Daydream fund challenge part 4

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

[slaps head dramatically]

ID'd a bug I pinged off my arm yesterday. It was a hard tick (yuk). I didn't give it a chance to formally identify itself by its actions, so didn't think much of it until internetting. Further descent into the morass that is the internet later and this dozy cow has just realised I've been bitten by tiny red ticks several times and had a 'characteristic bullseye rash' on my legs with them. In areas known to harbour them and their nasty little diseases. And had symptoms to boot.


Apart from the fact I'm obviously an utter moron and shouldn't be allowed out in public without an escort, anybody else have suggestions on how not to be regarded by an inner city GP as stark raving mad if I mention this?

alfie_1

You know that voice parents, teachers and dog owners get - the one that comes from the very depths of their being/the bowels of the Earth, and generally involves an arm shot out at light speed to restrain the errant child from dismembering themselves or said hound halts in his tracks as though he's been struck by lightning?


oh that did make me laugh [still is] I know exactly that "voice" having 8 dogs under my control and 3 gardeners coming into view at work !! one of which [knee high to a grass hopper but ankle height !one of the dogs not a gardener !!!] leads the assault as if it was waterloo... ive armed them with small water pistols now so bit like the ok corrall !!


just finished sorting the holiday lets which started as one house, then the annex cottage and now a gurt big YURT gone up in the grounds !!........:eek:
just off to see dad and then mum with shopping inbetween..


got to go look for a new matress tomorrow [mums birthday treat to me] but how does one know if it is sleepable on by just laying on it in the shop :cool:


lovely day here....so far


have a good weekend peeps

DaftyDuck

No problem, they'll take you seriously. There is an easy (and cheap) blood test. Finding it in the early stages is important, so do go. However, the vast majority of tick bites that also leave red weals are nothing to do with Lyme's, so sleep easy this weekend. But do get a blood test.

ukmaggie45

DaftyDuck wrote: »

No problem, they'll take you seriously. There is an easy (and cheap) blood test. Finding it in the early stages is important, so do go. However, the vast majority of tick bites that also leave red weals are nothing to do with Lyme's, so sleep easy this weekend. But do get a blood test.

The blood test isn't that reliable. But the bullseye rash itself is diagnostic. Jojo The Tightfisted you need a course of antibiotics as soon as possible. Get to see your GP as soon as you can.

I "diagnosed" (I am not a doctor) a friend with Lyme some years ago. He went to his GP who insisted he needed the blood test before he/she would treat him. I sent friend a link to an article in (I think) the Scottish Medical Journal, which indicated that the bullseye rash was diagnostic. Unfortunately I think the article is now behind a paywall, haven't been able to find it online for ages. I'll have another look and get back if I find it. My friend made a complete recovery after a course of antibiotics you'll be pleased to hear!

In the meantime you might find this of interest. Or this.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

The blood test isn't that reliable. But the bullseye rash itself is diagnostic. Jojo The Tightfisted you need a course of antibiotics as soon as possible. Get to see your GP as soon as you can.

I "diagnosed" (I am not a doctor) a friend with Lyme some years ago. He went to his GP who insisted he needed the blood test before he/she would treat him. I sent friend a link to an article in (I think) the Scottish Medical Journal, which indicated that the bullseye rash was diagnostic. Unfortunately I think the article is now behind a paywall, haven't been able to find it online for ages. I'll have another look and get back if I find it. My friend made a complete recovery after a course of antibiotics you'll be pleased to hear!

In the meantime you might find this of interest. Or this.

Thank you - I'll try to get an appointment for next week - the average waiting time is about three and a half weeks at present, though.

I haven't got any bites/bullseyes at present, I'm just realising that I've had them at least five times over the last 10-15 years - and, stupid idiot that I am, I remember at least one had a tiny red dot in the centre that I thought was a thorn or some sort of bloodspot/scab but wouldn't come off/out. So from shortly before the point at which I was diagnosed with a return of RA and tendon inflammation :cool:. This *might* be relevant to why despite blood levels showing very elevated immune activity and swollen joints, there's no evidence of bony damage on x-ray. And I do have swollen glands in my neck that aren't going down...

I shall try and see the Polish GP, as she seems a lot less keen to get you out of the room as soon as you walk in. And, going by the state of the battered waterproof walking jacket that's always hanging on the back of her door, I think she might be a Dog and Countryside Type.


On the subject, I'm off to a festival in a field this weekend to sell band merchandise, and might be working for the Press Office at another one in a fortnight/inc camping. Both in stereotypical sheepy/livestock/deer areas.

