Earlier this afternoon I’m sitting here and realize there was a little pain on the back of my calf, instinctively I reached down and touched my leg - oh, what do we have here? A little reddish bump.. Upon closer inspection, a Deer Tick had borrowed its way into my leg, probably yesterday while mowing the lawn or hiking in the woods or something. Now I have a tick embedding into my calf, just below the skin, and it frustrates me. A lot. Because now I have to cut into my leg and remove it..
Ok, I should have been a surgeon. Using the razor blade, I cut into my leg, around the tick, and using a pair of tweezers, pulled out as much as I could. All better, hopefully..
This could have been a really fun, albeit disgusting post with some great photos, but I thought I would spare you the details, and keep the entomology lesson to biology class. I’ll keep on eye on the crater in my leg, and watch for any weird rashes to develop.
If this thing was carrying Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain fever, I’m going to be really aggravated…
Stumble it!
17 responses so far ↓
Shaz@UsDanes // May 7, 2007 at 3:35 am
OMG! I could never have done that to myself being the woozie kind of person I am. Keep an eye on that one. Hope all is better soon x x PS Thnaks for nor sharing pictures if this x x
margaret // May 7, 2007 at 7:12 am
Ughhh not fun!
I remember the first time I found a deer tick on one of the girls, we were at the doctor’s immediately! Just a tidbit I picked up, they usually have to be embedded for 36 - 48 hours to pass the disease. Luckily, we knew when and where they picked them up.
Last week, we tried our hand at Letterboxing and while walking through a pine grove, the five of us collectivly picked up at least 50 dog ticks. I have never seen that many ticks at one time before! Luckily, we got them all before they became attached. And I’m glad they were the dog kind and not deer type as they don’t carry Lyme.
Good luck and I hope you stay healthy!
John - ThePhotoHound // May 7, 2007 at 8:43 am
Lyme Disease sucks. My wife got it about 7 years ago. Joints ache, muscle pain, fatigue… feels like mono, and most doctors will misdiagnose it. This is turning into a depressing post… sorry. Just keep an eye on it for satellite hives. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Not all deer ticks carry the disease…
Gina // May 7, 2007 at 9:41 am
Not fun! But good job. I was going to suggest vasoline because it smothers them, but it was too late as it was already burrowed.
And thanks for the reminder, as it’s about time I get my doggie protected from ticks and fleas. Living on 7 acres she needs it.
Claire // May 7, 2007 at 10:46 am
Oh My God! did this really happen?
Why did you take it out yourself instead of going to the doctors?
Ryan // May 7, 2007 at 10:52 am
Ha, yes, it really did happen! Gross huh? I’m on 55 acres here at my house, and the back 40 acres are all wooded with big grassy fields. This is the first time (to my knowledge) I have even gotten one of these..
Yeah, just didn’t fel like bothering to go to the doctor, so I cut him out myself… :0]
Young Tami // May 7, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Hmm… super fun, thanks for the gross-out just before lunch! But that would be very very painful, yucky, aggrivaiting, and so on. Thanks for not posting pictures, yummy!?
Claire // May 7, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Well if your leg goes gangrenous , please don’t attempt to amputate it yourself
Just a little plot you have there then, 55 acres!
Comedy Plus // May 7, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Ryan, I would have done the surgery for you. No really, I would have.
You will be more that aggravated if you get Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain fever!!! Good luck ♥
Riley Merrick // May 8, 2007 at 7:15 am
Yikes. If you saved the tick, you could have it tested for diseases then know whether you are safe or not without the stress-making wait for symptoms.
I feel for you. We’ve gone through Lyme scares with the dogs — in fact, we’re waiting on a Lyme test for one of them now.
Claire // May 8, 2007 at 7:54 am
Alas poor Ryan has obviously succumbed to the tick!
amy // May 8, 2007 at 4:20 pm
You just gave me the chills..Ugh!
aimee/greeblemonkey // May 9, 2007 at 12:08 am
I hate ticks. Yuck. Hope you got it.
Claire // May 9, 2007 at 6:55 am
I was joking, have you really succumbed to the tick?
Comedy Plus // May 9, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Okay Ryan, this isn’t funny. Say something! You just can’t lay this kind of thing on us and then not tell us that you are okay. Post something my dear
Angela Giles Klocke // May 10, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I’ve grown up around ticks and had many, but none ever burrowed in. *shudder* I hope you’re all good now!
Claire // May 12, 2007 at 6:10 am
Ha! i found out what really happened to you, Read Below for the real story
TICK WARNING!
I hate it when people forward bogus warnings, and I have even done it myself a couple times unintentionally…but this one is real, and it’s important.
If someone comes to your front door saying they are checking for ticks due to the warm weather, and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up, DO NOT DO IT!! THIS IS A SCAM!! They only want to see you naked.
I wish I’d gotten this yesterday. I feel so stupid.
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