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Posted 2/21/2012 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have an obsessive fear of being bitten again?

I've stopped going hiking, stopped letting my dogs run free. I've fenced my yard and hubby sprays often. But before he started spraying for this year, my pup brought in a tick, not yet attached. I'm back to obsessing about it, dreaming about the stupid things, feeling like I am not safe. Some days, I want to just stop breathing.

I hate living like this. If I could, I would sell my home and move ... somewhere!
Posted 2/21/2012 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
heck yeah, I am afraid of that! But, we have to live in the process...take the proper precautions and try to put the fear aside.... Once, when I was a young teenager, I was covered with probably 100+ ticks at one time! Uggh.
Posted 2/21/2012 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I worry about ticks, but I'm kind of the opposite. If I was able physically to hike, I'd be out the door. It's one of the only things that helps me relieve stress. Lyme is causing me a lot of stress and it's making me want to go in the woods more often lol.

Even when I've been really careful, have used sprays, stayed out of the woods, etc., I've still had ticks on me. In fact, a few weeks ago I found an inflated tick walking down my leg and I had only walked out to the car!

I feel like there is a risk in pretty much every single thing I do each day. I can take precautions, but ultimately there are always risks and I can't control everything. If I stopped hiking or spending time outside, my quality of life would be much lower.
Posted 2/21/2012 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Lyme has narrowed my world so much. Even though I'm feeling better, I cannot get past this awful fear. The happiest times of my life are when I'm out in the woods with my dogs and that's over for me.

Sorry for the whine; I just need to vent about this stupid fear!!!

Post Edited (Caldonia Sun) : 2/21/2012 2:25:32 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/21/2012 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Caldonia,
Please don't let this experience take away the things that you love!! Maybe you should consider some counseling?? Ticks are only one of the many bugs that spread diseases, yet you are only afraid of the ticks. You should of course take all the precautions that are necessary, but don't let these infections first rob you of health for years, and then sideline your favorite activities!

Personally, I can't imagine not being outdoors! I live to be out there! There is such beauty and I love the outdoor activities that interest me - and there's lots of them! Although I will continue to protect myself like I never used to, I won't give up something that I find to be stress relieving, healthy and enjoyable.

I sure hope that you can find some peace about this issue!
Posted 2/22/2012 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Caldonia,

Here is my story and how I look at it.

I have always been a very active outdoors person- hiking, biking, skiing, camping etc. I know that is probably why I got Lyme disease. HOWEVER, the reason I pushed so hard to find answers and got a diagnoses after only 2 years was because i missed those things so much. THose things were my life- what I did for fun, for stress relief for everything. If I pushed so hard to find answers as to why I couldn't do them anymore, and then let that answer keep me from doing them, it wouldn't make sense.

when I get better I will be back out there. Even if I only get 1 year before getting reinfected, it will be 1 more than I would have had if I never tried. And this time I will know what to do and won't let the lyme become chronic again.

So I keep an eye out for ticks, and keep an eye on my symptoms, but I refuse to let the ticks keep me inside. I've already had chronic Lyme- getting reinfected can't be that bad.

If I never do the things I love to do outdoors, Lyme will have won just as much as if I never got diagnosed.
Posted 2/22/2012 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
It definitely makes sense for us to be more sensitive to the risks involved with being outdoors than those who haven't been affected by Lyme, but I agree with the others - please don't let it stop you from enjoying your life!

The bright side is that we're fortunate to know exactly what to do if we are exposed to a tick bite! For the time being, it doesn't really bother me because I kind of figure if I already have Lyme disease, and I'm already treating it, a new infection can't do that much harm, and once I'm all better, a new infection won't be as bad as the chronic, untreated infection I've experience in the past.

I'm sorry you're struggling so much with this. I hope you can find a way to beat the fear!
Posted 2/22/2012 10:00 AM (GMT 0)
I would not say I'm obsessed but I am definitely scared.. I have spent my life in the woods.. I also have two small children and I certainly don't want them contracting it.. Also I was reinfected 1 week after being released from the hospital! I am definitely taking a lot more precautions. Full body searches are a daily experience after hiking now.
Posted 2/22/2012 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Caldonia Sun,

We all have fears, that's normal.  I think the trick is to not let the fear control our life..  I was symptom-free for only around 6 months or so and I found a tick inside my belly button..  Nothing happened to me, I did not get sick.  I think the reason was I had built up my immune system so my own body was able to kill any bacteria.   And to this day I still drink my Green Vibrance, detox, exercise, etc. in order to keep my immune system strong... 

But I think most of us have phobia's.. At least I have phobia's.. not of getting sick because I know what to do about lyme.. I have other phobia's.. 

Darn, after seeing the Wizard of Oz as a kid (I'm 55 now) I was terrified that the Wicked Witch was hiding in my closet!  Once that passed, I had this fear that snakes were under my bed and I would make a running jump to my bed! 

As Traveler said, counseling may not be a bad idea.. And ticks aren't the only bug that carry lyme bacteria..  Also, if you did move, there would still be bugs no matter where you lived... there simply are no borders..  I have known people who live in New York City (I always called it the Cement City) and they got bit there, who would have ever guessed? 

My advice to you is really build up your immune system, learn how to de-stress whether it's yoga, exercise, seeing a counselor, breathing exercises, and live life!  Think of the people in wheelchairs who are not able to do lots of things..

