UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => shootin' the shit => Topic started by: tomtom on July 06, 2015, 02:03:16 pm
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Euch - just pulled three off my feet/legs (and I found one last night) after my trip to Warton yesterday. That'll teach me not to wear longs on the walk in.. The one I got last night was about 2mm - but the three that obviously escaped my attention yesterday (despite a brief look) were all tiny - about 1mm or so in body diameter. Still stuck in and guzzling though...
Watch out folks - tis the season... :(
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Always carry an O'tom tick hook (other tick hooks are available) the only way to remove them as safely and effectively as possible.
Do not use Vaseline, burning, alcohol swabs, etc etc. And thoroughly disinfect your hands and the hook afterwards.
Lyme's is awful, a friend has been suffering for years.
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These little blighters were tiny - had to nip em off with some tweezers.. bastards..
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I hope you left nothing behind! the smallest hook should get even the tiniest tick. if not, you should pull, not twist.
Good info here
http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/about-ticks/tick-removal/
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Lyme's is awful, a friend has been suffering for years.
True, it's really bloody horrible. An acquaintance of mine had a severe bout (for a while he was thought to have a life-threatening case of Tick Borne Encephalitis, but that was a very bad reaction to the initial drug treatment). The acute initial phase was horrendous enough, but for the years afterwards he has had periodic periods of being weak and tired with various immune system problems (reminiscent of a Chronic Fatigue style disorder).
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My friend's blog.
http://lymeywifey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/introducting-lymey-wifey.html
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Previous tick threads for reference
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=7595.0
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=11543.0
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=17977.0
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I hope you left nothing behind! the smallest hook should get even the tiniest tick. if not, you should pull, not twist.
Good info here
http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/about-ticks/tick-removal/
Don't think so. Was quick pull.. One was still alive when done... Read up on it now so I'll keep an eye for any rashes etc.. (I know Lymes doesn't always have to have a rash..)
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I got two in Cornwall last weekend- only found them when I got home. No idea how long they were attached but could have been as long as 48 hours.
The websites freaked me out about removal so much that I went to the NHS drop-in centre to get them removed (I now have a credit card-sized removal tool)-they were both still alive and the nurse didn't seem worried. I don't have a rash and I feel fine so hopefully I'm OK.
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Previous tick threads for reference
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=7595.0
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=11543.0
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=17977.0
I did search for this - but (not surprisingly) it gave me a page or two of different types of tick... :)
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I have the absolute fear of these things. Somehow, I've managed to ever avoid getting one despite endless days thrashing through heather and almost living at Silverdale for a period of time.
I read somebody talking about wearing trackster type trousers for fell running the other day. Don't want to look like an ironic hipster idiot but is this a strong method for avoidance?
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Yup. Tucked into your socks for ultimate protection.
I wore shorts :)
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I read somebody talking about wearing trackster type trousers for fell running the other day. Don't want to look like an ironic hipster idiot but is this a strong method for avoidance?
Some light tights and scree gaiter would protect. Having never having been bitten, I got in excessof 40* on my legs after last years highlander MM depite my running partner having none.
* My wife stopped counting. All alive-ish after removal with some tweezers, quite a surprising variety in size! I proceeded to boil and then micowave them.
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I grew up on the edge of Dartmoor and am not exaggerating when I say I've taken dozens (maybe 100+) from my legs and one off my wanger. My mate's little brother had one take up residence IN his ear. I've never caught it, neither have any of my friends. I think it's over hyped, but recognise that it's a complete pisser when you do get.
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You should have said you got them at crag x tomtom! They'll be the only ones you leave with ;)
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Touch wood, I've never had one despite a good few years of bashing around the forest. my missus reckons they don't like the high-alcohol content of my blood...Mossies love it on the other hand.
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You should have said you got them at crag x tomtom! They'll be the only ones you leave with ;)
:D Indeed - and the ones I now brush off..
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The only memory I have of getting a tick was when visiting Fairhead a while ago. My tour guide for the week was shrieking for me to bring him tweezers (he was in the shower) as he found a large tick resident in-between his legs!
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I proceeded to boil and then microwave them.
Nice on a bed of rice?
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I proceeded to boil and then microwave them.
Nice on a bed of rice?
I just didn't know what to do with them, I had this Tupperware full of ticks crawling about and didn't fancy them having another crack at my, or the family's legs.
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I proceeded to boil and then microwave them.
Nice on a bed of rice?
If you get mature ones they give a dish a full some iron tasting flavour...
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I live in the South Lakes and the ticks are definitely out in force this year!
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I live in the South Lakes and the ticks are definitely out in force this year!
