“You want a battle? Here’s a war.” Such is the mindset of Heather Whittemore, owner of On the Side Books in Bradford.
Just in time for May, which happens to be Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Whittemore has been doing everything she can in order to spread the word about the disease known as “the great imitator.”
Lyme disease is spread by deer and blacklegged ticks. The disease can be successfully cured within a few weeks with antibiotics (most often doxycycline) — if detected in time. Early symptoms include fever, a circular rash called a “bullseye” rash, fatigue, facial paralysis and arthritis.
If left untreated, the illness can damage the brain, nerves and organs, and effects such as severe arthritis, heart palpitations, nerve pain and loss of memory can set in. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, around 30,000 cases are reported each year in the United States — with Pennsylvania contributing over one-third of that number.
Whittemore says that she finished up a 45-day period of IV treatments about a week before Easter and will have to wait six more months to be retested for the disease and await the results — which she expects to come back positive.
She has had an ongoing battle with Lyme disease for around eight years. She says that she was in the Lewis Run area when the tick bit her and she started having nerve pain afterwards.
“I was fearful that I had diabetes,” Whittemore said. “That prompted me to get to the doctor right away. We did a full work-up of lab tests and were concerned about diabetes, MS; and then (the doctor) suggested adding a Lyme disease test, too. I tested negative for everything except Lyme disease.”
Whittemore strongly believes that the CDC needs to improve treatments and tests. She has decorated her business’ window to raise awareness for the illness.
When asked what effect Lyme disease has had on her, she said, “Huge.” She revealed that the first time she noticed that she had memory loss, a common symptom among those affected by the disease, she was at the counter at Advanced Auto Parts to replace a broken wiper and could not recall information, such as the model and year, about her car.
“I burst into tears because I could not remember; it was gone,” Whittemore said. “It’s scary to not remember things and to not (recognize) people I have known.”
This was one of the issues that proved to Whittemore how serious Lyme disease truly is.
Her wish is that those who are bitten by a tick or experience any symptoms of Lyme disease should take immediate action and get tested. However, it is important that one gets tested multiple times due to inconsistency of the test, sometimes resulting in false results.
The CDC urges anyone who spends time hiking in wooded areas, stream fishing or even working in their yard to wear long pants and, above all, to thoroughly check clothing for ticks, or signs of tick bite.
When ticks bite, they often leave a bullseye rash. If you are bitten by a tick and suspect Lyme disease, seek professional medical care and, if possible, bring the tick in a container. If pushed aside, Lyme disease can progress into a much worse state of health.