I hope this helps a bit,

Denise

Posted 2/22/2012 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Personally, the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz scared the bejesus outta me...LOL. I agree with Kevin, too, just check thoroughly after being outside, for ticks. Maybe our forum song should be Brad Paisley's "Check You For Ticks"?
Posted 2/23/2012 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
I just feel like if we don't get back to the things we loved doing, then the disease has won. Even though I've been fighting these infections most of my life, they have no chance of winning with me as the opponent!!! LOL!!

I'm already back out living the life that I love, well at least as much as I can without compromising any healing I'm getting!! I'm already on the look out for the tick-repellant that you can treat your clothes with, buying many cans of spray, and being sure that I have the appropriate clothing!!! smilewinkgrin
Posted 2/23/2012 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going to get Insect Shield pants. I have a shirt already. But I don't know how far I'll venture into the woods. We live in central PA and it is so infested.

I just lost my dad and only sister within a month of each other. I think the stress of it has just knocked me back and I'm having trouble coping with the constant threat of lyme. I wondered if I am having a flare but the main symptom is tiredness, yet not the kind that requires a nap. Just a nagging fatigue. Could be the grieving process.

Posted 2/23/2012 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'll be the oddball when I say I completely understand where you're coming from! I'm terrified of getting bitten again. I don't even remember ever seeing a tick bite me (although I remember one biting my mother when I was younger) and I suspect I've been bitten several times in the past 30 years. It's hard to move past the phobia. The one thing you can do is try and protect yourself as best as possible and examine yourself carefully when you go inside. I personally, would never go in the woods again or hiking. But that's just me.
Posted 2/23/2012 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Caldonia,
That's a whole lot of stress, losing both your Dad and Sister like that. I'm so terribly sorry to hear of this and you have my deepest sympathies. Be sure you allow yourself all of the time you need to grieve. We each grieve in our own way. I'm sure that all of that stress has at least something to do with your fatigue, but please keep an eye on it.

Only venture out as far as you feel comfortable. Chances are that you'll become more and more comfortable with it each time you go out. :-) Protection is key!!
Posted 2/23/2012 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Awww, Sleepless!
I sure hope that some day, with some more healing under your belt that you too will be able to venture out a bit! Unfortunately there isn't any proof that staying out of the woods gives you much more protection from being bit again. There are soooo many insects that now can pass these infections -including spiders - that even if a person lives where there is nothing but concrete surrounding them (like very large cities), they have a pretty good chance of getting infected anyway.
Posted 2/23/2012 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Traveler, thank you. I thought I was breezing through, but now I'm wondering what's going on. Not sure what to do.
Posted 2/23/2012 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
I would encourage you to pamper yourself a bit, like I said, you've been under a great deal of stress! Rest lots -taking naps too - , eat well, drink lots of water, detox some, and give yourself some time to get through what was a terrible loss.

Oh, and know that we are here and that you will be in my heart and on my mind as you go through this.

Hang in there, time helps us deal with that loss.
Posted 2/23/2012 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Caledonia,

I too have the same fear. My hobby has been taking care of the yard and garden. I transformed a plain yard into a garden with flowering trees, bushes and flowers everywhere. It was what I loved, but I do not think I will ever do it again. I told my husband he has to do the yard work from now on. I have the sprays etc for him and will probably buy him bug repellent clothing too. But over the years he and I can be sitting/standing together inside or outside and I will get bitten and he will not. Bugs love me and after I was infected we sat on the couch together and a tick was on my arm settling in! So I spray my pant legs and shoes when I go out and check check check. But no grassy areas for me, I am from a big city and would like to go back to that kind of living! give me concrete! LOL
Posted 2/23/2012 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Caldonia,

My heart goes out to you for losing both your Dad and your only sister in such a short time... no wonder you are feeling the way you do..  I'm so very sorry...

When I lost my Dad I cried almost everyday for 3 months (I was really close to him).. When I lost my baby brother I know he's gone logically but my heart still won't accept it..  We all grieve differently.. 

Grief is very stressful..  As Traveler said, pamper yourself, do nice things for YOU..   Vent as much as you can.. I wrote to myself what I was feeling after losing the people I love..  I wrote poems, I just wrote words that didn't even make sense...

If you need someone to talk to, please e-mail me okay? 

Hugs to you,

Denise

Posted 2/23/2012 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Trav--to be honest, I was never much of a "woodsy" person anyway. But I did ride horses and enjoyed being outdoors (still do). I was very fortunate to be able to go to Hawaii several months ago and it was amazing. My pain was to a minimal too. I walked every day and felt energized. I floated in the ocean (which I have a major fear of sharks, but you don't say NO in crystal clear hawaii water LOL) I walked everywhere, spent tons of time outdoors in the sun! With that said, I wasn't "normal" but I did feel improvement and i'm sure some of that was being so happy.

So the point to this long rant is, I still love outdoors, but I am very skittish of going anywhere near the woods or wearing shorts in my area or spending a ton of time outdoors in grassy areas. Hawaii maybe. I doubt they have a ton of Lyme over there, but I could be wrong.
Posted 2/23/2012 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
BTW--Caldonia..my heart goes out to you for your losses. I pray you can heal and remember the good times. I am sure something so upsetting would put quite the damper on your recovery. You have friends here and we are always here to listen and lend a shoulder.
Posted 2/23/2012 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Well I'm glad that you are still able to enjoy the outdoors! I just hate to hear that these infections make us not want to enjoy the activities we used to just because they are outside!!

BTW - I wouldn't even trust being on an island, as birds transport ticks and it's not just ticks that spread these infections - mosquitoes, fleas, and even spiders can infect people, so you still need to be very proactive!
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