A : I wish I had read up on the symp- toms so I could have gone into treatment earlier. In my case, because I’ve also been diagnosed with TBE, I’m no longer getting any treatment because you can’t treat TBE – they share the same symp- toms. Q : Do you think people in the tree care in- dustry take tick exposure seriously enough? A : I know I didn’t! I think we just carry on with the job not really caring much until it hits you or someone very close to you, and you see just how much it affects your life. Q : What does tick prevention look like now for you on the job site? Do you use cer- tain clothing or PPE or habits that you didn’t think about previously? A : I had tried to do the prevention I could by getting vaccinated for TBE, however I still got the disease. In my experience, I’ve found a tick on me on days when I’ve been wearing long socks, chainsaw boots, and chainsaw trousers with tick protection, and I’ve found them on me when wearing shorts. So, I don’t see a difference in what I wear. The dif- ference to me is checking my body thor- oughly throughout the day and before going to bed. Q : What advice would you give to a tree care professional who starts experiencing Lyme symptoms but assumes it’s just part of the job or getting older? A : Don’t make the mistakes I did! It’s so easy to get a blood test to see if you have Lyme disease — so just get it done! It’s not until later you’ll need the lumbar punc- ture. Read up on the symptoms and react. Yes, we get sore, tired and stiff muscles from the job, and yes, we do get older, but it’s still better to get a professional opin- ion if you suddenly don’t feel like yourself anymore.
Dietary changes have been key to managing her symptoms. Banck eats a clean diet, avoiding processed foods and refined sugars, and has noticed gradual improvements in her energy levels and joint and muscle pain.
ArborTIMES ™ Fall 2026 | 27
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