tom, Lou others? How long and which antibiotics have you taken?

I'm on amoxicillin

I see that other common ones are : doxycycline and cefuroxime axetil

The Philadelphia Weekly article argued that at least 4 and preferably 6 weeks of treatment! This was based on ILADS recommendations:

http://ilads.org/guidelines.html

From what I can tell, 15% DEET is not really going to do much to repel the ticks. Need to find something stronger - 30% and above - ouch. In addition, many recommend spraying clothes and camelbaks with permethrin spray (not to be used on skin). It repels and kills ticks on contact, and will remain active in treated clothing for many weeks, and through many wash cycles.

That sucks D. I was on the doxycycline I think...I don't really remember. I was on it for 10 days. I caught it early but never even saw the tick. Only symtoms I've experienced is aches and feeling lathargic, like real bad, like there were a couple of days when I did not have it in me to do anything, which for those of you who know me well, you know that is wierd. I have not had any symptoms lately so I'm hoping the worst is behind me. As much time as I spend in the woods I always figured it was just a matter of time before I got the Lymes.

That sounds like some nasty stuff!

ugggh... that sucks dimitri!

on the poison front. i think everyone knows but it bears repeating:

the oils stayon your clothes gloves whatever. if you notrice poison ivy or even think you may have come in contact with it WASH EVERYTHING.

i used to get it pretty bad and i think it was mostly due to my gloves that i wiped sweat off with (after they must have come in contact with the nesty sh!t).

nowadays if i fall in the bushes or feel like i even may have gotten brushed with it everything i wore goes in the wash.

i have had poison like 5-6 times this year but so far it has always been really small isolated spots.

once you have it you know what fels good? hot water (as hot as you can stand) right on the rash. hold your affected parts under it until you feel the itch start to to go away. it does better than any cream i have ever tried but doesn't last too long.

I'll challenge the notion of hot water - feels good no doubt.  However, your pores open up wide.  Ice cold water is better for getting rid of the oils - keeps it on the surface as the skin pores clamp shut, letting the surfactants in the tecnu or soap do their job more effeciently.

Karl is right..but I agree with Max on the "feels good" of the hot water. I do it. Can't help it. I even found another positive side effect of the hot water.

If you run the hot water and it feels good then you know you're infected on that spot. Helps to pinpoint location of the infection if it's early and the rash has not started yet. I do try to rinse off the Tecnu with cool water though once I've found the infection...This time I got sloppy. Did not take action fast enough to get rid of it, now it's up and down both my arms and on my face. Dam! I believe that I spread the oils on the door of my truck on Sat, then when I drove my truck on Monday. Bam!! Contact. We've got the poison. I went out and rubbed my truck down with isopropyl alcohol..but alas. It's too late.

Being from Australia, people often freak out about Australian venomous critters, but I'd take them any day over ticks and poison ivy!

Hope everyone heals up fast! I'm bathing in DEET before, and Tecnu after, every ride!  ;D

Yea it's nasty out there. mother nature and all... What does it mean when deet burns? I use it but am always worried that I'm doing worse damage... Anyone?

" ...you can die walkin your doggie...! "

quote: Al Pacino -Heat

 :-\

I've been complaining about getting Poison Ivy everytime i ride Belmont.  I come home and shower up and even tried Tecnu after. I think the problem is the oil has been on me too long by the time I get home.  So I found these at the supermarket:

http://www.cortaid.com/prod_ivy_toxin_removal.jsp

Its like a giant moist towelette....  So i wiped my legs off with it right after being in the woods on Thursday and no new infections. However I got it on my arm...doh.  Not sure about it's effectiveness but I'm going to stick with it for a while and see how it goes...

I think the best thing after you already get blisters is what Max said. Shower with soap and hot water then calamine lotion to keep it from weeping and spreading.

Fortunately I don't seem that susceptible to poison ivy. But also I often wear full pads and they pretty much cover everything but my forearms.

Obviously you don't want to wear full pads, but it would be great if you could wear something that would breath and still protect. You could try stockings and set a new trend?  ;D   

I'm wondering too if a good sunscreen would help act as a barrier...

I could cover myself in oatmeal... that way i also have trail food.  ;D

I think I've just found my new inspiration to ride faster Wednesdays!  ;D

Primal Wear (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/OW602D00-Primal+Wear+Tattoo+Arm+Warmers.aspx)

Just saw this:

Repellents play an integral part in your personal protection strategy. Repellents containing DEET are not sufficient to protect against tick bites. DEET only repels ticks to areas where they could bite and even that little protection does not last long. PERMETHRIN kills ticks on contact. Clothing only repellents that contain Permethrin are very effective and provide long-lasting protection. The best protection you can achieve is by using a repellent that contains Permethrin on your clothes and one that contains DEET for your skin.

Good info on this site.

http://www.tickencounter.org/

Good post Rico.  Thats interesting and good to know