Unwanted Bucket List

These are things that can really make you kick the bucket! Right now I am being treated for erlichiosis,which is spread by ticks, a critter that bites me regularly. I picked up several last week on an outing in Jefferson County, so I actually know right where I caught this bug. Our little Skipper had erlichiosis a couple years ago, and he caught it right here at home. You can run a high fever with erlichiosis, and organ failure followed by death is one of the symptoms. Read and be aware of this one!

I've had Lyme disease three times and caught it in the initial infection stage each time. If you miss that, you will have a second set of signs and symptoms, and a chance to cure it. If you miss that, it is a disease that keeps on giving the rest of your life.  We have deer ticks, Lone Star ticks, and dog ticks in abundance all over Southern Illinois, so it pays to use Deet and Permethrin when you are afield. Get Tick Twisters to keep at home, in your purse, in your car, and have tape to wrap the tick in so you don't have to contaminate your pocket knife killing him. Mark dates on your calendar when you think you have been bitten.

Back in '93 I went on a river trip in Big Bend country and got sick soon after coming home. Darn near died from that one. Hantavirus is what the doctor figured out. You don't want this one either. You either wear it out, or it wears you out. I used to run before I had hantavirus; never could get that going again. After I thought I was healed up sufficiently, I donated blood and got a letter from the Red Cross telling me to Never Donate Again! Never give a mouse an even break, because those little suckers can kill you.