Terrified of ticks and nature now

hi  I hope it is okay to post this here. I know this is a forum for ppl dealing with serious medical stuff and yet I am trying o find a place to deal with my serious paranoia of ticks that I have gotten in the last year.

Last fall I had a tick scare that caused me to read everything I can about ticks and lyme. Just before that we bought a property and started building a house out in the country in new England. I have young kids. Now I am terrified of thm even playing in the grass :( Every time they go in even a slightly high area of plants or even near a tree I am freaked out. I feel like I want to put concrete over my whole lawn! My husband feels I am being excessive. I actually have some other anxiety issuesand am going to start seeing a therapist next week to try to work some of this out.  But how do I still enjoy nature and let my kids play outside safely etc when I know what I know about ticks and lyme? We will be soing what we can to make our yard as tick safe as possible-- but I feel like I can't even have any trees in my yard because the shade under them will harbor ticks :(  I am using tick tubes, low mowed grass, gravel barriers- but I am still paranoid. I see people going for nature walks and I am sure they will get lyme. People still think ticks have to be on 24 hrs to tranmit but I feel that even a tick on for a minute can transmit lyme.

I can keep myself in as safe areas as I can, but how do I keep my little kids safe while still not totally making them paranoid and keeping them from enjoying the outdoors?

I will not take my kids into the woods. I will keep them on the mowed grass. But even then I feel like I am constantly worrying about ticks every time we go outside. How to deal?

thanks for the reply. So what is the best thing to do if a child gets a tick bite? Seems like strong doxy would be really hard on a 4 yr old--

Yes, I agree that it is better safe than sorry. I have a tendancy to anxiety so ppl are thinking my paranoia is just paranoia. I actually only have one child ( writing quickly wrote kids in first post) and even at school I worry about ticks as they have some what nature based play areas- I have discussed this at length w- his school and his teacher has agreed to take extra precautions for me.
But still- what about the trees? We just cleared our land of a lot of trees- we live in the country and bought a wooded lot (just before I learned all about ticks etc-- perhaps I would have not gotten this property if I knew what I knew now). So I cleared it a ton to try to make nice sunny areas but there are a fe big trees kind of close to the house that I left but think I may have cut. Only because of ticks! I left them to reconsider but seriously should I cut all the trees close to the house so as to literally have an open area?

Also, I am even paranoid to let my kid play at friends houses where the parents are not tick aware :(
I am even paranoid to have partied at my hosue because I am worried people will bring in ticks! We live in new England in a country area and I used to be all about nature. the thing is, even when I go to visit family in NJ in a much more suburban area I still now look at the school playgrounds and yards and see the trees and brush and so forth and still think it doesn't look safe.
Also, I used to garden a lot and I am even scared to garden now! ugh. I am living in a lot of fear but yes better to be cautious.
Also, my husband has an outside job and I worry about his tick safety. I can keep myself out of danger zones but I want to make sure my child is safe. I am fine with other people thinking I am being over paranoid but I just feel so overwhelmed with how to keep me and my family safe.

If I keep the lawn mowed and fenced, we have a huge yard but I will partition it off, can I let my kid play in the short grass without freaking out? I feel so stressed about this. Also- back to the other question, I know for an adult taking doxy at any tick bite is the right thing to do. Luckily we have a natropath llmd near us who is happy to prescribe antibiotics for any tick bite so I know we can get that,. But what does one give a small child ifthey were to ever get a tick bite? thanks

Katebirch

I totally relate!!!

I even wrote a post myself back in early Feb. about the same thing, just not looking forward to the warm weather b/c of it.

My son, 4, has lyme. Symptoms started last late Oct., and with figuring it all out, and wait time for dr. appt.'s and tests, he started antibiotics in early Feb. He's doing better, making progress and good improvements.

But like you, I am afraid of my backyard now.

We get deer in our front yard and neighborhood park (which is two feet outside our back fence), we garden (mice in garden I'm sure), we have bushes, tall grass, wood pile, fire pit. A big lovely yard, but it's all tainted now.

here's what I'm doing this year:
lathering my son (and self too) with repellant every time we go outside.
avoiding the tall grasses, the log pile area, and that park I mentioned
I'm not having a garden, going to do containers on my back patio this year instead :(
doing the tick tubes, and any sprays I can find
and checking him nonstop!

and… I'm still afraid. I mean the ticks are so darn small!

I tell myself to calm down, but I worry.

sorry, I guess this isn't really an advice or reassuring comment, b/c I'm paranoid/worried too. I don't mean to fan the flames of your worry; it's just I'm in the same boat.

I'm even doing a big push with my husband to move (seriously), to a neighborhood with no deer roaming, and a smaller yard with less trees. I know there are still risks in other areas too though.

I hope I haven't made you worry more, sorry. I just completely relate. Maybe now someone else can come along and reassure us both!

I know we have to live and try not to be afraid (of ticks); I'm working on that.


oh, and the antibiotic question:
under I believe 8 or 10 years old, they don't recommend doxy (b/c of it staining teeth). My son is on amoxicillin and azithromycin.
If you ever see a tick or rash I would go right away to the dr. and get the antibiotic for sure.

I can't tell you how glad I am that I am not the only one that feels so nervous about their own backyard and surroundings. My situation is similar to yours, stacestar. We have a school at the end of our block, and in between us and the school is a huge park. We have deer nonchalantly walking around the neighborhood, and sauntering right across our lawn. The park and my backyard are full of field mice, rabbits, squirrels, birds and even the occasional raccoon, possums and fox. I have to be careful of what we let the exterminator use to treat the yard because of our dog. I'm going to ask him about tick tubes and see what he says. I slather my daughter with safe tick repellant before she gets dressed, and I spray her shoes with a heavy duty repellant and her clothes with a safe one. Doctor told me to get skin so soft for her face, and scalp. It sounds crazy, but I'll do it if it will help keep them off of her!

