How one small bite can change a life
Cindy E. Harnett / Times Colonist
May 10, 2015
Retired anesthesiologist Dr. Martin Rodgers was treated with two days’ worth of antibiotics and told not to worry after he showed his family doctor a classic bull’s-eye rash caused by a tick he extracted from his navel.
That was three years ago this July. Now Rodgers, 74, once extremely athletic and active, is plagued by chronic fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain and insomnia while on a regular course of antibiotics from his naturopath.
Through a private laboratory in the United States, he tested positive for the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, that causes Lyme disease.
“I am a physician and I wasn’t educated, so how can I blame other doctors who said ‘don’t worry about it, it’s not an issue’?” said Rodgers, who lives on the Malahat. He said medical boards and health authorities have inadequate education on testing and treatments.
Suffering the last 3years,undiagnosed, being treated for depression, still have joint pain and fatigue as well as chills. Could it be Lyme disease?