Tick bites, Lyme disease and infection, happy name for a post. But, well, it has been one of those years. Just before Christmas I found a large tick on my leg. It happens; just one of the joys of living at the Domaine de Montrouch alongside wild boar, rats, mice a a whole host of nature. I get tick bites every year, either from ticks brushing off foliage or the dog picking them up and disposing of them on the sofa or bed. So as usual I pulled it off and killed it; but instead of the usual spurt of red blood this one was a yucky yellow.

Very quickly the tick bite developed into a large scab, I got the sweats, particularly at night, and a fever; which got me a bit worried; So I popped down to the Doctor’s in Tuchan.

A quick blood test confirmed traces of Lyme Disease in the blood. So three months of rolling antibiotics. The virus transforms itself apparently and can develop an immunity to one type of antibiotics. So I drowned myself in bifidus yogurt and honey while swallowing an ever changing array of pills. Luckily further blood tests confirmed the Lyme Disease was zapped, well and truly gone.

In the meantime, while chain sawing a log fell on the wound, bang, the damned thing exploded. Puss, blood and rubbish everywhere revealing a rather large hole in my leg. The bite had become infected underneath the scab nd was slowly rotting away. A Communist Doctor friend told me later than I had been lucky to have a log fall on me. It certainly did not feel lucky at the time.

So back to the Doctor’s once more. This was a bit beyond them as it had gone form a common and garden problem to being a major wound. So off they sent me to Perpignan Hospital tropical and infectious disease unit. Just a quick aside here, I tried to make an appointment, in three months time I was told. But the very helpful assistant told me, if your Doctor calls direct then it would be a bit quicker. So I phoned the Doctor, who phoned the same unit, who phoned me right back and said could I be free in 30 minutes.

Now Tuchan to Perpignan in 30 minutes is not easy, but with a bit of motivation, and a lack of gendarmes, it is possible. But most decidedly not advisable.

Got to the hospital, even managed to find a parking space. Saw the specialist, who helpfully conformed that I had been bitten by a tick, had had Lyme disease, and now had a big, smelly hole in my leg. It is always amazing to see what years of intensive training can achieve. Not much he could do as it was neither infectious nor tropical. He then referred me to the serious injury and surgery unit. It was turning into a long day. So off I trapsed to see them. Not a happy experience. First the wound was cleaned up by a nurse, I’ll not go into the details. then a surgeon had a poke around. Yes surgery was possible, simply a question of taking skin from my shoulder and fat from my bum. There was a high chance it would not work the first time, the position of the bite on my lower leg, and the size of the wound was not in my favour unless I could rest up for three months. Even then it was not sure. But they would have another go with what would then be a smaller wound, taking bits off my other shoulder and the other buttock,

Not great, from having one, albeit rather large wound on my leg I could be facing up to six months of immobility and a body like the patchwork man.

Was there any other solution? I asked, Well, yes, said the surgeon clearly disappointed. I could have the wound cleaned regularly and see if it would heal by itself. The opportunity to not cut me to pieces was obviously not her first option but it appealed to me.

Sounded however much better to me. After a month of seeing a local nurse every day, to have to wound cleaned, dead bits cut off and then repacked, it reduced to seeing the burse every two days for five months. Now I am free of then, still have a small hole in my leg but it is dry and clean.

The whole process from bit to now has taken nine months. Bits have been very painful, but the team at Perpignan hospital, Valarie and Nicolas the two nurses taking care of me, and of course Caroline who did not strangle me have been absolutely wonderful.

Lesson, shoot the dog. Which I would never do, and check very regularly for ticks.