Ticks—what else can we do? Feeling creepy crawly!

[Anonymous]

Long story short, our dog escaped the harness on a walk and DH had to chase him through a wooded area of the park. When he exited, he saw a tick on his pant leg. Before entering the car, he thoroughly checked over he dog, and himself, and found nothing, but when he got home and took off his clothing, he found another tick on his pants. We then again went over the dog (he was treated recently), DH’s clothes, and his body, and nothing else. But now we ALL feel contaminated and a little gross, creepy crawly, itchy. I’m sure it’s psychosomatic, but still. Anything else we can do now to calm ourselves?

[Anonymous]

Xanax? But seriously why would you ALL be stressing? Check DH again and don’t let the dog in you bed.

[Anonymous]

Ugh! I am being treated for Lyme. Never saw a tick when I had a dog for 13 years. Ten days ago, I was traveling and the next day was in the shower at a hotel when I saw a large tick I had dislodged from my chest with a washcloth. It had drawn blood!!! Ran to Urgent care; they said not to worry as it hadn’t been 36 hours. That night I found a tiny thing on my chest. Went back and he decide to treat me. I saw a dog tick on the floor the next day. All creepy as hell. I now carry ziplocks and tissues so I can get rid of them easily. Moving to an area with lots of ticks so going to do tick checks every night. I have the creepy crawlers too!

[Anonymous]

Creep crawlies*

[Anonymous]

Ticks are terrible right now. My spouse found one on them during the snow in February! They didn't step one foot in the grass, side walk only to the car.

[Anonymous]

Check your scalp, pubic hair, and all body crevices. I found one mine last summer had burrowed in under my breast and the other later in summer in my pubic hair; talk about disgusting little critters.

But really all you can do is keep checking for a few days. Had them as a kid and a small handful as an adult. Nowadays the protocol is prophylactic Lyme treatment with something like doxycycline. So if you find a tick or a suspected bite (even if no longer on you), see a doctor immediately.

Google ahead of time how to remove a tick so you don’t panic; put it in a sealed jar or bag, photograph, and keep it — a doctor may need to know what type got you. Preparedness may help you feel more in control.

[Anonymous]

Just check every night. No big deal. You are most likely not going to get lyme if the tick has been on you for less than 24 hours so if you check every night you should be perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Make sure your dog has tick medicine he takes and there's also a dog Lyme vaccine.

[Anonymous]

I vacuum like a crazy person because the dog can bring them in. I’ve told the kids to check for ticks during their nightly showers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make sure your dog has tick medicine he takes and there's also a dog Lyme vaccine.

Just a note that ticks are increasingly resistant to preventives in topicals and treated collars. The oral tick treatments seem to work best for now, but they will eventually become resistant to those too.

Also, ticks may crawl off of your treated dog and onto you, especially if your dog is allowed in your bed.

Groom your dog after you’ve been walking on grassy areas, especially those adjacent to forests/stands of trees. Then check yourself over when you undress.

[Anonymous]

Throw those clothes into a hot dryer the minute you get into the house. Try to wear light colors and tuck pants into socks. Wear picardin or deet, or permethrin treated clothing.
Get a rx for prophylactic doxycycline to take if you find tick embedded in your skin.

[Anonymous]

Get one of those tick removers so that you can dislodge it without squeezing. A credit card may be better than tweezers because tweezers may make the tick regurgitate into you and that can infect you

https://www.lymedisease.org/tick-safety-tool/

[Anonymous]

How tiny are they that people don't notice them? I take a shower daily before bedtime. Any itchy spot would be noticeable.

[Anonymous]

I had one in my belly button a few weeks ago - it felt so violating! I hike and garden a lot, so now I wear spray with DEET and shower and change clothes as soon as I get in.

[Anonymous]

A tick doesn't have to be on you that long to transmit. Ask me how I know.

I have been dealing with this for months and the impact is life-changing.

Project Lyme has a lot of helpful information:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=986499903949026&set=pcb.986499977282352