Any recommendations for the best/easiest tick removal gadgets? I'm thinking the metal ones like flattened tweezers might be better for the teeny tiny beasties than the big plastic things you twist. Just so I'm prepared.

DaftyDuck

It's not quite my research specialisation (of ten years ago), but it's pretty close (bloodsucking insects, and the parasitic diseases and infections that result)!

I can say that the current blood testing procedure is actually fairly accurate, when correctly administered. There are a very large number of commercial concerns suggesting it isn't, and that they can do better - believe me, they can't! They can relieve the hypochondriac (as well as the justly-concerned) of quite a portion of their wealth to offer alternative (and rather more dubious) testing and treatment. The internet is alive with scare-mongering on Lyme's. It is a problem, don't misunderstand me. I am, however, aware that a large number of people who are convinced they do have it do not, and never have.

The bullseye rash is not diagnostic, although it is highly indicative. Even the NHS overdiagnoses on this basis. The blood test is certainly more accurate than presence or absence of rash. However, an overall examination, including symptom evaluation and testing, will probably be offered.


Jojo: you might have it; you most probably haven't. However, for sure, see a doctor sooner rather than later. If they are unconvinced, you can always request a blood test, or a referral.

Most of the tick-removal gadgets that work on the basis of small forks, where you then gently rotate the head to remove the tick are excellent. Any of the fleabay ones are as good as the other, and having several dotted around the car/rucksack/shower is probably better than one "posh" one.

Lyme's is still fairly localised, and even living in the heart of one of the hotspots, I still know of very few people who have contracted it.

I have.

Oh, if you do get it, and are treated.... you'll be prescribed one of the antibiotics whose safety regulation is controlled by my wife, only ten yards away.... Now, that is scary! :eek:

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

It hadn't occurred to me at all until I started doing the conservation work. Then the info they gave got me thinking, as they've got 3 people who were diagnosed last summer, I've got 2 friends who live a mile away on antibiotics for it right now and, along with my usual interest in finding out what bird/bug/plant I spotted, that's how I got dragged down the rabbit hole.

I'm not particularly worried, just annoyed that even with textbook symptoms, including one where I went to the previous GP, it never occurred to anybody, least of all me, that the bullseye rash was a bullseye rash. :wall:

Small collection of tick forks are now on order - home, another set when out doing the conservation/camping thing and one set in with the cat stuff just in case they bring some visitors home (we do get hedgehogs, there's a fox earth with young 10 foot from the front door, and there are lots of birds including pigeons in the garden, plus all the squeaking varmits the Idiot Cat brings in).

It'll be like when the offspring first brought home nits. I'd never had them, itched and freaked out the first time - by the third time in three weeks, I didn't really care anymore and just got on with evicting them.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Morning all

Well the 19 piglets want on their way on Thursday to north wales..

So now we can have time out at the BULLDOG BASH next week!!!

When I come back going to get for used on Gerri g the polytunnel up and running. So will order the clamps that is needed and the plastic the week after.

House is still at a stand still. So unless I win the lottery or a long lost relative has left me loads of money in a will lol then there is no plans for the forseeable for the house . But we are going extend one of the pig sheds..

Still living between house and caravan
Weather has been totally pants .

EBay has slowed down over the last day or two. But do gets crossed it will be pick up after next week.

Davesnave

We are still getting a steady small income from sales, CTC, but it comes in bursts. For instance, we had very little all week, and then £35 on Friday.:D Yesterday was quiet.:(

We really need to alter the sales space, which is small. We've learned that although people will stop their vehicles, they're reluctant to come in, so it has to be 'out front.' We put things on the roadside verge. which is technically the council's, but as the leader of the council buys from there, I don't think that's an issue! However, there's not much of it.

What there is, is a wall, which is ours, but it marks the entrance to the barn complex and most people there probably think it's theirs (!) At some point we'll lower the wall, build a second one behind it and join the two with paving slabs on top to make a broad selling space at the right height.:D

.......That probably won't go down well though.

At present, when we have a lot, we put a table in the entrance splay in front of our wall. Again the barn people probably think the roadway there is theirs, but it's actually part of the council roadway and, ideally, I'd rather not stick anything on it.


Doing gate sales isn't as straightforward as we first imagined.

EDIT: £30 up to lunchtime today. Dunno why. Sundays are usually very quiet here. :beer:

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Don't think we have ever done a gate sale. Tell a lie... someome bought some piglets from us for their smallholding. And someone told them about us.

When we do go to the little poultry auction we do well with plants and we enter into the auction.., also been doing well on eBay with certain plants. Don't make much. But it's a few pennies..

So fingers crossed next year we will have some gate sales.