Babe Winkelman is a renowned television host and outdoorsman, and has been absolutely around nature and the danger it possesses.
But this is where his love for the outdoors took a U-turn when he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. This was something he never saw coming… An absolutely unexpected turn!
Babe’s story is a reminder for everyone out there– for how vital early detection is, how physical and emotional impact the disease highlights, and much more..
Let us learn more about this cautionary tale and be more aware of Lyme and its associated symptoms and how it can be prevented.
Story of Babe Winkelman
- Babe Winkelman was a hunter and an amazing fisherman. He had a family farm in Minnesota. He was known for his famous television series “Good Fishing and Outdoor Secrets.”
- He was diagnosed with Lyme disease later and contracted the illness for three years. During that brief period of time, he educated himself about the illness, the clinical signs and symptoms, and the protective measures one must take to be secure in the outdoors.
- In short, he was aware of the illness 30 years ago from today when very few were aware about it.
- Both his daughters also had Lyme disease. One of his daughters was misdiagnosed which led to immense delay in the treatment.
- Winkelman took great time to gain in- depth knowledge about Lyme disease. And until today he is passing on that information to the world through the website,.
Key Quotes & Highlights
1.Repeated Battle with Lyme Disease
Winkleman and his family suffered from Lyme for a brief and recurrent period of time. He quoted-
“I’ve had Lyme disease three times in my life, my daughter Jasmine has had it twice, and my younger daughter Karlee was misdiagnosed by professionals the first time she caught Lyme disease.”
2. Misdiagnosis
- Today we understand the misdiagnosis and are well aware of the disease due to the social awareness and Lyme literacy around the masses. However, Winkelman describes how many of his friends were misdiagnosed.
- Infact, as quoted his own daughter was misdiagnosed and given wrong treatment only to realize later that Lyme was the main culprit of the battle.
- One of his employees lost the battle to the disease, who was misdiagnosed due to the overlapping symptoms.
3. Prevention in Action
- Winkelman emphasizes that one can get Lyme disease irrespective– in any city or outdoor setting.
- He quotes-
“Since we’ve learned what to do to protect ourselves (as an outdoor family), we haven’t even had a tick on us. But we’re vigilant about it.”
- Once he experienced misdiagnosis of his daughter, he was more encouraged to take action on a larger scale raising awareness across the globe.
4. Educating Others
- Many individuals till today, do not understand and take Lyme seriously. Even today, individuals going in woods or outdoors do not take necessary safety measures and are not vigilant enough.
- Winkelman shared a story of a golf- course worker who was affected with chronic Lyme condition. He suggested that if he would have sprayed permethrin in his garments, he would not have faced such a situation.
- He calls for all of us– whether hikers, gardeners, hunters, city travelers; to become safe from ticks by incorporating simple preventive strategies.
Treatments That Worked/ Didn’t Work For Him
- Winkelman opted pharmacological treatment for Lyme disease.
- He highlighted the importance of early detection and evaluation. Which leads to effective recovery from the infection.
- Winkelman had major challenges with diagnosis– he was misdiagnosed for about two and a half years, leading to consultations with over 30+ healthcare professionals before actually getting the proper diagnosis and treatment.
- By the time he had a diagnosis, his condition had deteriorated significantly which led to delayed recovery.
What Worked for Him?
- Conventional Antibiotic Therapy worked for him after he got a proper diagnosis.
- Opted for Preventive strategies using permethrin- treated clothing and applying repellents such as picaridin. These methods were instrumental for protecting him and his family from the disease.
What Did Not Work?
- Misdiagnosis that led to delayed treatment caused severe complications for Winkelman.
- Lack of Awareness which underscored significantly the need for proper recognition and awareness among the outdoor enthusiasts. He launched Tick-Borne Illness Information Center to provide resources, tips, and raise ultimate awareness about the condition.
Winkelman’s Tips
Winkelman suggested these tick tips for everyone to be safe while exploring nature- especially in forested and grassy areas.
Tick Tips:
- Wear light- colored clothing to spot ticks.
- Tuck pants into socks and shirt into pants while traveling in wooded or grassy areas.
- Avoid tall grasses and leaf litter. Stay in the center of trails.
- Shower within 2 hours of coming back.
- Check the body for ticks– behind ears, around waistline, under arms, knees, scalp, hairline, and so on.
- Use EPA- approved repellents such as DEET, Picaridin, Permethrin, and so on.
- If hiking, wear treated clothing and do evening tick checks.
