My doctor diagnosed me today with Early Lyme Disease.  I had been feeling
fatigued and achy for a few days and then I noticed a red circle about
quarter size on my back.  It grew to fist sized the next day and the pain
remained and localized to my joints.  Other symptoms have been minor so far.
Thankfully I'm on antibiotics now before anything chronic or debilitating
manifested.  I suspect everyone here is already concerned well enough about
ticks.  When I am outdoors with my kids I use deet, tuck my trousers in my
socks and am pretty good about checking for ticks on everyone when we return
to my car or indoors.  So I set a good example for others but tend towards
thinking I'm still indestructible when alone.  Certainly learned my
lesson...

 

Now, as for where the little bug that got me came from, I've birded in the
past ten days at Blue Mash, Hughes Hollow, Layhill Park, some private
locations in Loudoun County, VA and about fifteen locations in Michigan.  I
am most suspicious of my trips to Layhill Park and Michigan since I was not
wearing bug juice in Layhill and it likely wore off throughout the day
during my trip to Michigan.  I didn't see deer in Michigan but they are all
over Layhill and surrounding areas.

 

Hope this helps keep everyone vigilant.

 

____ 

 

David Gersten

Silver Spring, MD