The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Vets know more about ticks than medical profession’
WIFE OF LYME DISEASE SUFFERER CALLS FOR MORE AWARENESS ABOUT THE TICK-BASED DISEASE WHICH SHE SAYS IS REGULARLY MIS-DIAGNOSED BY EXPERTS
PETER O’Connor (51) from Abbeylands, Milltown had symptoms of depression, heart failure and Motor Neurone Disease – but when a simple blood test in a German laboratory came back, it eventually confirmed that he was in fact suffering from Lyme Disease.
Peter took ill seven years ago after receiving a ‘bulls eye rash’ to his leg from a tick bite while horse trekking in Kilderry Wood, close to where he lives.
Peter’s quality of life deteriorated and his frustration was added to by the fact that Lyme Disease was not detected as the cause of illness after several tests. It was only when a friend of Peter’s watched a TV programme about Lyme Disease that he noticed Peter’s symptoms were identical to those featured in the programme.
Peter’s wife Ann-Marie gave an emotional account of her husband’s struggle at Monday’s meeting of Kerry County Council where she pleaded with authorities to do more in terms of educating people on the dangers of the disease. She is also calling on Kerry doctors, interested in Lyme Disease, to come forward and help people.
“We spent nearly seven years going to our GP being told it was all in Peter’s head and that it was depression. I knew my husband wasn’t depressed. But he was down because they couldn’t identify what was wrong with him. Getting answers from the medical profession was the hardest thing,” Ann-Marie told The Kerryman.
The couple’s life has changed utterly since the illness as Peter can no longer enjoy the quality of life he once took for granted. Ann Marie says they now live from day to day.
“We were a couple who enjoyed ourselves and liked to socialise with friends but all this has changed. Peter can’t work and we’re trying to pay for supplements that help him, which are very expensive. Peter’s sister helped us and only for that we would have been put to the pin of our collar.”
“Two weeks of antibiotics is what Peter was offered and our next appointment is not until July,” Ann-Marie continued.
“I was speaking to a lady recently whose daughter’s bloods came back negative from a test here. She sent them to Germany and they replied to say the bloods tested positive for Lyme Disease.”
Ann-Marie warned people not to remove the tick if bitten but to attend a doctor straight away. The medical view is there is a three-week timeframe from ‘time of bite’ when antibiotics should be prescribed.
“Even now they are still querying Peter’s diagnoses. The trouble with Lyme Disease is that it can mimic symptoms of other illnesses and our medical profession needs more training. There are people out there now who have probably been bitten by a tick and they haven’t a clue. It’s not an exaggeration to say that vets probably know more about ticks than the medical profession does. You won’t see many posters about ticks in a doctor’s surgery,” Ann-Marie concluded.
Ann-Marie is part of a group called ‘Tick Talk Ireland’ who are currently campaigning for awareness about Lyme Disease. They will stage a public rally at Leinster House on Tuesday, May 30.
Ann Marie’s speech struck a chord with councillors who were unanimous in their praise for Peter in his fight against the disease. Councillors Michael Cahill and Patrick Connor-Scarteen called for greater awareness, especially in a county like Kerry where outdoor activities are more prevalent. Cllr Niall Kelleher said more education about Lyme Disease was required in National Schools.
Cllr Brendan Cronin said it made no sense not to have a test system that doesn’t pick up on the symptoms of Lyme Disease, while Cllr Jim Finucane also said a lack of response in recognising a test for Lyme Disease was baffling, adding that the Minister for Health should provide a fund to help people travel abroad for treatment.