Nashcat
Site Supporter
I just wanted to share my experience with RMSF (Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever) in case there is someone else who has it, but doesn't have a clue that they are infected. My problems probably started 2 1/2 years ago, during the summer months. As some of you know, we have a few wooded acres in middle TN, and during the warmer months we are always riding the ATV's through the brush and occasionally encounter some ticks. Usually I'll find the ticks when I come inside and undress, but evidently one attached for a couple of hours, which was long enough to transmit the bacteria.
During the Summer of 2012, I went to my doctor several times, complaining of muscle aches and lack of energy. He promptly put me on anti-depressants, along with some cholesterol medication and instructions to lose weight. I had a reaction to the cholesterol medicine and quit taking the anti-depressants because they kept me in a fog, where I didn't feel mentally sharp at times. (No jokes, please) Anyway, the doc and I had a parting of ways, due to his attitude of treating me for unrelated symptoms and not running any tests. His last remark was something about me getting up in age (insert jokes here) and I should expect some occasional aches and pains.
Well, fast forward a couple of years to December 2014. I had some back pain, along with pains running down both legs and went to a different doc. After X-rays, he said that I had an inflamed nerve in my lower back, which went away with a couple of days of rest and extra doses of Naproxen. But during my office visit, we discussed my other aches which moved to different parts of my body, with no relation to any stress or activity on my part. He said that he wanted to run some blood tests and a couple of days later, his nurse called with the results and prescription for antibiotics to cure my case of RMSF! I had no idea that you could have it for years, with no serious symptoms, while it was doing it's damage to the body. Along with the muscle aches, it causes joint damage with arthritic like symptoms, which in my case, I dismissed as getting older. I had retired during this time and wondered why I was still tired and sore all the time, since my activity level was much less.
The good news is that hopefully I am cured and I'm not having as many unexplained pains. The bad news is that it may take years to get over the joint damage. I think that I can deal with the lasting joint pain if I can some of my energy back. I'm looking forward to Spring, and some sunny days of riding. It makes me feel much better to know that there was a reason for the way I felt, instead of aging. Now I think that I can look forward to many more years of riding.
So, my advise is, if camping or hiking or any outdoor activity, be aware of the dangers of ticks and mosquitos. Also, if you have any of the symptoms, it's worth the time to get the blood test for RMSF and Lyme disease, which has a lot of the same symptoms.
John
During the Summer of 2012, I went to my doctor several times, complaining of muscle aches and lack of energy. He promptly put me on anti-depressants, along with some cholesterol medication and instructions to lose weight. I had a reaction to the cholesterol medicine and quit taking the anti-depressants because they kept me in a fog, where I didn't feel mentally sharp at times. (No jokes, please) Anyway, the doc and I had a parting of ways, due to his attitude of treating me for unrelated symptoms and not running any tests. His last remark was something about me getting up in age (insert jokes here) and I should expect some occasional aches and pains.
Well, fast forward a couple of years to December 2014. I had some back pain, along with pains running down both legs and went to a different doc. After X-rays, he said that I had an inflamed nerve in my lower back, which went away with a couple of days of rest and extra doses of Naproxen. But during my office visit, we discussed my other aches which moved to different parts of my body, with no relation to any stress or activity on my part. He said that he wanted to run some blood tests and a couple of days later, his nurse called with the results and prescription for antibiotics to cure my case of RMSF! I had no idea that you could have it for years, with no serious symptoms, while it was doing it's damage to the body. Along with the muscle aches, it causes joint damage with arthritic like symptoms, which in my case, I dismissed as getting older. I had retired during this time and wondered why I was still tired and sore all the time, since my activity level was much less.
The good news is that hopefully I am cured and I'm not having as many unexplained pains. The bad news is that it may take years to get over the joint damage. I think that I can deal with the lasting joint pain if I can some of my energy back. I'm looking forward to Spring, and some sunny days of riding. It makes me feel much better to know that there was a reason for the way I felt, instead of aging. Now I think that I can look forward to many more years of riding.
So, my advise is, if camping or hiking or any outdoor activity, be aware of the dangers of ticks and mosquitos. Also, if you have any of the symptoms, it's worth the time to get the blood test for RMSF and Lyme disease, which has a lot of the same symptoms.
John
