Alpha gal strikes again!

Be quite sure to check for ticks. I have been hit with the tick virus alpha gal once again. Severe itching, hives, bad headache, chills, wheezing and shortness of breath just about did me in. I had it a while ago, but I was told I was very susceptible to getting it again- and I did. I blame all the yard work. No beef, venison, squirrel, pig, no mammal by products either. Oddly enough, I can have monkey meat and human meat…..but this is no joke, get the test! Could save your life.

My wife is dealing with her 2nd round of it too. I feel for you.

Never heard of it. Is it everywhere in the U.S.?

Our last home was nestled against a large water authority property which was planted in pines and very rarely managed. Deer, various small animals and ticks were in abundance. Current home used to be the chauffer's house on a large estate. The place is 65 acres of lawns and formal gardens. Although we do see deer and other animals finding a tick is almost unheard of. I guess lawns and clean gardens are not good tick habitat.

Patocazador said:

Never heard of it. Is it everywhere in the U.S.?

Click to expand...

It’s in the Midwest and East Coast. I don’t think it’s too big out west - yet! Lots of online information on it.

When I was a kid is was almost expected any time you went i to the woods you would get covered up with ticks here in east texas. The only up side of the fire ants is I have not seen a tick in 10 years

I’ve been treating my clothes with permethrin every hunting season because of this

Zutt-man said:

I’ve been treating my clothes with permethrin every hunting season because of this

Click to expand...

That works but it does not prevent ticks from getting into your hair and/or just above the collar area.

I still spray down. The last thing I need is to not be able to eat meat. A friend just came down with it.

I’m already legally disabled from a severe case of RMSTF. It’s been years now and I’m still not over it. Comes and goes at will. Whenever it decides to hit, I’m down until it’s over for a while.

It’s nothing to get ticks on the body by simply going outside here. Don’t have to go into the woods or fields.

ETipp said:

That works but it does not prevent ticks from getting into your hair and/or just above the collar area.

I still spray down. The last thing I need is to not be able to eat meat. A friend just came down with it.

I’m already legally disabled from a severe case of RMSTF. It’s been years now and I’m still not over it. Comes and goes at will. Whenever it decides to hit, I’m down until it’s over for a while.

It’s nothing to get ticks on the body by simply going outside here. Don’t have to go into the woods or fields.

Click to expand...

When I’m hunting, I generally have my neck and head covered with an item sprayed down. Summer time, when I’m tempted to not where long clothing, is when I’m vulnerable. I’ve sprayed down my skin, just not sure if it’s entirely thorough

Zutt-man said:

I’ve been treating my clothes with permethrin every hunting season because of this

Click to expand...

Not that you'll want to read this... but permethrin (along with Paraquat and 2,4-D ("weed & feed") is believed to be one of the pesticides that triggers Parkinson's disease. I've got a father-in-law suffering from it now. Grandfather had it, as did my wife's grandfather (who was a blueberry farmer that most likely used Paraquat). Rates are shooting up fast, too. I suppose with Lyme and Alpha-gal, it's a matter of pick-your-poison. Might be advisable to just go with the repellants over the (much more convenient) permethrin.

Sam squanch said:

Be quite sure to check for ticks. I have been hit with the tick virus alpha gal once again. Severe itching, hives, bad headache, chills, wheezing and shortness of breath just about did me in. I had it a while ago, but I was told I was very susceptible to getting it again- and I did. I blame all the yard work. No beef, venison, squirrel, pig, no mammal by products either. Oddly enough, I can have monkey meat and human meat…..but this is no joke, get the test! Could save your life.

Click to expand...

IS IT CUURABLE?

So far as I know, not curable. On the plus side though, I understand that the symptoms do often go away after several years.

I have read about an acupuncture procedure that will reset the body's allergic response and cure the no meat effect from Alpha Gal. This was on a bow hunting board when someone asked the question on what to do, several people posted that they had a friend that had Alpha Gal, had the procedure and could eat meat.

https://www.acupuncturehealingcenter.org/alpha-gal

Buff1958 said:

When I was a kid is was almost expected any time you went i to the woods you would get covered up with ticks here in east texas. The only up side of the fire ants is I have not seen a tick in 10 years

Click to expand...

We have lots of fire ants in Florida and we still have an abundance of ticks. My wife picked 2 off my back yesterday.

You can still eat chicken, turkey, and fish. And monkey if you can get it….i guess a trip to the St. Louis zoo is in order….

I tried rubbing my legs down with vinegar and it worked for a while. I know fleas hate it. I had to tear some flea infested carpet out of a rental and soaked my clothes and myself in vinegar, they stayed away!

Was just about over it. WAS… The Lone Star Ticks were bad in southwest Tennessee this year. Yep, ramped back up. Already tired of poultry and seafood. Fried catfish is a veggie side, like onion rings, not the protein…

SeaBee133 said:

Was just about over it. WAS… The Lone Star Ticks were bad in southwest Tennessee this year. Yep, ramped back up. Already tired of poultry and seafood. Fried catfish is a veggie side, like onion rings, not the protein…

Click to expand...

That’s sad.

Sorely afflicted by a famous (?) defoliant lovingly named "Agent Orange", I tend to stay away from herbicides, etc. Which is kinda difficult for a wetlands and wildlife biologist.
But I didn't always know about the AO.
Seems the defoliant dripped off the trees and such, and eventually washed into the Tonkin Gulf. Navy ships distill freshwater from saltwater, but did not remove the defoliant. So daily, we drank, and showered in the damn stuff.
2008, I got sidelined by severe spinal problems and two heart attacks. No more 2-week field trips in swamps, forests, and jungles. Still miss that that to this day!
On a wildlife survey in the Amazon, I camped solo for three weeks. There had been a sloth in the trees above my campsite, and after the third day, she came down and met me. Did you know they descend to go potty? She also came down to watch me every morning. Very good, fast swimmer!
So, I miss all that.
In 2018 I started going to the VA. They discovered the heart attacks, and found a hole in my left atrium - fixed all in a long open-heart procedure. And my neurologist diagnosed me as an Agent Orange patient. Dang stuff has my neuro system, joints, and pulmonary all fouled up. And every sailor aboard that carrier has been approved for disability ratings.
So no permithrin, etc., for me. A light dusting of "Off", and a good search for ticks.

Sam squanch said:

You can still eat chicken, turkey, and fish. And monkey if you can get it….i guess a trip to the St. Louis zoo is in order….

Click to expand...

My pal, a Viet combat vet, shared after- action photos that showed NVA having Crossbows; to shoot monkeys for meals! Quiet, wouldn't attract attention or scare the other monkeys!