Every summer we hear a little something about Lyme disease. I've read that it goes undetected for years some times, and can reek havac on the body. I've heard of a bull's eye type ring around a bite or a rash of some kind. The symptoms seems to change every year...

I wonder why we don't hear more warnings about this, or if  Doctors are doing tests to see if people have it, instead of treating them for other ailments first.

A couple people I worked with had it, and went undiagnosed for a long time.

Anyone have advices or thoughts?

Lyme Disease is difficult to diagnose.  It is detected thru what they call a titer test, a blood test.  A negative on the test does not mean you definitely don't have it.  The test detects spirocytes which are generated by the virus, but they are cyclic, having high and low concentration levels.  If you're tested when they are at the low end of the cycle, your test will come back negative.

Symptoms are difficult to track as everyone seems to express the virus differently, though there are common denominators. Left untreated long enough can result in permanent damage to joints and some organs.  And treatment is no guarantee of a cure.  Standard treatment being three weeks of tetracycline followed by two weeks of amoxyciline.  It is believed this merely sends the disease into a remission which can relapse at any time.  And of course the antibiotics, especially the high dosages of tetracycline have their own lasting effects.

Not much attention is given to it here in Central New York as it is believed to be very limited to non-existant here.  One of my dogs' was tentatively diagnosed with it a few years ago.  It took work on my part, doing research and contacting the right people to get the proper treatment for her.  My Veterinarian did not believe she had it as, :we don't find Lyme Disease in this area."  Well, in this case she didn't contract it in "this area" , rather at a Dog Show in Maryland.  What made me suspect Lyme in this situation?  Three other dogs at that show that I knew came down with the same/similar symptoms and they were positively diagnosed with Lyme.  Once I convinced my Vet to follow the proscribed program, she quickly recovered.

Honestly I don't know much about lyme diease, I have heard the bull's eye rash.  My dogs are a  bigger concern to me than us humans simply because they can't tell us and I worry constantly about my black dog, how in the world would I see a tick on him?  I always look over my daughter after playing outside (I can be a bit paranoid, lol) I love how they suggest wearing long sleeve shirts and pants as a prevention.... obviously "they" never go outside when it's 95 out there......
Mosquitos seem a bigger concern, with all the dieases they carry  I find it mind blowing they don't spray, and when they do it's at the end of summer.  I live off Onieda Lake and we basically all use OFF as our favorite summer "perfume". They are immune to it, they still swarm by the hundreds and bite away.  They don't spray my area  at all, we are only a few miles from Cicero Swamp, I don't know if they come from there or the nasty lake but it's intolerable.  They seem to multiply by the thousands every year, nasty disgusting creatures!

Thanks Asgard and Amused! That's quite informative.. The people I know that got it, live in Oswego county. Outdoor people, and so are we. That's why I got concerned. I've heard it's not around here too. Then I heard a report that it is around here, it just goes undiagnosed. Dr.'s aren't looking for it when a patient comes in with complaints. There are alot of creepy crawly things out there.  > : (

I think more than likely it is around here, just very misdiagnosed.  My dog contracted it back in 1992 in Maryland, but I have heard of several people here in Central New York who have been diagnosed with it and actually contracted it here.  I do what I can to insured neither my pets or myself come in contact with it.  Keep the brush, tall grass and such cut back and away from the areas we roam here at home and pesticides when and where necessary.  A good thorough body check is also in order.  But, like Amused, my dogs are predominately black, so it's a hard thing to be sure of.

As for the mosquitoes, I think they are immune to everything and have become murtants!  Found one flying around in my office today that was over an inch long! I kid you not!  All those pesticides have disrupted their DNA and created MONSTER MOSQUITOES!!!  I expect to be carried off and sucked dry any day now!

Asgard,

Your monster mosquito is actually a completely harmless crane fly. They are quite common. Feel free to look it up, although I think America has forgotten to base their opinions on factual information. However mosquitos and other pests are becoming resistant to pestides, (as we humans are becoming more ill from pestcides exposure). Despite what the trusty bible says, we do not have dominion of the earth. Good luck!

If you suspect that you (or someone you know) has Lyme Disease, DO NOT let the doctors around here put you off.

My grandfather was a farmer all his life, outdoors in the mucks every day.  A few years ago, he started exhibiting signs of alzheimers/dementia.  My grandmother asked the doctors to test him for Lyme Disease, but they refused to, saying that it is not in this area (Oswego County), and diagnosed him with dementia.

After years of begging doctors to test him for Lyme Disease, my grandma contacted The Lyme Disease Foundation, and she ended up taking my grandpa to Erie PA in Sept to have him tested.  The test came back positive, and the doctor said that he'd had Lyme Disease for several years.  Had they tested my grandpa for it years ago, they could have treated it.  But the disease had progressed too far, and my grandpa passed away in November.

So...if you suspect Lyme Disease, MAKE the doctors test you.