[webbo]

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.

[tomtom]

You should have deeted up yer knackers before hand [emoji32]

[SA Chris]

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!).

[andyd]

Mid Wales garden back yonder...

Forgive my ignorance. Is this the bit between the sack and the crack?

[davej]

Suppose your likely to get a biting tick bouldering in Torridon this time of the year??

[SA Chris]

Very much so. Beinn Eighe is a nature reserve. If there's deer there will be ticks.

[Monolith]

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

[SA Chris]

Have a shot, at least you will smell nice. Deet will be more effective though.

[SpanishJuan]

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.

[Monolith]

I'm sorry to hear this mate. I hope you recover quickly.

[tomtom]

Mid Wales garden back yonder...

Forgive my ignorance. Is this the bit between the sack and the crack?

An interesting description of Aberystwyth...

[tomtom]

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.

[andyd]

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 :-)

[Fultonius]

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?

[SA Chris]

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.

[Fultonius]

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. 

[Offwidth]

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.

[Johnny Brown]

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.

[Fiend]

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.

[SamT]

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.. 

overhyped?? hmm.

 

[fatdoc]

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.

[Fultonius]

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.

 

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).

[SA Chris]

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.

[r-man]

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)

[SA Chris]

I stand corrected. I think I still have the last one in a bag in my bedroom drawer.