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Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

post #1 of 17
4/9/08 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 
I happened to run my hand over my leg, felt a bump and see a tick attached to me. I got a pair of tweezers and was amazed at the grip the little sucker had. I had to exercise some real force and got him off in one piece. After that, I applied some hydrogen peroxide to the spot.

I'm wondering now about lyme disease. I seem to recall there is some RX that can be taken as a preventative when a tick bite is suspected. Anyone recall what that is and how soon I have to take it.

I'll be calling my doctor tomorrow.

Edit: BTW, I'm in Arkansas and we do have deer in the vicinity.
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post #2 of 17
4/9/08 at 8:27pm

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

DVBID: Prevention | CDC Lyme Disease
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post #3 of 17
4/9/08 at 9:38pm

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

When I got a tick my grandma would take a lit match and then blow it out and put it on the tick to get it to release its grip.
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post #4 of 17
4/9/08 at 11:31pm

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

I'm pretty tired, so I didn't read Patrick's link. But they used to use mega doses of aspirin. I wouldn't do that until I checked with your doctor.

Also, if you could pull the tick off of you, I believe it was the wrong kind of tick. The Lyme disease ticks are very small.
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post #5 of 17
4/10/08 at 4:29am

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

Doxycycline - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Doxycycline is the standard treatment for lyme or suspected lyme disease and I believe you can take that even if you aren't 100% sure that you were bit by a deer tick. Obviously there are other kinds of ticks and I've heard that even if it physically bites you, it isn't a sure thing, but do see your physician and check the symptons of Lyme and stay forward on this.

Keep the tick too, for positive identification.

Jay
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post #6 of 17
4/10/08 at 6:26am
Thread Starter 

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al.Anderson
Also, if you could pull the tick off of you, I believe it was the wrong kind of tick. The Lyme disease ticks are very small.
I hope you are right, this was a large tick, big enough to get a grip on with my fingers. I have a call into my doctor.
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post #7 of 17
4/10/08 at 6:37am

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

It was probably a wood tick. They were really bad up here in Wisconsin last year. You couldn't go near the woods behind my house without getting one on you.

I believe it's the deer tick which is much smaller that carries lyme disease. But, if you're creeped out (as I usually am) check with your doctor. They'll explain the symptoms (redness at the bite, sore joints.. etc..).

They'll hang out on tall grasses or branches waiting for a host to pass by and latch on to. They really are voracious little bastards.

I've heard of the hot match trick but I think you can also use vaseline to cover them and cut off their air supply and they'll release their grip making them easier to remove.

Blech.
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post #8 of 17
4/10/08 at 7:16am

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

If it was pretty large, then I would agree with Dave, most likely a wood tick. I would also concur to check your physician for peice of mind and for symptons.

Jay
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post #9 of 17
4/10/08 at 7:35am

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
When I got a tick my grandma would take a lit match and then blow it out and put it on the tick to get it to release its grip.

My mom used to do that too, but I've heard that you're better off just using tweezers. When you use a match the heat causes the tick to not just let go, but also to spit more anti-coagulate into the wound increasing the chance of disease.

In other words, try not to hurt the tick as you're pulling it off because you really don't want it to do anything other than keep sucking at that moment.
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post #10 of 17
4/10/08 at 8:09am

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

Good site with ID help:Tick identification pictures and descriptions
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post #11 of 17
4/10/08 at 2:24pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

It's not the deer tick based on those pictures, though I didn't see a black one. I talked with my doctor's nurse on the phone and they are confident it wasn't the deer tick and as long as there are no symptoms, no problem.

He hadn't engorged himself on my blood yet, because I'm sure he would have splatted it out while I was pulling him off. I am still amazed at how much force it took to pull him off.
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post #12 of 17
4/10/08 at 6:27pm

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

after i pull a tick off one of my dogs i always wrap it in a tissue and set it on fire making sure i hear a pop.
the only way i feel sure it's dead.
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post #13 of 17
4/10/08 at 6:31pm

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

The tick or your dog?
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post #14 of 17
4/10/08 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
after i pull a tick off one of my dogs i always wrap it in a tissue and set it on fire making sure i hear a pop.
the only way i feel sure it's dead.
There's no way I could have gotten this guy with my fingers, had to use tweezers. Afterwards I applied plenty of pressure to finish him off.
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post #15 of 17
4/11/08 at 4:20am

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

When one of my cats coughed up some wiggly roundworms, I wrapped them in a tissue and threw them in my wood stove (~800°F) would probably kill most things... Of course, then my vet tells me that i should have saved them... but they were ALIVE!

Jay
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post #16 of 17
4/11/08 at 4:25am

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay H
When one of my cats coughed up some wiggly roundworms, I wrapped them in a tissue and threw them in my wood stove (~800°F) would probably kill most things... Of course, then my vet tells me that i should have saved them... but they were ALIVE!

Jay


OK. I'm going to barf now.
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post #17 of 17
4/12/08 at 11:45pm

Re: Just Pulled a Tick Off My Leg

My Grandma did the match thing too on her dogs and it works well for future reference.
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