The REAL Beast of the Forest

[Richard]

Thank you Eric for the excellent information.

[Lifejacket]

I originally read the the first post on this thread then quit. THAT WAS A MISTAKE! I started feeling bad Monday night, did not sleep good got up in middle of night and tripped over misplaced laundry basket and thought I slightly pulled my groin. Went to work Tuesday struggled through the morning and at noon went home for lunch and took a power nap since I didn't feel good, 45 minutes later when I got up decided I felt bad enough to take my temperature. Please note I take medicine when I feel bad, not when a thermometer tells me I have a temperature, and have not taken my temperature since I don't know when, lived for years without a thermometer, girlfriend incorporated it to household. Back to story temperature was 102.0. Decided to return to work for rest of day and stay in office after I took some cold medicine, only made it until 3:00. Went home and took a 3 hour nap woke up fever still 102. Called a nurse I know and described the following symptoms: fever, body aches, sweating and chills. She said take ibuprofen to try and control fever and go to doctor tomorrow, said it sounded like a bacteria infection, BUT with the number of tick born infections their office had seen this year I definitely needed to see a doctor tomorrow. After discussing that antibiotics was the prescribed treatment for my suspected illness found some of my girlfriends unused antibiotics less than six months old and decided to take them with the ibuprofen and ate small dinner. Could not sleep much Tuesday night.

Wednesday, at around 4:00 am in the morning woke up with the sheets soaked from sweat freezing, took temperature now 104. Starting to get nervous, took another 600mg of ibuprofen and see if I could go back to sleep. Woke back up at 7:00 still not felling well but much better than at 4:00 am, called and informed GM I would not be coming in today. Woke up at 9:00, when girlfriend got up to go to work, she took my temperature now 101.something. Took next dosage of antibiotic and another 600mg of Ibuprofen. Don't know what time I woke up next after noon sometime, temp was between 100 and 101. BAD ASSUMPTION to think I was getting better. Watched TV for probably 2 hrs and attempting to eat some chicken soup, but didn't have much of an appetite now have temp of 102 again another 600mg Ibuprofen and nap. Girlfriend arrives later fever down to 100 now, but for some reason my previously mentioned groin pull seems to hurt a lot worse. I also have a terrible headache now. Couple of hours later after going to the bathroom, notice what looks like a hernia between my groin and waist line. Never had a hernia, but my girlfriend who has never seen one thinks that is what it is. Only problem with this diagnosis it is rally red and inflamed looking and hurts not only when moving but when laying down. 9:00 PM take another antibiotic and 600mg IB. Temperature inconsistently ranges between 100 and 102. Wednesday night or early Thursday morning can't get to sleep until about 2:00 or 3:00. Decide must see doctor TOMORROW.

THURSADAY, 7:00 call in to work again advise boss of situation and he tells me probably good thing I am going to Doctor today. 8:00 make appointment for 10:20. Do not feel good at all have to get little bother to carry me to doctor. Now at doctor with a fever of 101, inform him of my symptoms and self medication of antibiotics. His first notion some kind of TICK disease. Feel like I get molested by doctor looking for tick or bite on my leg, genitals, and butt can't be found. But informs me that the hernia looking mass is a very swollen lymph node. Decides to do a white cell count, luckily not bad considering his diagnosis; informs me he can send off to get me tested to see what kinda of tick disease I have, but with the lab backed up it could take 3 to 4 weeks to get the results in which time I will either become cured or dead. Inform him I am not going to pay for that, after reading all this Tick stuff on the board that may have been a bad idea. Finally some GOOD NEWS, starting the antibiotics when I did probably really helped. He prescribes me a seven day course of the same antibiotics and gives me a shot in the butt of something that started with an R that I can't remember. A couple of hours later the shot seems to have really helped with the headache and body aches and now only have a low grade fever, but the lymph node still hurts really bad. Was able to sleep better still sweat quite a bit and had a few chills.

FRIDAY, came into work to in the office only lymph node still really sore, have minor headache and body aches but no fever. The really weird part is sitting at the desk with the air on 68 and still sweating. Also noticed this morning what looks like a pretty old bite on my leg that was not noticed yesterday seems really red, does not itch and am 99% sure it is not something new. Hoping this is just the medicine working and showing where it was at, called the doctor's nurse back this afternoon to update her per his request yesterday, but have not heard anything back. Hoping for the best from here on out.

[fryingsquirrel]

GYAARGH!
I'm sitting here reading all this scary stuff over something I thought was just a small nuisance, and I keep itching all over and squirming like a madman!!!
Last June my at my old house, (which was a few miles outside the city) we had a seed tick infestation that was so bad that if you just walked across the back yard (like to get the clothes from the line) you would immediately come inside, sit down, grab a pair of tweezers and pick 6 or 8 ticks off oneself. Those little buggers would get in the most inconvient places...squirm, squirm, itch!!! I asked around at a few places like TSC and garden centers, and heard great rewiews on a product called Triazicide. Wearing gloves and long pants, I treated the whole back yard and front yard with the stuff (it comes in a granular form.) About a week later, I was able to frolic all I wanted in my yard... TICK FREE!!! I don't remember how dangerous it was supposed to be to pets, but it sure as heck got rid of those seed ticks.
I guess this is just one of the small prices we all must pay to live in a wonderful state like Arkansas. (Sorry, Arkie wannabes!)
Squirrel Out.

[Richard]

LifeJacket, This stuff is nothing to fool around with. I was within 24 hours of dying when I got to UAMS. The problem with Ehrlichiosis, at least in my case, is that it opens the way for other infections. In my case meningitis and pneumonia. All three were bacterial infections. Also some antibiotics are far more effective than others. Ehrlichiosis is treated with a tetracycline antibiotic, usually doxycycline. I was on doxycycline for 13 days.
My wife was talking with a gentleman just today who lost his daughter to this.

[plaidpants]

Back in the 80's my father in law was a contractor building houses at Holiday Island, Ar. He and his son would never get ticks on themwhile there employee's did. This is a bit strange but I found being a woodsman myself this really works. If you can find some Denorex Dandruff shamppo bath you whole body with it. It will tingle a lot if you get it close to your never minds. After using Denorex myself in the woods i never got a tick on me. There is a chemical in it that keeps the ticks away. It works plus you don't have to worry about dandruff. Finding it is also hard to do now days.

I still have a scar from my tick bite and fever when I did not use Denorex. I use it regularly now.

[Lifejacket]

Yeah, doxycycline is what I was taking and what the doctor prescribed. You mention the other infections, that is why I am still hangin around the house and stayin in the AC.

[Jim Krueger]

Adam,

It sounds like you've been feeling 'pretty wormy' for the last few days :shock: . We hope you feel better very soon!

Best Regards
Jim