Watch out for Ticks!
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phillygui
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« on: June 24, 2008, 10:13:32 AM »
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.  Grin
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fishnchips
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« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2008, 10:22:36 AM »
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.
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« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2008, 11:04:19 AM »
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.
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Rico
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« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2008, 11:28:13 AM »
Quote from: phillygui on June 24, 2008, 10:13:32 AM
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.  Grin

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.
« Last Edit: June 24, 2008, 11:29:53 AM by RicoCPA » Logged
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phillygui
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« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2008, 12:43:52 PM »

[\quote]

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.


[/quote]
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).
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Rico
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« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2008, 01:12:41 PM »
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.
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stymie
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« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2008, 03:11:10 PM »
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  Shocked


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 Cheesy

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.
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« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2008, 05:51:33 PM »
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? 
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Rico
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« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2008, 09:10:59 AM »
Jon, from what I have heard you are correct.  The bullseye is from the bite and not necessarily a sign of having the disease.
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DannyC21
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« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2008, 09:43:49 AM »
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. 
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Rico
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« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2008, 10:11:38 AM »
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.
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phillygui
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« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2008, 11:10:33 AM »
Quote from: Rico on June 25, 2008, 09:10:59 AM
Jon, from what I have heard you are correct.  The bullseye is from the bite and not necessarily a sign of having the disease.
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!
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jpearce
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« Reply #12 on: June 25, 2008, 12:49:52 PM »
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.
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Rico
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« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2008, 01:55:54 PM »
Yeah, that is what I think I bought in CVS.

Check it out here:

http://www.tecnuextreme.com/
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #14 on: June 25, 2008, 02:20:55 PM »
Quote
there's stuff called Tecnu that's supposed to prevent it if you smeer it on you before you go out.

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.
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« Reply #15 on: June 25, 2008, 02:31:59 PM »
Quote
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.
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halfLoop
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« Reply #16 on: June 26, 2008, 12:56:19 PM »
I'd stay away from sand unless the bike is a rental  Wink
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bonkers
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« Reply #17 on: June 26, 2008, 07:46:59 PM »
Yeah I wouldn't mess with the sand on your ride Danny.. sand gets in everywhere... EVERYWHERE....
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DannyC21
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« Reply #18 on: June 26, 2008, 09:56:07 PM »
Thanks guys.  I will avoid the dunes. 

I'll be out for the next week. 

Have fun riding everyone.   Cry   
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dieselkarl
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« Reply #19 on: June 26, 2008, 10:24:22 PM »
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. 
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halfLoop
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« Reply #20 on: July 01, 2008, 12:42:23 PM »
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.
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« Reply #21 on: July 01, 2008, 12:47:53 PM »
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.
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« Reply #22 on: July 01, 2008, 09:24:12 PM »
Yep same here... must have gotten it trouncing around ripping out devil's walking stick...  I generally don't get PI, too!
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squads
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« Reply #23 on: July 02, 2008, 01:27:47 PM »
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.
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Dmitri
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« Reply #24 on: July 02, 2008, 03:33:06 PM »
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
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phillygui
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« Reply #25 on: July 02, 2008, 04:21:55 PM »
Quote from: Dmitri on July 02, 2008, 03:33:06 PM
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?
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« Reply #26 on: July 02, 2008, 04:25:36 PM »
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 eryt