tick bites

fatlazyless · 05-18-2026, 06:56 AM

Most everyone is aware of the health problem with tick bites ..... http://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/...ng-many-to-er/ .... and maybe knows someone who has suffered with it.

So, how bad is this tick bite problem in central New Hampshire? This map in the Bangor Daily News makes NH, Vt & Me look bad with tick bites.

TomC · 05-18-2026, 09:38 AM

I read a story this morning about a "new" tick, the Lone Star tick, heading north. Right now it is sort of prevalent between Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. But cases are starting to appear in our region. It carries a disease called alpha_gal syndrome which makes a person afflicted allergic to meat and dairy (sometimes violently). Check yourself for ticks!

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...s/syc-20428608

ishoot308 · 05-18-2026, 10:15 AM

NH has a definite tick problem and the Lakes Region is not immune to it...

Two summers ago I contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite. It was no fun at all! It took multiple hospital / doctors visits before it was diagnosed correctly. I was very persistent and finally went to a very young skin specialist at DHMC in Manchester who figured it out immediately just by looking at me!

I had no "target" to indicate a tick bite (not everyone gets this). Had blotches all over my body and felt horrible. The emergency room doctors misdiagnosed it, Convenient Med Care doctors misdiagnosed it as well as my PCP. Finally made my own appointment with a specialist at Dartmouth Hitchcock, she didn't even bother to wait for blood test results to confirm and put me on a high dose of doxycycline immediately for I believe 6 weeks. Lab results came back confirming Lyme Disease.

I hopefully caught it early enough to where I have had no issues since but that is thanks to my persistence and a very talented young doctor at DHMC!

Dan

WinnisquamZ · 05-18-2026, 10:34 AM

Spray away!

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FlyingScot · 05-18-2026, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

NH has a definite tick problem and the Lakes Region is not immune to it...

Two summers ago I contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite. It was no fun at all! It took multiple hospital / doctors visits before it was diagnosed correctly. I was very persistent and finally went to a very young skin specialist at DHMC in Manchester who figured it out immediately just by looking at me!

I had no "target" to indicate a tick bite (not everyone gets this). Had blotches all over my body and felt horrible. The emergency room doctors misdiagnosed it, Convenient Med Care doctors misdiagnosed it as well as my PCP. Finally made my own appointment with a specialist at Dartmouth Hitchcock, she didn't even bother to wait for blood test results to confirm and put me on a high dose of doxycycline immediately for I believe 6 weeks. Lab results came back confirming Lyme Disease.

I hopefully caught it early enough to where I have had no issues since but that is thanks to my persistence and a very talented young doctor at DHMC!

Dan

Pretty much the same with me--no target mark, only vague symptoms, and some not believing it was anything.

I was very lucky that a doctor caught it early enough that I was fine within days. But the guys who get slow diagnoses are often in BIG trouble.

If you have arthritic symptoms and/or are feeling down/depressed, get a test!

TheTimeTraveler · 05-18-2026, 09:48 PM

If in doubt then check it out. Lyme disease is something that you don't want to have, and the symptoms are similar as having Rheumatoid Arthritis. Been there and have had that (Rheumatoid Arthritis) for the last 16 years.

Be progressive if you find a tick has attached to your body immediately seek treatment. If in doubt they should put you on the proper meds to prevent the infection from affecting you. If treated early enough it is very successful. Not always as successful if you delay medical treatment.

ApS · 05-20-2026, 07:40 AM

Ticks hang out at the tips of long grasses and branches. Deer are the primary victims.

I contracted Lyme disease several years ago. (Immediate symptom was the red "circlular target" around the bite). The successful diagnosis began when the doctor drew a black "Sharpie" circle around the target saying, "When the red circle travels beyond the black circle, go to the ER to get it diagnosed."

My Cardiologist appreciates my repeated annual reminders of having had Lyme Disease, as the heart can be affected by its depredations.

05-18-2026, 06:56 AM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,168 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 310 Thanked 1,102 Times in 811 Posts	tick bites Most everyone is aware of the health problem with tick bites ..... http://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/...ng-many-to-er/ .... and maybe knows someone who has suffered with it. So, how bad is this tick bite problem in central New Hampshire? This map in the Bangor Daily News makes NH, Vt & Me look bad with tick bites. __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

05-18-2026, 10:15 AM	#3
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,531 Thanks: 2,453 Thanked 5,465 Times in 2,142 Posts	Lyme NH has a definite tick problem and the Lakes Region is not immune to it... Two summers ago I contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite. It was no fun at all! It took multiple hospital / doctors visits before it was diagnosed correctly. I was very persistent and finally went to a very young skin specialist at DHMC in Manchester who figured it out immediately just by looking at me! I had no "target" to indicate a tick bite (not everyone gets this). Had blotches all over my body and felt horrible. The emergency room doctors misdiagnosed it, Convenient Med Care doctors misdiagnosed it as well as my PCP. Finally made my own appointment with a specialist at Dartmouth Hitchcock, she didn't even bother to wait for blood test results to confirm and put me on a high dose of doxycycline immediately for I believe 6 weeks. Lab results came back confirming Lyme Disease. I hopefully caught it early enough to where I have had no issues since but that is thanks to my persistence and a very talented young doctor at DHMC! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!! Last edited by ishoot308; 05-18-2026 at 10:58 AM.

05-20-2026, 07:40 AM	#7
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 6,028 Thanks: 2,284 Thanked 789 Times in 564 Posts	Stay Away from Areas of "Scraggly Grasses"... Ticks hang out at the tips of long grasses and branches. Deer are the primary victims. I contracted Lyme disease several years ago. (Immediate symptom was the red "circlular target" around the bite). The successful diagnosis began when the doctor drew a black "Sharpie" circle around the target saying, "When the red circle travels beyond the black circle, go to the ER to get it diagnosed." My Cardiologist appreciates my repeated annual reminders of having had Lyme Disease, as the heart can be affected by its depredations. __________________ Is it "Common Sense" isn't.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to fatlazyless For This Useful Post:
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05-18-2026, 09:38 AM	#2
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 816 Thanks: 42 Thanked 185 Times in 116 Posts	I read a story this morning about a "new" tick, the Lone Star tick, heading north. Right now it is sort of prevalent between Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. But cases are starting to appear in our region. It carries a disease called alpha_gal syndrome which makes a person afflicted allergic to meat and dairy (sometimes violently). Check yourself for ticks! https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...s/syc-20428608

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
TheTimeTraveler (05-18-2026)

05-18-2026, 10:34 AM	#4
WinnisquamZ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,238 Thanks: 223 Thanked 705 Times in 473 Posts	Spray away! Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

05-18-2026, 09:48 PM	#6
TheTimeTraveler Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 963 Thanks: 301 Thanked 303 Times in 188 Posts	If in doubt then check it out. Lyme disease is something that you don't want to have, and the symptoms are similar as having Rheumatoid Arthritis. Been there and have had that (Rheumatoid Arthritis) for the last 16 years. Be progressive if you find a tick has attached to your body immediately seek treatment. If in doubt they should put you on the proper meds to prevent the infection from affecting you. If treated early enough it is very successful. Not always as successful if you delay medical treatment.