Tick Bites. ?

[Brad]

You don't want to pull a tick out with anything that will squeeze it, or it will inject the tic's body fluid into the bite. Heres how I remove ticks, and it works!!! Take about three feet of thread or light weight fishing line... Tie a loose half hitch in it... slip the knot over the tick, and then tighten it close to the skin, so it is choking the @*&%# out of the tick. Then pull lightly... not hard... lightly. Eventually, like about 30 seconds or less, the tick will give up and let go. With this method the tic is removed head in tact, and it can't excreate nasty stuff into the wound. I have used this method for over 30 years, and it works every time.

Guys,

I would recommend that you treat your clothes with a product called PERMANONE. You spray it on your clothing and boots and such. DO NOT!!! spray on your skin. It contains permethrin. It lasts through a couple of weeks of washing too. I used to dread even going near the woods or tall grass till I discovered this stuff. I have sat next to my buddy on the ground while turkey hunting and he was covered in ticks. I didn't have one on me at all. I found one dead inside my boots but, that was it.

I'm not the best about liking chemicals but, this stuff is worth every penny.

Rich

[getfished]

I was on a job site Friday where I was talking to a carpenter who had gotten bit by a tick Labor day weekend on the current river.. he was sick for 2 weeks before he was admitted to a hospital for 8 days and then complete bed rest for 26 more days.. it took the hospital 30 days before they realized he had Rocky mountain spotted fever,, this kid was 24 yrs old.. great shape and athlete in high school and college 6'2" 240lbs.. he said they called his family on the 4th day in the hospital not thinking he would make it... and said it took him until after the 1st of the year to be 100%..

WOW! it would of killed this 52 yr old man that day.. LOL! has anyone ever heard of suck a thing ?

ticks... you got to look out don't you... thought this was an interesting story.. and thought I'd share..

PK

I'm kind of new here and read this thread with interest. In the spring of 03 I had a tick stuck to my groin.I removed it but didn't get the entire tick. I didn't think too much about it at the time. Four or Five days later the inside of my groin became a little inflamed sort of like an ingrown hair. I watched it over the next few days and it became much more infected. Deducing that I had probably not gotten the head of the tick removed it seemed like I needed to go to the Doctor to have it lanced and have the infection treated.

Four or five days later I got sick with a fever and other symptoms which at the time I just thought it was jet lag as I had just returned from an overnight trip to San Francisco. I got sicker over the next few days so my doctor prescribed a regimen of oral antibiotics which I was told would treat me for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease. The antiobiotics knocked it back but didn't cure me.After the duration of the prescription has dissipated in my system the disease flared back up with a vengeance. 104% temps for several days. The doc sent me to a specialist who put me in the hospital. The specialist's opinion was that I had typhoidal tuleremia,(rabbit fever).

At one time this was a fatal disease in lots of cases. The treatment was daily intravenous antibiotic called gentomycin for fifteen days. Even though this drug had some nasty side effects I didn't have a lot ofchoice. After five days the side effects were severe enough that the specialists took me off of it and put me back on some oral antibiotics with the hope that I had had enough of the other to get me well. The damage was done. I recovered from the tuleremia alright but suffered permanent damage to my vestibular system,(equilibrium/balance mechanism in my ears).

As a result I wasn't able to return to my career and early retirement/disability became my status going forth. It's not all good but it's not all bad and I just wanted to offer this experience. I always use a spray with DEET now.

[creek wader]

I've always been a tick magnet. Since I was a kid, I would get them everytime I stepped into the woods or weeds. I always pulled them off me with my finger nails. Never left a mark. Always got the head intact. But, the last few years, when I get them and remove them that way. The bite will swell up, much worse than a mosquito bite. Many times it will harden and linger for weeks. Last summer, I started spraying my body down with Cutter's or deep woods off. I never got any ticks, when I did that. First time out this year, I didn't spray down and got a couple of ticks on me. Removed them and they both left nasty bites. I guess, I'd better start spraying down again. Definately don't want lime of spotted fever.

[lakefolk]

Hello,

I'm new here. Great forum by the way. Here is some good tick info from the great tick infested state of Oklahoma. LOL!!!

tick removal the safe & easy way;

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick

with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20),

the tick will come out on it's own and be stuck to the cotton ball when

you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and

that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and

easier for me.Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that

this would be damaging in any way.

It's really great for those hard to reach & tender places (if ya know what I mean).

[delta_queen]

I get so many tick bites... comes with the territory. they all remain red/ hard for weeks. I figure I'll go to the doc if I feel sick enough to, yet all these stories are starting to get to me. Am I coming down with a cold or is it RMSF?

Yikes.

[taxidermist]

Those methods are fine for a tick bite or two but I too am a tick magnet and they are swelling up this year early. Most times this early in the year bites seldom swell onme but man its going to be bad. I iht a pretty shallow creek fishing yesterday and caught 21 ticks in about a two mile walk.

If the bite does not start getting well in about four days you may need Dr help.