This was sent to The Great Morel via email and is worth reading
and taking precautions. (March 2002)

Courtesy of Nancy Bishop -  petalz2001@yahoo.com
__________________________________

Hey, I live in Southern Illinois and am an avid morel
hunter.  Last year, I started out great.  This was the
first of April (around Easter).  We went camping and I
was finding a bunch of the smaller ones.  This was on
Easter break.  We went back the next weekend, and I
found many more.  This time I sat down in the middle
of the woods, to take a break.  I was in morel heaven.
 I love morel hunting so much, that I have even
overcome my fear of snakes.  I was scared to death of
them.  Now, I know what to fear, and that is ticks. 
When I got out of the shower after camping, we pulled
4 ticks off of me.  One was a deer tick embedded.  I
have never been the same since that last camping trip.
 
First, I came down with a sore throat.  Later on it
turned to fatigue and arthiritis and stabbing
headaches.  I am 35 and have never been sick a day in
my life.  I'm tough!!  It progressed to neurological
damage.  I found an LLMD (lyme literate medical
doctor) through lymenet.  I have no insurance and have
spent thousands on prescription drugs trying to cure
this disease.  I have maxed out all my charge cards
trying to treat it.  I don't want anyone to go through
what I have been through.  This disease is rapidly
spreading and it's in almost every state.  If you want
to get an idea about this disease, drop in and read
some of the posts on lymenet.  Testing is not accurate
and it is hard to find a specialist.  They are far and
few between.  I have to take one day at a time.  But,
I will not give up hunting morels.  This year, I will
be taking precautions while hunting morels.  I am
using a strong cream to repel ticks on my skin.  I'm
wearing long sleeves and jungle fatigues.  I am
wearing a tight fitting hat on my head and long boots.

 I will also be spraying my clothing down with
permathrin or permamone.  This is what the military
uses.  I am not a nut.  I just want people to be
informed of what is out there.  I am not attributing
this disease to mushroom hunting. I know people that
have gotten it hunting, fishing, gardening, from ticks
on their animals.  Believe me, I will be out there
with the rest of you.  I am going through a living
hell right now, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst
enemy.  Good luck hunting this year.  I'm praying it
will be a great year.

Nancy