Our annual fall raking and bagging leaves is when the infected tick bit me. New England is full of ticks. I have had Lyme disease twice from tick bites but aside from feeling exhausted, I wasn't sick. With anaplasmosis came a high fever (I had 104), chills, no appetite, body aches, and confusion (scary part)..

Now, after working in the yard, I throw my clothes into the wash and take a shower. I never want to be as sick as I was with anaplasmosis.