Bullseye Lyme

www.canlyme.com

I recently had the opportunity to speak to Jim Wilson who is part of CanLyme, the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation about what their organization does to add to Lyme disease awareness as well as some general information about the disease itself.

Jim before we start can you just tell me a little about your organization and what your aim is in spreading awareness of Lyme disease?
Well we are a academic based national foundation, started in 2003, so we are relatively new but we already have representation across Canada. We provide a support line for people to contact and email aimed towards those who are potentially or currently suffering from Lyme’s and recommend treatment for them. As of now we are aiming at raising some money so we can conduct some research in the future.

And what kind of research is CanLyme aiming to conduct?
Mainly our research goal is to do a post mortem Lyme disease study with diseases that share the similar traits with Lyme disease. There are many diseases that cross over and share the same symptoms like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, lupus. We want to do research to determine if these symptoms were caused by Lyme disease and not these other diseases and also if borellia plays a part in these other diseases.

Jim can you summarize for me what Lyme disease is?
Lyme disease is a disease caused by the bacteria borellia burgdorferi. There are other borellia strains that will also present as Lyme disease. It is a multi-symptom neurologically based illness, commonly called the master mimic because it can present as all of those diseases I mentioned before. It can infect the brain and from the brain all your symptoms are controlled from there in which you can end up with a multitude of symptoms.

What can the general public do in regards to preventing catching Lyme?
Be aware for starters that this disease is much more prevalent in North America then we realize and anytime you are outdoors don’t walk in tall grassy areas or bushy brushy areas. If you are on a path don’t walk towards the edge of the grass. Wear products containing deet, its an effective repellent.

And what about the bulls-eye rash, is it a good indicator you have Lyme?
The bulls-eye rash only occurs in 9% percent of cases but it is 100% diagnostic of Lyme disease. Any rash has to be investigated as if it is Lyme disease. About 50% of people don’t even get a rash. It is important to really look for flu like symptoms out of flu season; if you are coming down with flu like symptoms out of flu season Lyme disease should be at the top of the radar.

What results may occur if Lyme disease goes untreated?
Mild disability to total disability to death can arise if Lyme disease is not treated. Most deaths are actually suicides.

Really? So Lyme’s can also cause depression too?
Most certainly yes the illness can cause depression and even bipolar depression. It’s the battle people fight too while coping with the disease that causes people to commit suicide as well.

Well Jim you have been very informative and I thank you very much. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Only if you go to the front page of the website (www.canlyme.com) there is a link to watch CTV. There is a show in Canada called W5 and they did