Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.
Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
3 comments:
What a great tip! It's important to know, because Lyme disease does exist in this area. My daughter found a tick on the back of her leg; she removed it and the next day the entire back of her leg was inflamed. She developed pain in her leg and ankle, so she went to the ER. She tested positive for Lyme disease, which they believe was caught in time. Don't wait for the "bull's eye" rash; that doesn't always happen, and it didn't in her case.
Medical personnel recommend checking for ticks twice a day, as the tick must be attached to you for twelve hours for the disease to develop. Now, thanks to Joe, we have a way to easily and safely remove ticks.
Did you write this, Joe?
So what do you do if you don't test positive for the first Lyme test? In our area, if you don't test positive for the inexpensive test, your will be refused for the expensive test. Even if you get the expensive test, they are not all that accurate yet. Yes, you can have lyme and test negative for it. Something to consider when you are having symptoms and every doctor you go to says that there is no way you can have it.
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