Down, But Not Out

A dastardly tick has laid me low. After several days of fever, headache, chills, joint pain and fatigue I finally realized I was sick (I just kept working along, thinking I must be a little dehydrated...duh, did I mention confusion was another symptom :p ) A trip to the doctor with tick log in hand seemed in order. Since I almost never run a fever I was pretty sure I had managed to get some tick-borne illness. I immediately suspected the tick that had managed to escape my regular checks by hiding at the base of my ponytail. (All that hair is gone now -- a tick will be hard pressed to hide in what I have left!)

Most likely diagnosis: Ehrlichiosis. I should get the results of the blood tests back early this week. Meanwhile I am taking doxycycline - the first antibiotic that has entered my body in the past 18 or 20 years. The good news is that I feel much better, not 100%, but better. The bad news is that I have to stay inside for the full course of the antibiotic -- 20 DAYS!!! The antibiotic makes me more sensitive to the sun and since I'm a redhead (strawberry blonde variety), I'm already prone to burn :(

Anyway, I just wanted to touch base and let you know why I haven't been answering your comments or posting anything new. Hope to be back soon. Meanwhile, y'all have fun out there and don't forget to check for ticks!

Life Can Be (in) The Pits

Check out the little blue-gray lumps in this skink's "armpit" ... those are ticks.
He had them on the other side as well.

Okay, all together now --- EEEWWW

Click the photo to fully appreciate the infestation.

Drat, Ticked Again!

Yes, that is my boot and, yes, those little brown specks are ticks.
Now, multiply what you see by about 7 times and you will have an idea of the number of these precious little critters I came in contact with today in a remarkably short period of time.
Click to enlarge the photo.
Shall we all have a collective shudder?
Larval stage of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, a.k.a. seed ticks.

(Relax, I got them off before they even thought about attaching. Vigilance pays.)

Tick'd Off

 

Thought I would show you just a few of the ticks I came in contact with yesterday at work. These are Lone Star ticks - both adults and nymphs. In the fall the larval stage, known as seed ticks, will be a plague.

As you can see, duct tape is a wonderful thing. A few taps along your pants leg and you can simultaneously capture and contain the little blood suckers. Awesome!

And now you must excuse me. It's time for work and I need to find another roll of tape.