I just scanned this slide of me (I'm the big one) with my cousins today and my first thought was, the good old days, when we didn't have any ticks to worry about. Then I saw an article about a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine this morning. It found that long-term (12 weeks) antibiotic therapy doesn't help Lyme symptoms. I can't say I'm surprised, as so few people on Lyme message boards ever seem to get completely well. The study concluded:
"On one side of the schism stands the evidence, which grows stronger by the day, that persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease are not amenable to longer antibiotic therapy; and on the other, there is a multitude of patients suffering from debiliating neurologic, cognitive, musculoskeletal or even multisystemic symptoms. Standing witness at the tug of war between these two sides, we still do not have an answer."
I'm on long-term antibiotics, and I hate it. They mess with my good bacteria, despite taking probiotics, and deplete my serotonin, draining my energy and enthusiasm. No fun. And I haven't noticed any improvement in my symptoms, which are mostly neurological (thanks to being bitten in the back of my neck). So I won't be sorry to stop, but I wish there were an answer to "Now what?"
The outdoors has always called to me this time of year. I love living close to nature, and I love growing things. But after six bites last year, despite all sorts of precautions, and numerous bites in previous years, my beautiful property no longer welcomes me. It has become a threat.
12 comments:
Those ticks frightens me. It sounds like the medical personal are not making headways with finding a cure for those afflicted.
Hugs,
JB
At least it's getting some attention now, for the first time. Stay tick-free, Julia. :-)
It's too bad you can't get your family to all move to a part of the country where there aren't ticks. I saw this article a while ago and saved it for you ... http://www.nature.com/news/new-cause-for-lyme-disease-complicates-already-murky-diagnosis-1.19393 ... not very helpful, I fear.
Thanks, Crystal. Maybe Alaska will remain tick-free for the foreseeable future, but I'm afraid that's about it. The ticks have been proliferating the map. They are on the move.
Yeah, pretty scary. I"m afraid I'm a bit blase (or just in denial) about it--I never search myself for ticks after hiking, despite living in an area where Borrelia burgdorferi are endemic... but I keep hearing very scary stories about people with Lyme Disease. Apparently there was a vaccine against it at one time, although I have no idea how effective it was. I imagine there would be much higher demand for it now, so I wonder if some company will start manufacturing it again?
http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/vaccine.html
I'm glad it's getting some attention at the CDC. Finally. I think they're gonna have to come up with a different vaccine though. For one thing, although the manufacturer cited lack of interest, I heard there were other issues with it. And for another, Lyme isn't the only disease carried by deer ticks. I think they've identified six so far.
Maybe you have a chemistry that's not attractive to ticks. I, on the other hand, am apparently tick candy.
Do mosquitoes like you? They don't like me, so maybe there's something to your chemistry theory. In which case, I spot a potential prophylactic...
I think they do like me, Helen. When I was a kid summering on Long Island I was absolutely covered with mosquito bites all season. As I recall, I used to count them and announce the number with some pride. Please share the prophylactic!
This is all so scary. Last year I had a couple of ticks and hadn't had any since I was a kid—and back then it was the bigger kind, not these teensy deer ticks. It's scary. Sometimes now I can't tell if this tiny spot here or there is a tick or a blemish... Very scary stuff.
Yes, it's relatively recent. I remember the larger dog ticks from years back--but they liked dogs. Now that they've discovered deer tick larvae can transmit infection, the scary factor has been upped even further.
Oh, the potential prophylactic is just a hare-brained idea at the moment, something along the lines of fiddling with people's "chemistry." I do think it would be great if someone were to invent a tick sensor, since they are so difficult to spot on one's body (and what if they're in your hair?).
It's quite sad to read about how your views of your home have changed.And I'm sorry for the emotional and physical challenges you're facing, Susan...
Thanks, Helen. A friend just messaged me that she found two ticks feeding on her stomach today. I hear about new cases of tick-borne illness all the time--and it's only April. May is Lyme Awareness Month. Maybe I'll get myself a pair of waders . . .
Post a Comment