Attached Link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/

Anyone who goes into the forests shooting mushrooms or whatever, check yourselves for ticks afterwards... You dont wanna get Lyme Disease, believe me. I got it a couple of years ago, and it aint no fun. If you want ill upload some pics but it isnt pretty lol I just thought i should warn everyone, well the ones that dont know already... Follow the link for more info. "Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, landscaping, and integrated pest management. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tick-borne diseases as well." [taken from www.cdc.gov]

Looking at the symptoms it doesn't seem too bad, until you get to the part about it being treated with a few weeks of antibiotics. That is something I've had to worry about growing up because I lived on some land with a small forest.

Did you read this part ? "If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system." Ultimately it CAN lead to death....

Good Grief you dont need insect repellant but an all over body condom!! Hope your'e lots better Enmos john

lol!!!@john & i just hate getting chiggers!!!! *scratch, scratch, scratch :(

good idea to post this Jeroen! sorry you went thru it yourself. did it take a long time from the onset of symptoms until they finally made the diagnosis? a friend of ours...he went out fishing and then started having all kinds of problems...numbness and stuff. Anyway, they think he had Lyme disease. He was unable to work for a long, long time.

Attached Link: http://www.thedailytimes.com/sited/story/html/90778

I got really sick two weeks after the bite, i took a shower and notice a large discoloration on my leg at exactly the place i got bitten. So i went to the doctor a few hours later and got strong antibiotics for two weeks. The symptoms dissapeared soon after a day or two, only sideeffect of the antibiotics was tiredness. I have a pic of the discoloration on my leg LOL but ill spare you from seeing that ;o) Anyways, since i go out in to the fields and forests kinda often... i get a lot of tick bites. I always check every square inch of myself for ticks, and remove them immediately. I believe the bacteria is only transmitted after 24 hours or so. But the ticks can be hard to spot, it has happened that i noticed one two days later. They get into your clothes and shoes as well, and then wait till you return... If you do not treat this the symptoms eventually go away, but will return. I can take years, but eventually it will come back with a vengence... Symtoms then can be similar to meningitis and it can lead to insanity ! I dare anyone who thinks its no big deal to read this article i just found ! (see link above)

I have looked up the symptoms of Lyme Disease to cheer you all up, found it at the website of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation:

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The Tick Bite (fewer than 50% recall a tick bite or get/see the rash)
-Rash at site of bite
-Rashes on other parts of your body
-Rash basically circular and spreading out (or generalized)
-Raised rash, disappearing and recurring

Head, Face, Neck
-Unexplained hair loss
-Headache, mild or severe, Seizures
-Pressure in Head, White Matter Lesions in Head (MRI)
-Twitching of facial or other muscles
-Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
-Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue, cheek or facial flushing
-Stiff or painful neck
-Jaw pain or stiffness
-Dental problems (unexplained)
-Sore throat, clearing throat a lot, phlegm ( flem ), hoarseness, runny nose

Eyes/Vision
-Double or blurry vision
-Increased floating spots
-Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
-Oversensitivity to light
-Flashing lights/Peripheral waves/phantom images in corner of eyes

Ears/Hearing
-Decreased hearing in one or both ears, plugged ears
-Buzzing in ears
-Pain in ears, oversensitivity to sounds
-Ringing in one or both ears

Digestive and Excretory Systems
-Diarrhea
-Constipation
-Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping) or Interstitial cystitis
-Upset stomach (nausea or pain) or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

Musculoskeletal System
-Bone pain, joint pain or swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome
-Stiffness of joints, back, neck, tennis elbow
-Muscle pain or cramps, (Fibromyalgia)

Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
-Shortness of breath, can't get full/satisfying breath, cough
-Chest pain or rib soreness
-Night sweats or unexplained chills
-Heart palpitations or extra beats
-Endocarditis, Heart blockage

Neurologic System
-Tremors or unexplained shaking
-Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
-Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Weakness, peripheral neuropathy or partial paralysis
-Pressure in the head
-Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
-Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
-Increased motion sickness
-Lightheadedness, wooziness

Psychological well-being
-Mood swings, irritability, bi-polar disorder
-Unusual depression
-Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
-Feeling as if you are losing your mind
-Over-emotional reactions, crying easily
-Too much sleep, or insomnia
-Difficulty falling or staying asleep
-Narcolepsy, sleep apnea
-Panic attacks, anxiety

