[Auracle]

It’s funny to me how people have such crazy reactions to ticks. Don’t get me wrong, they can carry some scary stuff - but a few bites? I get a few bites a month during the spring and early summer, and probably take off 10x that amount before they attach. Some are deer ticks. I’ve heard of people taking ticks that were attached to the doctor.

I guess my point is chances are you’ll be fine. Do what you can to prevent bites but don’t freak out about them.

[nakedrobot2]

you don't know anyone who got Lyme disease do you?

[Auracle]

I do. It's usually perfectly treatable with antibiotics and chronic (post-treatment) Lyme disease is...controversial, among doctors. I'm not saying it isn't real, but I've known a person that thought they had celiac disease, then it was Lyme disease, then it was something else, and something else... It's one of those things that people can convince themselves they have, and there's no way to actually test for it.

The tick bites that can cause you to become allergic to red meat are frankly a lot more scary to me.

The point is I've probably had 30 deer ticks in my life and I've been tested for Lyme disease plenty and they all came back negative. You certainly don't need to worry about regular wood ticks. Like I said, do what you can to prevent it. I spray my shoes with permethrin, for instance.

[beckingz]

My mother had lyme disease, which kicked off several years of auto-immune issues. Low energy and near-depression for years. No joke.

[Auracle]

Any infection can trigger autoimmune issues though. It's a fear I know well - my dad has lupus and I have several (thankfully relatively minor) autoimmune conditions.