Tiny tick causes big problems
By Daryl Vandenberg | September 12, 2013 |
Smiling is something most of us take for granted, but for Shayna Jenny Van Dyke, the possibility of losing it is something she thinks of daily. She said when she’s having a relapse with her Lyme disease; numbness in her face is the first sign.
In 2009 Lyme disease became a reportable illness in Canada, and with cases doubling from 2009 to 2011, it has become the fastest growing vector borne illness. And for Canadians that seek treatment, doctors only recognize one out of a possible 300 strands, forcing them to treat and diagnose their illness in the US.
Similar to other diseases like Parkinson’s, MS, Azheimer’s and ALS, life can be a ritual of suffering. In Shayna’s case, the Lyme attacks her central nervous system that in turn affects her face and other basic muscle functions in her body, similar to Bells Palsy.
Shayna’s had late stage chronic Lyme Disease for nearly 30 years, but wasn’t diagnosed until 2010.