In my 45 years I've previously had one (that was on me and didnt bite) from my Mid Wales garden back yonder... and 4 on Sunday!! Though my shorts rarely make an outing so thats probably a factor :)
More sherioushly, one of the blokes I work with in Australia likes to go bushwalking at the WE (long enduro type things) and he had Lyme disease last year... only diagnosed because his sister is a GP and when he was back in QL for family Xmas she spotted a load of the (quite hard to spot) symptoms and got his bloodwork done..
Never heard of anyone in the UK getting it in the UK - but according to the WWW its been around since at least neolithic times.. (I'll guess they found some tic remains with traces of the bacteria there etc..)
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A mate of mine got Lymes from a tick when we was climbing in Sweden. Laid him up pretty bad for a while.
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I've had loads of ticks, one on font (Rocher fin), all the rest from Scotland. I tend to get them when other don't, which I put down to wandering off path more (taking photos usually), but then midges love me too. Nemo on here has had a bad do with Lyme's over the last ten+ years. Take it seriously.
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I got several after climbing at Chapel head, it was so hot I climbed in my boxers. Ended up with several attached to my bollies, gave the missus a laugh removing them.
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You should have deeted up yer knackers before hand ;) [emoji32]
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I have the absolute fear of these things. Somehow, I've managed to ever avoid getting one despite endless days thrashing through heather and almost living at Silverdale for a period of time.
The first time you get bitten will gross you out, there after it's an annoyance. Creag Dubh near Newtonmore is the worst I've come across, there are some resident feral goats, which mean they are everywhere. We decided to walk off a route rather than the dubious looking ab, and I was brushing them off me by the time we got to the bottom. Tucking socks in well helps, I think having very hairy legs means they need to make some effort to get to skin (unlucky road bikers!).
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Mid Wales garden back yonder...
Forgive my ignorance. Is this the bit between the sack and the crack?
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Suppose your likely to get a biting tick bouldering in Torridon this time of the year??
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Very much so. Beinn Eighe is a nature reserve. If there's deer there will be ticks.
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Read an interesting section on the Saddleworth Runners page here about lemon eucalyptus as an efficient tick repellent:
http://www.bada-uk.org/human-health
Further information about purchasing it is on the BADA UK page. Got to be worth a shot no?
http://www.bada-uk.org/human-health
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Have a shot, at least you will smell nice. Deet will be more effective though.
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Read an interesting section on the Saddleworth Runners page here about lemon eucalyptus as an efficient tick repellent:
http://www.bada-uk.org/human-health
Further information about purchasing it is on the BADA UK page. Got to be worth a shot no?
http://www.bada-uk.org/human-health
If only you'd posted this a month ago. I'm on my 1st week of Doxycycline to treat the dreaded Borreliosis.
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I'm sorry to hear this mate. I hope you recover quickly.
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Mid Wales garden back yonder...
Forgive my ignorance. Is this the bit between the sack and the crack?
An interesting description of Aberystwyth... ;)
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Read an interesting section on the Saddleworth Runners page here about lemon eucalyptus as an efficient tick repellent:
http://www.bada-uk.org/human-health
Further information about purchasing it is on the BADA UK page. Got to be worth a shot no?
http://www.bada-uk.org/human-health
Shit - thats rubbish. Did you have any of the big rash symptoms?
If only you'd posted this a month ago. I'm on my 1st week of Doxycycline to treat the dreaded Borreliosis.
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Mid Wales garden back yonder...
Forgive my ignorance. Is this the bit between the sack and the crack?
An interesting description of Aberystwyth... ;)
Ah I see. That's the arse end of nowhere :-)
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3 of the little fuckers from clearing a new MTB track yesterday.
Just read this article: http://thetickthatbitme.com/2012/04/24/prophylaxis-doxycycline-tick-bites/ Where a couple of studies were linked with promising results from prophylactic treatment with doxycycline.
I know a few people who have had lymes, it's common in the area I got my ticks and I don't really want to have to wait until I have symptoms before then starting treatment (as by the sound sof things, the longer you leave treatment, the poorer it works).
Any medical bods care to comment before I start munching the family supply of doxy?
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Where did it happen? (location, not where on you) Unless it's a high risk area I wouldn't , doxycylene isn't exactly paracetamol.
Look up Nicola Seal in my friends on FB, and see what she thinks. She's been through Lyme's and suffered badly from it, and is very clued up.
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Kinnoull Hill, near Perth - one of my mum's friends got it in the very same place last year.
I've kept the ticks and I'm going to send them to the lab for testing.
Another, mice based study seemed to think the sooner the better when it comes to prophylactic efficacy. <24hrs is best and they were only using a single dose, so fuck it it, one tab is already down the hatch. :w00t:
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I've never caught it, neither have any of my friends. I think it's over hyped, but recognise that it's a complete pisser when you do get.
