After packing our hats & sunscreen we were off for some great, local organic blueberry picking at Farm Blu. The day was perfect – gorgeous blue sky, a
few wispy clouds offering a touch of shade, 73 degrees with just a hint of a breeze & everyone was in a good mood. We arrived at the farm, grabbed our
buckets & went to picking. Two hours later we loaded up our blueberry treasures and headed home. Blueberry picking with your family is an amazing
experience.
The day was absolutely perfect, except we forgot one small step when leaving the farm – check for ticks. Upon arriving home, our grandmother text that she
had found a tick on her and we should all check our skin immediately. After removing one recently attached tick from each of us & showering the family,
I thought we were all taken care of.
The next morning I found one more tick attached on my left calf. I got the last one! Next time we will all wear long pants.
A few weeks later I noticed a small red mark on my left calf. I decided to watch it and check with the always available doctor – webmd.com. A few days
later the red dot had grown in to a larger red splotch. Since it was Friday afternoon, I made a doctor appointment for the following Monday. By Saturday, I
started to see signs of a 2nd ring forming on my left calf – a bull’s eye. I was sure glad to be going to the doctor on Monday and felt really
lucky that I caught this early and had very few symptoms.
Then Sunday hit me, literally, like a bus. I had a stellar headache, couldn’t move faster than a snail and every joint and appendage of my entire body hurt.
Now I see why Lyme disease stinks so much. At the doctor’s office she confirmed the probable Lyme disease diagnosis and prescribed Doxycycline. I began the
treatment right away and started feeling much better after two days. The rash began to diminish after a week, but the fatigue lingered on for a few weeks.
Almost a year later, I feel fine but still wonder when an occasional symptom pops up if that could be related to a decreased-Lyme-fighting-immune system. What have I learned? Please check out my to-dos for our next blueberry picking adventure (or any outdoor, woodsy activity):
- Dress in pants & a long-sleeve shirt.
- Spray with Deet repellant. (I like to go as au natural as possible, but after this experience I’m using the proven protection.)
- Shower right after outdoor activities.
- Check skin for any sneaky ticks.
- Check skin for next few days and take note/calendar any red bumps, splotches or marks.
- Seek medical attention at first sign of any Lyme disease symptoms of red rashes, muscle pain, stiff joints, fever, fatigue, headache and numbness.
For more information, check out the following links:
Thanks for reading. What next steps can you take today to Protect Your Family with Lyme Disease prevention tips?
