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your relationship with nature now?

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 5/25/2014 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
I am pretty sure I only got ld about 7 months ago. strangely, prior to that I spent years and years gardening and walking in the woods. I was all about plants- loved to garden. I got ld at a time in life when I have not been gardening or in the woods much at all, but walked in a brushy area one time.

Now, I am pretty much scared of anything higher than short mowed grass. It is tough because I don't see other people around me feeling that way. But I don't even want to go near the woods or the plants anymore. I still hope to have a very well manicured garden at some point (we are moving soon so I am not planting a garden now). But it is hard- because I now have so much fear of ticks that is affects my day to day experience. I just want to stay in the sunny short areas all the time! But it is extreme I guess- I mean. I know other people who are so much more casual about it and who are fine and don't have ld.

Going through this now has just made me want to be super careful. People who don't understand think I am over the top or obsessive even! HOw do you all deal with nature now that you have been through this? I mean, I love nature and live in the country= I just want to stay only in the short mowed grass or better yet on a ptio looking at it, and I want to walk on the roads not in the woods.

Posted 5/25/2014 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
((((KateBirch))))))) I can relate to that feeling all too well. I endured that same feeling for years - have had L.D. for 14 years and because of "the fear," I hadn't been enjoying life to the fullest - I was not living life in the moment - it was awful. Here were - and still do to this day,- my children and husband going into the field barefoot playing and enjoying nature and pets - we live on 10 acres and deer DO come up to the door. They know fully well about L.D as they have been my ROCK through all of this, but they have taught me that you do not have to live in fear - LIFE IS FOR THE LIVING- even though there are bacteria, parasites.....that can harm us, we CANNOT STOP LIVING. We must all be able to coexist - if worried, dress appropriately, put some essential olis on skin, check your clothing after you're done connecting with nature. Please do not let fear get the best of you - I have wasted too many years living with that fear and not enjoying outdoor fun with my family. Big Regret as my kids are grown up now. I AM TRYING to make up for lost time. Please don't let L.D. rule your life, K.B. - YOU ARE STRONG.
Posted 5/25/2014 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
my whole family has lyme and we still go hiking =)

my motto is - can't hide from it - just gotta keep going and enjoy life, we are just being more cautious than we used to be. we taught our kids to enjoy nature, so we are not going to keep them from it.

But I totally understand your thoughts!
Posted 5/25/2014 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
When I am healthy and my immune system is strong I believe I will not get sick if I get bitten. My biggest problem is Protomyxzoa so I would literally have to live in a bubble to protect myself from every mosquito out there. I am just working on being healthy, making sure I stay away from mold as much as I possibly can, and I stopped worrying about being bitten. I take precaution but living in fear is not for me.
Posted 5/25/2014 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
I absolutely do not go in woods or tall grass anymore, unless there is a pretty wide path that I can stay in the middle of. I have lost too much to this disease to get it again. I don't let it get me down though; I love nature, and there are still a lot of places to explore that are tick free. Deserts and beaches are awesome alternatives to the woods.
Posted 5/25/2014 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
I've been gardening since I was a little kid, so I won't give it up. I have yet to see a tick, though, so that makes it less of a worry for me. I have gravel paths, between my vegie beds, so I'd think that would keep them away in that area.

I'm sorry it has taken away your love of gardening.

You can wear light colored clothing with pant legs tucked into socks and long gloves with shirt sleeves tucked in to the glove tops and your shirt tucked into your pants. They will show up on the light colored clothing.

Hopefully recovery and time will lessen your fears. I don't blame you for being fearful. I might be more concerned if we go to a large wilderness area.
Posted 5/25/2014 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
I just got a tick on me (luckily just my pants) the other day dropping my daughter off at softball. I was literally in grass for about 5 seconds. Ticks are in urban areas too. They are just everywhere. I think when I get well I want to live my life like I did. We hike a lot in ME and NH and MA and I don't want to give that up.

I'm not convinced that bug spray works on them since my pants were soaked in two kinds when I got the tick on me last week. One was an organic specialty tick spay too and the other was Deet. But I'll continue to wear it.

I'm just going to check myself constantly and be a little choosy about clothes if I'm going in the woods. I think if you are good about checking, that goes a long way.
Posted 5/25/2014 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
My love of gardening and walking my dogs has not been diminished by Lyme.

I still wander through woods and meadows,I don't intend to let this hideous disease prevent me from enjoying the things that are so dear to me.

Lyme has taken so much away from me,I will not let it stop me from being close to nature.Watching the flowers and plants grow,observing the baby birds in my garden is sooo precious and necessary for my well-being ,like the air I breathe

I think everyone just has to weigh up the risks and decide for themselves............but this "Lymie" refuses to allow fear dictate my life :-)

Tickled

Post Edited (TICKLEDPINK) : 5/25/2014 7:36:30 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/25/2014 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
As my name implies, I frequent the outdoors quite often and will continue to do so. I grew up in the woods and will stay there as long as the good Lord lets me. I respect what nature has to offer, whether it be ticks, the momma bear that defended her 3 cubs, or the timber rattler that was between my feet last year. It's part of life for me because that is who I am. I'll always host or film hunting shows, look for Native American artifacts, and roam the woods where I live. I can't imagine NOT doing that.
Posted 5/25/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
I've had LD for 15 yrs, I can't run scared now that I've gotten diagnosed a few months ago. I love the outdoors, gardening, golfing, etc. I purchased a pair of pants with the insect shield in them, I spray repellent on my feet and legs all the time. My doctor said buy the repellent with the permethrin in it, it is the best to repel ticks. Then just check yourself really well and shower right after doing yard work or gardening or whatever you do outdoors. But I totally understand how you feel, I just love the outdoors so much I can't let it steal my joy.
Posted 5/25/2014 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Yep......

I removed all woodpiles around, threw down a truck load of gravel and sand to build a moat around the house, then then I dosed over 40 gallons of gasoline on my woodline and burned it to the ground.

Hows that for defining my relationship with nature?
Posted 5/25/2014 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
It's rough...I love nature and being outside so much but am absolutely terrified of grass and trees. the anxiety of getting another tick bite pretty much ruins it for me. Moving ASAP out west...
Posted 5/25/2014 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
IF I ever regain my health and get out of this bed I will never again do any gardening or go in woods. Life is so fragile, I have lost a lot of years due to this disease and I would be so very careful so i could continue to enjoy and be blessed with a normal life
Posted 5/26/2014 8:46 AM (GMT 0)
This (and I have been ill for a very long time) will not prevent me from going out in nature.

There is nothing in the world that calms me more than going out in nature. When I'm at the end of my rope, I go for a walk in a reserve just 300 meters from where we live. It makes me reconnect with me again.

I'm being careful, I check myself, but I won't be locking myself up in my house because of those 'things'.

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