Three different types of biofeedback, recently showed that the RMSF I knew I've had since childhood from a tick, flaring up again. I now know that the rash that is a weird, mottled latent thing on both of my forearms, that flares up once in a while to be bright red (not itchy), is the RMSF flaring (and the Vitamin D problem that goes with it--Vitamin D not being able to be synthesized and being too high).

I haven't looked into the RMSF that much, and didn't realize how much it can affect the eyes.

I would not be at all surprised to find that dad also has RMSF/lyme coinfections.

Wonder how many people with macular degeneration like he has, may have something like this going on that don't know it too.
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http://www.optometry.com/rockymountain.html


ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER
GENERAL
An acute febrile exanthematous illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. Humans are infected by two major species of infected ticks (dog ticks and wood ticks).

OCULAR SIDE EFFECTS & SYMPTOMS
CONJUN... petechial lesions on the bulbar conjunctiva, vasculitis, hemorrhages
CORNEA... ulcers
IRIS... iritis
RETINA... retinal vein engorgement, hemorrhages, exudates
VITREOUS... opacities
OPTIC... optic nerve engorgement, pallor, edema
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http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch177/ch177f.html#sec14-ch177-ch177f-1142


Pathophysiology

Small blood vessels are the sites of the characteristic pathologic lesions. Rickettsiae propagate within damaged endothelial cells, and vessels may become blocked by thrombi, producing vasculitis in the skin, subcutaneous tissues, CNS, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, and spleen. Disseminated intravascular coagulation often occurs in severely ill patients (see Coagulation Disorders: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)).

Symptoms and Signs

The incubation period averages 7 days but varies from 3 to 12 days; the shorter the incubation period, the more severe the infection. Onset is abrupt, with severe headache, chills, prostration, and muscular pains. Fever reaches 39.5 to 40° C within several days and remains high (for 15 to 20 days in severe cases), although morning remissions may occur. Between the 1st and 6th day of fever, most patients develop a rash on the wrists, ankles, palms, soles, and forearms that rapidly extends to the neck, face, axillae, buttocks, and trunk. Initially macular and pink, it becomes maculopapular and darker. In about 4 days, the lesions become petechial and may coalesce to form large hemorrhagic areas that later ulcerate.

Neurologic symptoms include headache, restlessness, insomnia, delirium, and coma, all indicative of encephalitis. Hypotension develops in severe cases. Hepatomegaly may be present, but jaundice is infrequent. Nausea and vomiting are common. Localized pneumonitis may occur. Untreated patients may develop pneumonia, tissue necrosis, and circulatory failure, sometimes with brain and heart damage. Cardiac arrest with sudden death occasionally occurs in fulminant cases.
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My dad told me that the G. Uncle I never knew, died in his 50's of what they were sure was heart problems caused by RMSF.

There was no doubt that was what I had 40 years ago from the tick (definetly had all the symptoms and was sick for some time afterwards) I just had no clue how long it could continue to affect a person.

Another family friend was really sick from the RMSF at the same time I was..he's in his 70's now. I would bet he would also be found to have problems from it that he had no idea could continue all these years too.

I know we're also getting the biowarfare type exposure, but I really hate ticks.