Karry Ferber has spent more than $10,000 trying to cure herself and her daughter of a disease she says the B.C medical system refuses to properly recognize.
Hallucinations, memory loss, neurological problems and extreme fatigue were signs that something was seriously wrong with Ferber, but she says a proper diagnosis of Lyme disease was never made by doctors.
“The health-care system has to start acknowledging that Lyme disease is a huge issue,” Ferber said Thursday outside an Interior Health building in downtown Kelowna during a small protest organized by people who have the disease.
“We need to have better and earlier diagnosis of Lyme disease, so people can get the help they need,” Ferber added. “Because the longer you have it, the harder it is to treat.”
Protesters waved placards with messages such as, “Hello, My Name is MisDiagnosed,” and “B.C.‘s Biggest Problem – Lyme disease.”
The disease is triggered by a bite from a bacteria-infected tick.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control says the disease exists in several areas of the province.
The government-produced Health Guide warns that family doctors may fail to recognize the symptoms of Lyme diseas.
“It may be hard to diagnose because it‘s symptoms are like those of many other illnesses … flu-like symptoms of Lyme disease can easily be misdiagnosed as another illness, such as chronic fatigue syndrome.”
Across Canada, fewer than 50 cases of Lyme disease were diagnosed last year.
But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported 35,000 cases, and there were 85,000 cases in Europe.
“It‘s seriously under-reported in Canada, with devastating results for people who are affected,” said Jim Wilson, a West Kelowna man who is president of the Canadian Lyme disease foundation.
The said it group hopes Victoria will establish a standalone Lyme disease clinic to promote greater awareness of the disease among doctors and the public.
For her part, after being on a program of antibiotics for more than a year, Ferber said she believes she and her eight-year-old daughter, Jordyn, are nearly cured.
“We‘re fortunate, because we‘ve had the money to pay for this,” Ferber said.
“But no one should have to go through what our family has gone through.” Top of Page
