I’m always a little stunned when I track this blog and am reminded that people from all over the world visit. So many of us are on the lookout for information.

Today I’m thinking about Canadians because lots of my traffic at the moment is coming from my neighbors to the north, who’ve been checking out my post from several years ago on how Lyme was affecting my brain at the time.  Looks like some of you are sharing the link on Facebook. Thank you!

Like others around the globe, many Canadians are having a tough time getting good treatment. Health officials just don’t get it (sound familiar?).

The nonprofit Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation says: 

Diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease in Canada remain contentious in that it is currently defined by the poor test. Canadian medical professional organizations responsible for our education stress rarity of the disease, overstate the frequency of occurrence of the EM rash, highlight concerns with over-diagnosis when in fact under-diagnosis is very evident, and overstate danger of antibiotics while not considering the many very serious medications offered to manage symptoms… while not treating the cause of those symptoms.

They cite the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) for their evidence. As indicated in the above quote, the controversy relies for the most part on poorly executed guidelines written by the IDSA. The wise physicians, after considering the broad body of evidence, have chosen to ignore the IDSA. Quite correctly, the IDSA guidelines have become irrelevant so we must move forward to correct decades of serious under-diagnosis.

If you are in Canada and have Lyme, won’t you share your experiences here under “Comments” to encourage and aid others? We’re all in this together. We’d like to know how you are. Stay strong, Canadians!

The national anthem of Canada:

Official English
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Official French

Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Tagged: Canada, chronic fatigue, chronic illness, controversy, diagnosis, french, lyme, lyme disease, lyme literate doctor, lyme testing, o canada lyrics, o ocanda, testing