Lyme Disease

[artie]

I think it is a sad state of affairs in Canada that we do not have proper tests for lyme disease. I have heard over and over again that you can be tested in Alberta and or Canada  and the tests come back negative.But go to the states and sometimes the same persons tests come back positive. Is it hard for the Alberta Health Care System to have a look and what they are doing for tests in CALIFORNIA and then copy or do the same type of test.  Even my own brother was tested in Alberta and the tests came back negative and he is convinced that the Alberta system is looking after him.
Now they are saying that lyme diseases is increasing in Alberta so it is time to do more about testing and catching the disease at an early stage.
The other possibility is that the type of testing they are doing in California is suspect as I had a buddy who went to the states, tested positive is on antibiotics for a long time but he described the test as being more of a check list.
Lyme disease needs a good hard look by the health care system.

[greylynx]

Artie:

I brought this issue up another forum a long time ago.

At that time I was asking about Lyme disease in Alberta.  It was here under the conservative party. They did nothing.

I know of one person who is recovering from Lyme disease from the Athabasca area. Thank God his wife is an RN.

He was treated for everything under the sun until enough screaming and demanding got him the Lyme test.

Artie:  I have worked in southern Alberta and it seems ticks are sort of worse in your neighborhood than up here in north central Alberta.

In addition to Lyme disease I remember meeting a line man out of ManyBerries recovering from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  I hope he is still alive. 

[Paul]

There is alot of stigma attached to Lyme disease. It's hardly tested for or diagnosed properly. Some people say they have Lyme for 2 or 3 years even after treatment and most doctors don't believe them they say it's not possible. There is no standard for testing either which is the biggest problem. Lots of people have odd symproms then get on Google and Lyme disease become's a catch all. They get tested here it's negative they order tests from the US and maybe it cones back positive. Just confuses and frustrates people.

[artie]

Another thing they are saying is it can be passed sexually.  So if you have lyme you can give it to your wife.  My buddies case was opposite his wife had lyme and went to California for treatment and later my buddy came down with lyme symptoms. I guess the question is did he get it from his wife or did he get it from a tick bite.