P.A. area woman shares Lyme disease story

Last year a tiny bite changed Kim Bernier’s life.

The tick that bit Bernier was carrying Lyme disease.  Prior to being bitten, the 48-year-old often worked outdoors and travelled a lot with her husband.

Almost six months after being diagnosed, Bernier now struggles to get around, relying on a wheelchair.  To this day she cannot recall when she was actually bit.

“Sometimes when they are in that nymph stage, they’re the size of a poppy seed or a period on a sentence,” she said.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease are similar to the feeling of having the flu and there is typically a rash around the area of the tick bite.  In Bernier’s case there was no rash.

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“I thought I was getting old. I had problems with my foot and walking, and then it moved up my body,” she said.

Last fall, Bernier’s symptoms became neurological, affecting her balance, vison, and hearing. 

“I was on a 24-hour watch because it didn’t take me very long before I would get very ill and have to go in [to] the hospital,” she said.

Bernier’s condition has since improved with antibiotics but she remains uncertain what will happen if she ever stops taking the drugs.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

The type of ticks carrying Lyme Disease are still considered very rare in Saskatchewan.

According to the Saskatchewan ministry of health, there have been three cases of Lyme disease in Saskatchewan since 2005.

Only one of the cases was contracted from within the province, the other two people contracted the disease from outside the country, according to government statistics.

Awareness for the disease has picked up in the past few months, with some well-known celebrities revealing their own battles with Lyme disease.

Avril Lavigne, 30, told People Magazine she was bed-ridden for months.

Health officials says early detection is key to keeping the disease from progressing.

They recommend doing checks on pets and humans, after spending time outdoors in grassy areas. 

People who spend a lot of time outdoors are also encouraged to wear long sleeves and pants, and to tuck their pant legs into their socks.  Wearing repellent can also help prevent ticks from becoming embedded in your skin.

For more information on Lyme disease, go to www.canlyme.com.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell