Cathy Poulin, a 43-year-old who is now disabled with Lyme disease, described the numerous symptoms she has suffered since contracting the disease five years ago.
It attacks every system in my body. My symptoms are tiredness, exhaustion, headaches. I have tinnitus, I have severe muscle pain that nothing relieves. I also have heart palpitations, I have high blood pressure, explained the Quebec resident.
The woman who no longer works rarely leaves her home and spends almost 80% of her time lying down. As a mother-in-law to four children, she tries to maintain her strength to stay fit when they come back from school.
A difficult reality for someone who was once active and loved to run. The illness caused a series of bereavements for her and her husband.
“There are things we used to do together that we don’t do anymore. It’s tough. I take it one day at a time. But I won’t let her go, my Cathy,” said David Riopel.
Treatment started last summer at a private clinic in the Eastern Townships had finally given Cathy Poulin hope. The improvements were noticeable just a few weeks after starting the antibiotics.
“I’ve seen the changes… Last Christmas was my best Christmas in five years,” Cathy said tearfully.
The optimism was short-lived. After eight months of treatment, her doctor retired. Cathy has been off antibiotics for a month. Some symptoms returned, others reappeared or worsened, discouraging the woman and her partner.
Mrs. Poulin was referred to Dr. Amir Kadhir, who is one of the few infectious disease specialists and microbiologists still operating in Quebec, but it appears the wait for a consultation is years away. Cathy Poulin sees no choice but to get treatment in the US, with the first appointment alone costing $10,000.
Although her husband David has started a crowdfunding campaign to cover the cost of such treatment, she is very disappointed with Quebec’s healthcare system.
“I feel abandoned, I feel frustrated, I feel helpless. I need to be treated in another country. In another language. To me, that’s illogical.”
She urges the Legault government to listen to the real needs of people living with Lyme disease.
A crowdfunding campaign was launched to ease the financial pressure on the couple.