A bit like the heavy smoker who hasnt got cancer yet...
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lyme-borreliosis-epidemiology/lyme-borreliosis-epidemiology-and-surveillance
Risk varies from area to area and the time of year.
Like many here who know people who have Lyme's it is usually a bit more than "a pisser" and it can be a truely horrible debilitating disease that pretty much destroys a life.
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It's fucking grim by all accounts. I seem to pick up ticks regularly and am alarmed to hear Lyme's is as far north as Perth. It used to be just a summer issue, but this year I got a tick in March in the highlands, the other year it was font in October.
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I had one on my love spuds last year. I noticed it 2 days after I'd been to the crag (was a bit itchy). No Lymes thankfully. I've tended to use a scalpel and slice them out very quickly, preferring to take a bit of skin off than leave a bit of tick in.
Compression stockings do seem to put them off quite a lot, they get confused, sack it off and go back to the tick pub. Alternatively do an Adam Lincoln and do a hanging belay at the base of the crag above the grass/ferns.
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A bit like the heavy smoker who hasnt got cancer yet...
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lyme-borreliosis-epidemiology/lyme-borreliosis-epidemiology-and-surveillance
Risk varies from area to area and the time of year.
Like many here who know people who have Lyme's it is usually a bit more than "a pisser" and it can be a truely horrible debilitating disease that pretty much destroys a life.
+1
Ex next door neighbour, fiddle player extraordinaire, good friend and all round top bloke was struck down a few years ago (he spent a lot of time in bothys in scotland).
Months in and out of hospital and a good couple of years to get to a stage where he could just about function normally. He looked absolutely bloody wasted when we saw him. Still has periods of debilitating tiredness etc.
I found 3 ticks on me (still moving about so not yet chowing down) on the campsite in Brittany, nobody else seemed to be affected at all. bit weird. super paranoid after that. every little itch.. :unsure:
overhyped?? hmm.
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It's fucking grim by all accounts. I seem to pick up ticks regularly and am alarmed to hear Lyme's is as far north as Perth. It used to be just a summer issue, but this year I got a tick in March in the highlands, the other year it was font in October.
I hear you JB.
Frankly, in the last 20 years Mosquitos have gone from rare as shit in the Uk to a normal part of the Eco system.... I have no idea why, I havnt looked into it all. Perhaps the insects are taking over the world.
Once again, believe the hype, and if in any doubt get some treatment.
As for prophylactic doxy.. That shit put me in hospital and steroid dependant for 3 months, as well as giving me C diff colitis. Not recommended unless under medical advice all.
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As for prophylactic doxy.. That shit put me in hospital and steroid dependant for 3 months, as well as giving me C diff colitis. Not recommended unless under medical advice all.
:o
Erm, well, I just took the one single 200mg dose as in that study, and one more this morning, you reckon I'd be best stopping now? I should really send the ticks in for testing tomorrow (meant to do it today, got sidetracked).
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Have you been bitten by ticks much before? I have probably gotten a bit blase about it, especially locally. If I find one on me I remove it asap with a tick hook, clean area with strong antiseptic, put the tick in a ziploc and keep an eye on the spot as well as keep track of my general health. If I'm fine after a couple of weeks I bin the bag plus tick, if eveyone sent them in for testing they wouldn't be able to cope. Maybe I've just been lucky, but have a few on me every year.
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if eveyone sent them in for testing they wouldn't be able to cope.
Just read this yesterday, in the commments section below a BMC article - apparently it would be helpful for people to send them in for research...
“Send us your ticks”
You can help research into ticks and tick-borne diseases by sending your tick to NTU (address below). Our research includes mapping where people (or their dogs) pick up the ticks. We will identify life-stage, gender and species of ticks to get insight into tick diversity. This helps us get a better understanding of risk areas and risk periods of tick activity. Where relevant we will also test them for presence of Borrelia.
If you want to help us, please send us any tick you find and include where possible information on: host (human/dog/other), location/region picked up (e.g. postcode///GPS), date. Any additional information you wish to include is optional. All data with be kept confidential.
Place the tick in a sealable container (e.g. double sandwich bag and knotted or blood sample type tube or empty ball-pen shaft sealed with sticky tape), placing it within a sealed and stamped envelope and send to:
F. Ruedisueli
Nottingham Trent University
School of ARES
Nottingham Road, Southwell
Nottingham
NG25 0QF
frank.ruedisueli@ntu.ac.uk (for any questions/advice)
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I stand corrected. I think I still have the last one in a bag in my bedroom drawer.
