It's time for Alberta to start taking Lyme Disease seriously.
Local woman Deanna Lonsberry is living proof of that fact, she knows all too well the disease is closer to home than people think.
Lonsberry has lived with Lyme disease for 17 years, dealing with a myriad of symptoms along the way.
“In my early adolescence, probably between the age of 12 and 14, I developed a rash, that was kind of my first symptom. I had that rash for about 17 years,” detailed Lonsberry.
Visits to five different specialists provided nothing more than cortisone creams and dietary tips, neither of which helped.
When Lonsberry was 24 she started having trouble with her vision. She found it hard to see the whiteboard in her college classes.
In addition to physical ailments, the disease effected her mental state.
“I had brain clog really bad, my short term memory was very poor, mood swings happened a lot,” recalled Lonsberry.
At the age of 27 it got so bad she started experiencing fainting spells.
“This was all because of Lyme disease. The bacteria that set in my liver moved to my heart and then into my brain. That's what caused my fainting spells.”
She first started considering Lyme disease as the source of her symptoms in 2013, but at the time, her doctor refused to listen.
“When I was going through some of my different health issues prior to my diagnosis I had actually mentioned to my family doctor that I thought it might be Lyme disease. He brushed it off and completely disregarded the idea. He said we don't have Lyme disease in Canada.”
At the time, Lonsberry accepted the misdiagnosis. It wasn't until three years later that she uncovered the truth, and she had to cross the border to do it.
“When I first brought it to my doctor's attention in 2013, they were testing me for absolutely everything, but they still refused to test me for Lyme disease. I had to go to the United States for treatment.”
While there, through what she called Lyme blood cell analysis, doctors detected the bacteria in her blood.
Despite a recent study published by the University of Alberta that states one in five ticks now carry Lyme disease, Alberta Health Services (AHS) says it's a non issue in the province.
“Tick bites happen sporadically for sure; it's summer, people are outdoors, hiking and camping. The presence of ticks isn't all that surprising, but the actual risk that a tick bite will result in Lyme disease, specifically in Alberta, is very low,” stated Dr. Gerhert Banede Medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services (AHS) north zone.
Benade says provinces like B.C. and Saskatchewan are at higher risk, though he admits it's possible for animals to carry the disease here.
“There are a lot of migratory birds that move back and forth between the province, so yes, they have found the odd tick in Alberta that carries Lyme disease.”
Lonsberry, who is an equine body worker, believes there's a much greater risk much closer than local residents might think.
“This spring one of my clients brought horses in from Cold Lake. They live in Muriel Lake, and their one horse was just absolutely loaded with ticks. There are definitely ticks in the Bonnyville area, that's been confirmed, and in my opinion wherever there are ticks there is Lyme disease.”
Because of the wide variety of symptoms linked to Lyme disease, it can be hard to diagnose. Lonsberry says the best thing those who believe they have Lyme disease can do is be persistent
“I think the biggest think is not taking no for an answer. For myself, it was in 2013 when my family doctor shut down Lyme disease as an option, I just kind of accepted that answer. Looking back on it, it's hard to believe I lived with as many symptoms as I did for as long as I did and didn't push harder.”