Mental Capability
-Memory loss (short or long term)
-Confusion, difficulty in thinking
-Difficulty with concentration or reading
-Going to the wrong place
-Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
-Stammering speech
-Forgetting how to perform simple tasks

Reproduction and Sexuality
-Loss of sex drive
-Sexual dysfunction
-Unexplained menstral pain, irregularity
-Unexplained breast pain, discharge
-Testicular or pelvic pain

General Well-being
-Unexplained weight gain, loss
-Extreme fatigue
-Swollen glands/lymph nodes
-Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
-Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
-Symptoms seem to change, come and go
-Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
-Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well.
-Low body temperature

Allergies/Chemical sensitivities
-Increased affect from alcohol and possible worse hangover

Dont be a fool and check for ticks !!

totally cheered... thanks jeroen!!... glad you caught yours in time... you are sane, right? :] (jk, i know it's a serious matter) don't like ticks or chiggers, at least the ticks can be seen... quite common here too

Now I am getting worried, what the hell are chiggers ??? Im not feeling all that well lately, mentally... ;oP

google! they're micro-tiny, hang out on the grass, waiting for you to walk by then bury under under your skin & drive you nuts with the itching for several days! ;]

WHOA !! Hope we dont have THOSE here... Geez, i might actually start to hate bugs here... ;o)

thanks for the warning jerone..will think twice before going for a romp in the woods.... no seriously lyme disease is serious.. my dog often use to pick them up..whilest out. often carried by deer and various wildlife. l would spray her with a repellant and of course myself... always best to be prepared... brillaint to point out tho jerone....:)..:))))) laffing at john..

thanks for the warning jerone..will think twice before going for a romp in the woods.... no seriously lyme disease is serious.. my dog often use to pick them up..whilest out. often carried by deer and various wildlife. l would spray her with a repellant and of course myself... always best to be prepared... brillaint to point out tho jerone....:)..:))))) laffing at john..

LoL , She said " Chiggers " Thats a fun critter to get on you. The more you scratch the more you itch , The more you itch the more you scratch , pretty soon there all over your body and you are one big ITCHY rash . Mean little buggers . By the way be carefull removeing ticks , useally the head ( top part ) will POP off and it stays alive for a while burrowing away at you. Useally they drop down on you from the trees. Sneakly little buggers. I had to have one drilled out of my head as a child . Mom made me wear a hat after that.

hahaha.. :D poor kid :[

Ouch, that sounds rather painfull tasquah :o(

RE Symptoms I have those already due to other wasting disease. Marfans syndrome.

John, i looked it up on the net... thats a serious condition :( I the site i found even states that about 1 in 5000 people have it... thats a lot ! Is it possible that you have the condition and dont even know it ? Anyways, i hope you are well and have a great remainder of the day ! :o) Jeroen

HI Jeroen No not Lyme's disease just marfans thanks dude, please have a great time and be good keep up the great work.

Yes Jerone this is a nasty thing and it is also worth mentioning that taking dogs for a walk in areas of high risk Moist forest areas where deer are around in the Spring or early summer months.. It is worth doing the following: Wear light colored clothing, so that ticks may be seen more easily. - Wear long trousers, tucked into your socks and long-sleeved shirts to prevent ticks from reaching your skin. - Insect repellants containing DEET are effective against tick attachment. - Permethrin, which kills ticks on contact, can also be applied to exposed skin. - Perform a tick check and remove any ticks found. Transmission of the bacterium is unlikely within the first 36 hours of attachment.

Lyme Disease is an epidemic in my area of Rhode Island, and after Connecticut has the second highest rate of Lyme in the USA. I found a deer tick (the carrier of Lyme) attached to my leg about a month ago.... they are very tiny and hard to see, and in fact I thought it was a nick from shaving my legs until I looked more closely and realized what it was..... This was just from spending time in my own backyard. Not to mention the times that I've merely walked down the street and ended up finding Dog ticks crawling up my face, down my arms or up my pants..... Keep in mind deer ticks need to be attached for about 48 hours before they can transmit. There is no doubt that this is a serious disease. My poor dog has it. Luckily his symptoms disappeared with antibiotic treatment. I have no idea when he was bitten, but very suddenly he became lethargic, and the joints in one leg became so swollen and painful. He could barely walk. I felt so bad for him....

Im so sorry about your dog Michelle, but good to hear hes allright now :o) Jeez, i thought it was 24 hours, yet Danny says its 36 and Michelle said it is 48 LOL Guess it just takes some time then huh ? ;o) Danny, thats some excellent advice, thanks !! :o)