First we had mozzies, but I didn't even think "malaria", just itchy irritating bites. Now we have a small tick, removed and shoved into a clean sample bottle for posterity and I am thinking, hypochondriacally, Lyme disease (also meningitis, arthritis, heart and neurological disorders).I hoik sheep ticks off the dogs from time to time, being careful to do the twizzling thing with the tick stick to avoid leaving the head buried in their flesh. Even so, the welts part the fur and mini bald patches result for a few days. But never before have I had the dubious pleasure of removing one from my own groin. Immediate thoughts - crabs - how did I get that? Bed bugs - yuck! But a trawl through the terrifying medical websites and a look at the mite in the bottle says no, it's just a tick.
I walk through long grasses on the farm in shorts and sandals. The advice is to always wear long trousers tucked into your socks and boots - what in 70 degree sun? So now I suffer with minor groin itch (yes, far too much information) and a constant shivery wonderment that is my body asking itself whether there are any more of the critters lurking in the warmth of my skin. Tickle tickle tickle.
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15 comments:
my poor dog is suffering similarly but from flea bites. and yes, I'm not going to walk through long grass in 70 degrees in long trousers. Oh no.
You poor thing. Steer clear of medical websites, though... five minutes looking at those and I'm always convinced I've only got a few days to live!
Oh yuck, Mopsa - I'm not coming to Devon next week! First the mozzies and now The Tick. Makes me shudder just to think of it. Those tick sticks are great though, aren't they? Before I had one of them for the dogs I had to do it with tweezers. Eeuch.
Hum...never had ticks in my groin area - mind you, not much chance of that now the warm weather and shorts have disappeared..Will try next year - I have to try everything (well, nearly everything) once - but, on second thoughts, might leave this one to the dog instead!
Thank you all for your sympathy, and oh yuck was definitely MY response too. It was only a tiny tick....
I wince in sympathy - at least if you have any mysterious illness apear you'll be aware enough to tell the medics about the tick. Half the time people don't even know about Lymes disease etc and then .....
Perhaps you could look at sloshing gallons of some effective insect repellent - some knid of essential oil - over your legs when you out in shorts in summer?
We picked up a few sheep ticks while wandering through bracken on the Isle of Arran many years ago. Only noticed as we lay in the bath ... "Funny, I don't remember a freckle there..." Just came off with rubbing in the hot water, so I think they didn't much like the taste.
Ah, that was a magical holiday. Baking hot days, flat calm, crystal clear (and icy!) water. We were touring on a 1000cc V-twin and had a simply wonderful time. Thanks for poking that memory!
Lady T, you are wise - but I am outside on the farm in shorts all summer and good intentions get forgotten in the rush of stuff to do.... weak and feeble response I know, but truthful!
Happy to memory poke Rob!
Tee hee. You poor thing!
Oh yuck....Poor you!!!
this just spurs on my campaign to get all livestock moved at least ten kilometres away from the village mopsa dear. As if animals being noisy and smelly wasn't reason enough, sigh
Thanks Sally and M&M for sympathy - all received warmly!
Rilly - you are a card. Just try a soft nosed calf nuzzling in the palm of your hand, or watch the lambs gambol in Spring. Or just get a peg to pinch the nostrils together on hyper-smelly days. Have to say, it smells a lot better than Burton-on Trent on a brewing day. Or London underground on any day.
Ok thats it....I'm off to the beach today. Very inspiring post...I am going to post a link to your blog in mine if that is OK with you?
PS I meant this comment for the post about walking on the beach, ticks are NOT inspiring....my apologies.
VV - a link would be lovely. I bet ticks inspire each other, but I agree, they sure don't inspire me!
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