muggs Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 So, I never used to take the threat of ticks seriously. I'd even go as far as to say I thought the idea that a tick could give you Lyme disease was more media sensationalism than anything else. That being said, I ended up spending 5 days in the ICU recently and was diagnosed with Lyme Carditis (a serious complication of Lyme disease). This all was the result of being bit by an infected tick while I was hanging my treestands in early Sept. I never saw the tick, never felt the bite, never saw a rash. Weeks later I started feeling light-headed when I'd stand up, and after a few days I started noticing I was short of breath when I'd just walk across the room. Finally, after about 4 days of symptoms I felt bad enough that I agreed to call my doctor. They told me to go to the ER, which I did and was admitted immediately after an EKG was done. Long story short, it ended up being a terrible experience with a few days of a pulse rate of 20-30 BPM. Good news is it is very treatable with antibiotics and I've since been given a clean bill of health. It was a 3 week ordeal though, and not fun for myself or my family. Lyme Carditis is normally very rare, but I was the 2nd case the hospital had seen in 3 months, so my doctors believe there may be a more severe strain of the bacteria out there (especially in PA and eastern Ohio where I live). Take the necessary precautions and check yourself for ticks (or even better have a good looking woman do it for you). Also, listen to your body. If you are experience symptoms like this, have it checked out. Other than that, hope you are all well. Michigan Football is still awful and they're overrated (they haven't played anybody who wasn't overrated themselves) and Urban Meyer is an aging Adonis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Welcome back Eric. Glad you got treated and you are gonna be ok. Most the time in my experience medical professionals around here downplay tick bites especially when no rash is present. Thanks for the warning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Aside from the slow heart rate any other specific symptoms or tests that led to that diagnosis? Wife being a nurse asked me to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Glad to hear you got it under control..thanks for the heads up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Welcome back Eric. Glad you got treated and you are gonna be ok. Most the time in my experience medical professionals around here downplay tick bites especially when no rash is present. Thanks for the warning. Well, Lyme Carditis results in heart block (not like blocked arteries, it actually means an electrical signal issue). It can be first, second, or third degree block (in my case it was 3rd degree block which is most severe). Since I have always been healthy and there was no family history of heart disease, etc... they made the diagnosis. The fact they had just seen a near carbon-copy case three months prior helped my cause as well. That being said, when I was initially admitted to an ER room, they were puzzled and thought I was just had heart failure. They told me I would need a pacemaker. It wasn't until I was taken up to the ICU where the electrocardiologist saw me. Right away he started asking me if I worked outside or if I was an outdoorsman. so he suspected it right away.Lyme Carditis also only affects the node that sends signals from the atrium to the ventricles of the heart. So when they see only that node being affected and nothing else, it points to Lyme Carditis. This is especially true if the affected person is a young male who spends a lot of time in the woods etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Glad your ok. Will deff have to take them a little more serious. Never really worried about it. Have know a few people who have gotten sick from a bite from one tho. Michigan does stink lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Man that sounds like a bad deal. Glad to hear your feeling better. I got sick a couple of years ago and think it may have had to do with a tick or bug bite. I never noticed a rash or bite so the doctors wrote it off. It carried on for several months with no diagnosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) I second what William said, good to see you back Muggs. That being said, I'm also glad that you are healthy again. Ticks scare the **** out of me. Like you, it was never a thought 10 years ago. but now I fear for myself and my kids every time we go in the woods. Glad you shared your story. Now pass the Sawyers. Edited October 14, 2015 by RangerClay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Wow. Wicked story bud. Glad you're ok. Scary stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Wow scary stuff! Glad you're ok bud. Never really see ticks here in eastern Ontario but I know there's some around. Welcome back, good luck this season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted October 25, 2015 Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 pretty bad stuff, for sure. and it can very well kill. my buddy lost a good horse about 10 years ago to that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.