The deer tick which carries Lyme disease also carries 2 other diseases (some specialists say more). I contracted one of these, Babesia, and became ill about two to three weeks ago. There were no symptoms except extreme weakness. I asked for a Lyme test which was negative. My doctor thought it was flu and sent me home to wait it out. After another several days my urine turned dark brown and I knew this was not flu. I went back to the doctor where my blood pressure was measured at 80/30 and I was found to be sevrely anemic. My blood count was 6 when it should have been 14. I was put into the hospital and on two antibiotics and have been recovering. I came home after 5 days. As well as Babesia, I have Lyme.
Babesia attacks the blood system and the tocsin literally destroys the red blood cells. Had I laid in bed exhausted another day or two I would probably have died.
This tick is a great menace and every effort should be made to avoid it by walking only on wide trails in the woods and trying to avoid all contact with vegetation. Insecticides that are strong like DEET should be used on the lower pants and shoes, and the skin should be carefully examined after a hike for any appearance of this tiny tick. It should be removed with a tweezer.
In general a diagnosis of flu is given too readily and the individual should protect herself and question the doctor closely about any differences between flu symptoms and deer tick disease symptoms. Make yourself a pest if you want to survive. The three generally acknowledged diseases transmiitted by the deer tick are Lyme, Babesia and Anaplasmosis previously known as Ehrlichiosis. I have had all three of them at times although this is my only brush with death. I have not taken utmost precautions in the woods as described above but certainly will from now on.