She does cheerleading and is constantly cheering in fields and the doctor said to make sure to spray her bag or anything she puts on the grass as the ticks can piggy back a ride home. He said it's happened to him! Another thing to worry about! I try not to let my fears prevent my kids from enjoying nature and the great outdoors, but they have to be protected before they do so and they understand that. I know that there is still no guarantee, but it does make me feel a little bit better.

Oh, and you are right to be concerned with Lyme illiterate parents because I am finding out that most people have no clue as to what it is all about and what the dangers are. One parent actually had her kid tested after speaking with me and the child, unfortunately, had Lyme. It's scary.

I don't think there is anyway to get rid of the fear or paranoia, but as long as you do the best you can to prevent, that's all you can do.

My brother and SIL live in Florida and just recently moved from their land. They had a lot of vegetation on their land and were outside a lot and never contracted Lyme disease. They'd walk their dogs and when they got back home, they'd always pick ticks off of the dogs and themselves.

Have you been on this site? www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/on_people.html . I wouldn't be anxious to use those repellents, if I did, I'd just put them on my clothes and tuck my pant legs into my socks and tuck my shirt into my pants.

You might consider getting pool, since kids love water and spend as many hours as they can in a pool. That would keep him out of the vegetation part of the time. I'd suggest a Splash pool since they're sturdier than the metal sided pools with a liner that has to be replaced every so often. They don't have to be completely level either. We've had one for at least 10 years and it's still in good shape. They do cost more, but they last a long time.

I don't understand what the problem with trees is. I've only heard that grass and brush are problems.

Us females have a part of our brain that that males don't have that makes us more attentive to our kids, so that's what makes us more concerned about them.

Whether you live in town or in the country, other animals are carriers, such as rodents, rabbits, birds, etc., so no place it completely free of them. Not that I want to cause you more worry!

I heard someone talking about using essential oils as a repellent, but I don't know which ones. It might be worth looking into if you don't want to use the others.

You've taken the necessary precautions, so try to enjoy your land. I understand your concerns.

I know some people do a tick sweep, which is putting a flannel cloth on a stick, like a flag is done, and drag it along the ground and then they send any ticks it picks up to a lab to find out if they are carriers. I never heard what lab they get sent to, but it might worth checking out. Maybe the Lyme doctor you know of could tell you.

Eating a good diet and keeping sugar low, plus consuming foods with probiotics in them or taking a probiotic supplement will help keep your immune systems stronger. A lot of leafy greens and other vegetables is good for you. If you start your son on them while he's young, he may like them better when he's older. Getting organic produce is best.

Also, living where you do, there is a lot more awareness of Lyme disease, unlike the NW where I live, so you would be likely to get a quicker diagnoses if you did contract it and would get over it faster by catching it early. You've already learned quite a bit about it too, so you're ahead there.

That's all I can think of for now. I hope you will be able to relax more and enjoy your property. We live on wooded property and like it a lot.

Ok, that makes sense. If you mow, that would pick up the leaf litter if you bag the grass. Just a thought. Just try to focus on a good diet so his immune system will be stronger. There is so much junk in foods targeted at kids. I think my daughter would be a lot worse if she had been on the standard diet.

A high percentage of our immune system is in our gut, so keeping it healthy is important. Try giving him Kefir, one without a lot of sugar and with live cultures. That would give him a lot of probiotics. You could make it yourself so you know what's going in it. Get organic milk, from cows raised on grass and hay, not grains. Here's a site where you can learn more about that and culturing other things too. www.culturesforhealth.com/ .

I think we all that have been affected by lyme are a bit paranoid (understandably) but we need to keep in mind that not everyone has lyme disease.

I have not read of transmission from saliva or tears at all, not that it isn't possible but the likelihood of that happening is extremely slim.

Now that i am healed from lyme you better believe I'm going to go hiking, and biking and out enjoying nature. I'm also going to be on vitamins, wearing repellent, and checking diligently for ticks. I have been with my husband for 10 years - he is not sick from Lyme. He, most likely, is a carrier but it is not affecting him. IF he does become ill at one point - I will know that Lyme needs to be checked for. I have given him high doses of herbs and nothing, not sick at all. My herbalist said she has not had one lyme patient not have a herx rxn to houttuyunia. Of course, it is still possible but eh.

For those that want there kids to play outside there are so many options. What is next on my list to buy is permethrin treated clothing. IT last for 70 washes...70!!! Is it pricey, sure - but it is not worth it to me to not go outside. We are exposed to billions of organisms everyday, even if we stay indoors. Also, permethrin is less toxic to humans, and more toxic to ticks - it actually kills where as deet just repels. Yes, it is a chemical but I've looked at a few articles and it doesn't absorb into the skin like DEET does.

I also like avons skin so soft - that has always worked well for me. Also, Kate - you can look into having the perimeter of your yard treated twice a year. Just the perimeter. Is it foulproof - no, but it certainly would help a lot. I would live in the country now if I could!

I was paranoid before, still am a bit - but it is fading away.

yes, I am actually in the process of trying to get an appointment with a therapist very soon- I have a lot of anxiety stuff going on right now with a lot of aspects of life. I am aware of it and trying to get better with it. Iwould love to see a therapists once a week and bring yoga back into my life as part of it.