Dear Sun Spots: Regarding shower caps. Do you know where I can find a “shower ring” which is shaped like a life saver, or a flat donut? It can be worn bending forward over a sink, rather than backward which can be a pain in the neck. Can be worn in the shower to prevent water in the face or ears. It used to be available in L-A but not now. It was handy for the elderly, the sick and the kids. Thank you. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Sun Spots is not sure of the exact product you are referring to. Perhaps our readers will offer some information for you.

Dear Sun Spots: Recently one of the television stations had some information about ticks and Lyme disease. It showed pictures of various ticks, etc. They gave a number which represented how many people had developed and had been treated for the disease. I am surprised because I had read of so many people who could not find help, get diagnosed, or treated in this state, but had to go out of state to do so. I read of people who found that they were well along in the disease before finding help. I was bitten by a deer tick and was told to contact an organization in Augusta, send the tick, which I did. Then I followed up and asked about it, only to be told that they did not test the tick to see if it carried the disease because they were an organization for the purpose of keeping track of how many ticks were found in Maine. Thank you. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: In 2006, the last year data is available, there were 338 confirmed cases of Lyme disease reported to the Maine Center for Disease Control. The disease comes from deer ticks which must feed on someone for 24 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme. In an article by Sun Journal reporter Lindsay Tice published in 2007, the Vector-borne Disease Laboratory at Maine Medical Center identifies ticks and can tell whether they have fed long enough to transmit Lyme. However, testing for a tick that bit you is not going to tell you whether you have Lyme disease. According to the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention Division of Infectious Disease, individuals who still wish to have a tick tested may do so at their own expense at a private laboratory. There are several labs available throughout the United States.

Sun Spots received some helpful information from Tracy Poland, who reminded us that May is Lyme disease awareness month. She has had Lyme disease for 19 years. She says if you find an embedded tick use tweezers to pull it out slowly, clean the area with alcohol, and watch for symptoms such as a rash of any kind, size, shape or color. If you think that you might have Lyme disease you should make an appointment to visit your doctor as it can be easily treated if it is detected in the early stages. Poland notes that there are 2 Lyme literate doctors in Kennebunk and she would be happy to share their contact information. She can be reached at 674-3781.

Poland holds a Lyme disease support group every Tuesday night from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Hope and Healing Center at 52 High St., South Paris.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to [email protected].