well now that article was enough to almost make me agoraphobic

Based on no evidence whatsoever, I think that sounds a lot like "you can't get pregnant the first time you have sex".

are you sure?

I'm no expert, but that's what the article says. It has to do with the length of time it takes the bacteria to leave the tick's stomach and work its way to the tick's mouth and into you.

Shurely if it's exploding, problem solved?

Very good article. I'm about 20 miles from Lyme so well within the ground-zero area for the little darlings. Saw the PA, looks like I had gotten the bugger out. One-time double dose of Doxy, and watch for symptoms (probably nothing).

That's the way it works naturally, but it depends on how you remove the tick. Smothering will make it puke, which is bad, and excess squeezing may also upset natures plan.

Blood work yesterday. See lung Dr. next week.

Got tested for Lyme and a million other things two weeks ago.
Avoiding getting the answers I already know I don't want.
Meh ... maybe I'll call them back this week.

Lyme's no big deal. two weeks of Doxycycline. The problems is when the doctor believes a false negative, which are fairly common. There are a lot of people who believe they have "chronic Lyme." Recent research has shown that they are merely being re-infected by different ticks. (DNA sequencing the Lyme bacteria)

But, feel better anyway, don't worry.

I'll probably go get tested soon as Him gets home this week ...

I'm always a bit paranoid about these things, and even if the list of symptoms can be explained by other things (joint pain? you're kidding right - been arthritic since I was 29, I live with an almost permanent headache, and chills? Well the temps did drop to 5°C this week, that neck pain? I could have slept on it wrong, and tired? I haven't slept properly since he left...)

There's just been so many of them - I can't walk across the yard without coming back to at least one if not 2 or 3 on me. And while I have been careful I have found them after stripping down on bare flesh. And early on there was a bite - didn't see any tick - didn't think anything of it at the time, I thought it was a black fly bite, but 3 weeks and it's still there and it does have that red ring around a white centre......

Yeah I'm being paranoid - I know that - BUT a test doesn't cost anything and MAY save me a world of grief down the line.

red ring around a white center = lyme. That's the only sure diagnosis.

The sooner you are treated the better. Just go to your doc, show him/her the bullseye rash, get the scrip, feel better.

not that sort of bullseye rash
http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/images/EMforWeb2.jpg

small, about the size of a dime, looks like a mosquito bite (I tend to be very reactive to those) that hasn't faded...
3 weeks in it's not getting larger, and I never did see a tick at that location.


all that said - err on the side of caution ... I will go and get tested later in the week