Brenda Sterling-Goodwin believes she contracted Lyme disease about 10 years ago. Back then, she was a cat groomer and a veterinary technician.
Doctors in Nova Scotia doubted her condition. One neurologist told her she had multiple sclerosis. It's common, she says, for people with Lyme disease to be misdiagnosed as having multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, or other illnesses with similar symptoms.
It wasn't until she saw the test results from California that she finally had confirmation she was suffering with the disease.
"(Lyme disease) affects everybody differently," says Sterling-Goodwin, a New Glasgow resident.
In her case, the disease has affected her mobility, especially. While she does prefer to walk, she sometimes uses a wheelchair. She's often in pain over the stiffness in her legs, and her feet are swollen to twice their normal size.
Lyme disease is transmitted by a blacklegged tick, after it has attached itself to the skin for 24 hours. Caused by a form of spirochete bacteria, it can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.
There have been eight confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the province since 2002.
"But the only confirmed cases are the ones that meet Canadian standards, which are not the best," Sterling-Goodwin says.
Every three months, Sterling-Goodwin travels to Maine to see her doctor, but she sends him monthly faxes to update him on her condition while between visits. "There are not a lot of Lyme-literate doctors in Canada, unfortunately."
She says "early diagnosis and education" is key. She hopes the news of a Pictou County tick being discovered carrying the disease will heighten awareness.
She adds those removing ticks should exercise caution. Ticks should never be twisted, burned or squeezed. When removing ticks, always use tweezers and pull upwards, she says.
For more information on Lyme disease, visit http://www.lymeinns.bravehost.com/ or http://www.canlyme.com/.
Lyme disease sufferer spent years being misdiagnosed
-
- Published on Febuary 15th, 2008
- Published on December 30th, 2009
- Cait McIntyre
Brenda Sterling-Goodwin believes she contracted Lyme disease about 10 years ago. Back then, she was a cat groomer and a veterinary technician.
Doctors in Nova Scotia doubted her condition. One neurologist told her she had multiple sclerosis. It's common, she says, for people with Lyme disease to be misdiagnosed as having multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, or other illnesses with similar symptoms.
- Number of views : 3217
- Rate
- Top of the page
Comments
-
- Heather
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:34:43
Considering the fact that the government website for infectious disease and control tells people to contact them immediately if they suspect they MAY have been bitten by a tick....it is not necessary. You see they do not either care or understand themselves about the reality of Lyme Disease and tick bites. I had a TEXT BOOK Bulleseye rash in the spring of 2006. I contacted the government experts ....who could not give me an appointment for 2 MONTHS. Unfortunatley they did not seem to know that a Lyme Disease Bullseye Rash only lasts for 10 - 12 days. They missed their opportunity to see it...to take a biopsy....to understand or learn from it. Fortunately I did take pictures...and was later diagnosed by a lyme specialist in BC. I also went to the last stage of Lyme and did not get treatment or help in my own province for at least a year....I am STILL recovering from the damage. I was in a wheelchair, lost at least a year of my memory, had multiple organs attacked, and had my family doctor later told NOT to treat me for LYME....because it was basically hocus pocus treatment, by the specialist. The government has no clue about the realilty of this disease, by continuing to live in fantasy land. Trust me our border control is not that good, that it stops the ticks on migratory birds, from being dropped into our country. I have the pictures, Lyme exists, I had it, I suffered from it... I am still recovering from it.
-
- Shaun
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:10:28
It should be stated that the canadian blood tests for lyme disease is estimated to miss upwerds of 90% of positive cases.
Lyme disease is a world wide problem which is not being addressed and the Canadian government have all but ignored the problem.
Canlyme estimate there are upwerds of 2000 actuall diagnosed cases in Canada each year. It is fear they are not even close to the actuall number of those who have contracted the illness as it is being mis- diagnosed. -
- Hilary
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:07:16
I agree with Shaun; this disease is VASTLY under- or misdiagnosed. Physicians need to be aware that Lyme is endemic across the country. In Salmon Arm, BC (pop 17,000), three people recently tested positive after sending their blood to an American lab, yet their local MD's still claim we have no Lyme here.
How many more people need to suffer before we get over the denial and on to the reality and treatment of this insidious disease?
Good luck with your recovery, Brenda! -
- Freethinker
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:52:01
we pray for all to be healed from this devastating disease...
www.lymecryme.com
