Kathryn Maroun BERMUDA
I have fish around the globe, catching and releasing
some of the most prized species of game fish on earth. My television show is called What a Catch however I am now sharing
with you what I call “What I Caught” and this time its not about the fish that I caught. Being in remote countries and their waters hooking big fish you don’t realise what all you can pick up in the
way of sickness. Yes we all take the needles before we go but you can pick up a bug, (I call them “Natures dirty needles”)
from the water, food, pets or even by putting that fly in your mouth while tying the knot (never thought of that). I became
chronically ill with Lyme disease which took 5 years to get correctly diagnosed.
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We are 3 women that have common threads in our life that lead us to the path that we all now walk down. We live in
3 different places in the world yet remain connected. Each of us shared a great passion for fishing and the outdoors. We also were considered travellers, adventurers and
leaders. Vibrant and full of life until we each met our match. Who knew that
something as small as a tick could change our lives. We live everyday dealing with the effects of having Lyme Disease and by sharing our stories we hope to reach out
and give a better understanding of the disease and hopefully save others of this battle we all fight.
Terri Cross CANADA
After spending the past ten years being an advocate for getting your
kids outdoors I was faced into a quick reality check when I was in Florida July 2012 and was bitten by a tick at a small pond
in the Orlando area. My life has
been forever changed. As an advocate I believe we now have a new mission of education to safely play outdoors. I hope you take time to follow our stories on www.helpstoplyme.com to see how you can keep your loved ones safe. Something so small has affected our lives. This is our story and we know we can make a difference by education.
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Kristilee Christensen U.S.A
YES, I have Lyme Disease and It's horrible, so I wanted
to post this about the prevention of it. We hunters and fisherman need to take the proper precautions for us and our families.
This disease takes over your entire body and sometimes your mind. You feel excruciating pain and just want to give up. In
my case, I am only getting worse, as in many others. Not much is know how to cure this disease, so friends I am asking you
to read up on Lyme Disease so you can protect you and your family. I want to help as many people as I can because no one should
have to live the hell it brings upon you.
bringing positive thoughts of increasing daylight and warmer temperatures.
As we look forward to shedding winter wear and spending more time outdoors, the national Lyme Disease Association (LDA) reminds
everyone that ticks, which transmit Lyme disease, become more active when temperatures are above 35°.
Lyme
is found in ~65 countries worldwide and is endemic in many areas. In 2011, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
reported 33,097 Lyme disease cases. With only 10% of cases actually reported, numbers may exceed 300,000 annually. The top
10 states were PA, NY, NJ, WI, CT, MA, MN, MD, NH, and VA.
If not diagnosed and treated early, Lyme can lead to
disseminated infection, affecting every system in the body, including cardiac and central nervous systems. Mental confusion,
memory problems, weakness, arthritis, and gastrointestinal problems may occur.
Blacklegged (deer) ticks,
feed once per stage – larva, nymph, adult─ and can pick up Lyme and pass it on at each feeding. They can also
transmit Babesia, bartonella, anaplasma, tularemia, and Powassan virus. The poppy seed-sized nymph probably causes more disease.
Other types of ticks can transmit different diseases.
Effective tools to manage Lyme are lacking. Diagnostic tests
have significant limitations causing treatment regimens to be problematic and controversial. To that end, LDA is sponsoring
its 14th annual Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases CME Conference June 1-2 in Minnesota. While hosting scientific conferences
and funding research on Lyme─$250,000 awarded in 2012 grants alone─ the LDA emphasizes the importance of prevention,
such as wearing protective clothing and immediate tick checks after being in tick infested areas, especially on the edges
of woods and paths.
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