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Have you been bitten by ticks much before? I have probably gotten a bit blase about it, especially locally. If I find one on me I remove it asap with a tick hook, clean area with strong antiseptic, put the tick in a ziploc and keep an eye on the spot as well as keep track of my general health. If I'm fine after a couple of weeks I bin the bag plus tick, if eveyone sent them in for testing they wouldn't be able to cope. Maybe I've just been lucky, but have a few on me every year.
Yeah, plenty, but the more I hear about lyme's the more concerned I get. Wish someone would put some more effort towards developing a vaccine.
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I think things like Ebola and Malaria are a bit higher on the priority list
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Thought they'd nailed Ebola? We can always avoid them by staying in the UK! Well, for now...
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NIMBY! :)
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I've tended to use a scalpel and slice them out very quickly, preferring to take a bit of skin off than leave a bit of tick in.
Ugh. Seems I was a bit overconfident with my method. Had one on my thigh today from Creag Dubh yesterday. Sliced it off but not accurately enough so had a bit left in for a couple of minutes that I had to dig out properly. Hadn't squeezed the body when i initially sliced it though. Is there any course of action I should take apart from keeping aware of possible symptoms e.g. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/pages/introduction.aspx
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Alternatively do an Adam Lincoln and do a hanging belay at the base of the crag above the grass/ferns.
I do seem to attract them though! And after three years in Scotland, and having well over 300 found on me, i've never had a bite!
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This is why I bloody got one! Barrier wall without you as bait to distract them :sick:
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I slathered insect repellent on my arms, legs etc. and didn't pick up any in one evening & morning there on the weekend. Might be coincidence but I'm going to try and be more strict with it in future.
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Yes I've seen insect repellant used for anti tic purposes before. Spray works well for that..
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In their eagerness to improve habitat for the choughs with the Heath Project the National Trust and RSPB have encouraged a variety of animals around Bosigran which have brought the tick problem with them. I have no easy answers.
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I've tended to use a scalpel and slice them out very quickly, preferring to take a bit of skin off than leave a bit of tick in.
Ugh. Seems I was a bit overconfident with my method. Had one on my thigh today from Creag Dubh yesterday. Sliced it off but not accurately enough so had a bit left in for a couple of minutes that I had to dig out properly. Hadn't squeezed the body when i initially sliced it though. Is there any course of action I should take apart from keeping aware of possible symptoms e.g. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/pages/introduction.aspx
Follow recommended medical guidelines and get a tick hook? DEET is a known effective repellant.
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keep off the moors, stick to the roads
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In their eagerness to improve habitat for the choughs with the Heath Project the National Trust and RSPB have encouraged a variety of animals around Bosigran which have brought the tick problem with them. I have no easy answers.
Every walking party (or those getting to the crag) needs is a 'Fiend on a lead'.. Attractively fitted out in red camo uniform, the 'Fiend on a lead' will bushwack a trail in front of your party and in the process attract all nearby ticks to its person - leaving your group tick free!!
Upon return, simply place the 'fiend on a lead' in the supplied autoclave and set to sterilise. Then use again!
*please note the thrash metal noise effects during the sterilisation are part of the process.
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In their eagerness to improve habitat for the choughs with the Heath Project the National Trust and RSPB have encouraged a variety of animals around Bosigran which have brought the tick problem with them. I have no easy answers.
That is worrying. Are they aware of the problem or their effect on it? Round here those groups are very good at taking a lead on this stuff.
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Follow recommended medical guidelines and get a tick hook? DEET is a known effective repellant.
Blimey it took someone that long to do the predictable "use the proper tick removal thing"?? Yeah I worked that out in retrospect.
What I meant was, any advice following on from having been bitten and not having done an immediately neat removal??
Tomtom - Hah! TBH they rarely get me, I think due to the stockings. You really need an Adam Lincoln in lime green and bright blue arcteryx sponsor wear, I think club techno and trance is part of the sterilisation process.
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What I meant was, any advice following on from having been bitten and not having done an immediately neat removal??
Antiseptic cream, keep an eye on where it bit, and your general health. Hang onto the dead tick in case anything goes wrong, or post to the address R-man put up earlier.
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As if the diseases weren't enough to deal with.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/anaphylactic-shock-warning-over-highland-tick-bites-1-3866801
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keep off the moors, stick to the roads
.....and best of luck to you. (Did you know Rik Mayall is in that bit?)
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In this day and age I'd avoid any antibiotics unless medically prescribed.
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There a pretty sad article about a guy's partner who has Lyme's disease (that went diagnosed so untreated) in the most recent issue of Alpinist. It'll make me feel less blase when I've got an infestation like last time.....
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If you want to read more, here's my friend Nicola's blog (i think I've linked to it before)
http://lymeywifey.blogspot.co.uk/
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This came up on my facecrook feed. Please sign and share - can't be that hard to get it up to 10,000 and at least get a government response. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/113475
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done.
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+1