Bluffton resident seeks treatment for debilitating disease

Despite the obvious pain it causes, Carmen Larson, a soft-spoken 25-year-old, allows her four-year-old son to climb on her knee for a photo.

The pair smile as the camera clicks, but behind Larson’s smile, the pain lurks, a constant reminder of the struggle she faces daily.

Larson, who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease by a doctor in the United States, is being refused treatment in Alberta, leaving her angry and frustrated.

And, worst of all, still in a great deal of pain.

Larson’s story began about 18 months ago when she experienced severe abdominal pain. She had her appendix removed, but was later told her appendix was not the cause of her agonizing discomfort.

As time went on, Larson’s pain and discomfort grew and her thinking became fuzzy.

“I felt as though someone was jabbing my joints with needles, I had muscle spasms and twitched and I was exhausted. My feet felt numb and tingly and sometimes I had to drag my leg along beside me for the ride because it had decided it doesn’t want to cooperate.

“And I had to take extra time to comprehend what people were saying to me. I had to think carefully about the words I was speaking to be sure I was making sense.”

Larson pushes her dark hair back as she continues telling a story that involves a merry-go-round of specialists, therapists and medication.

In February she was given the first of a two-part test for Lyme disease in Rimbey, but the test came back negative.

The symptoms, however, continued.

Finally, she travelled to San Diego, Calif. Where she was again tested for Lyme disease. This time the results were positive and she was diagnosed with the disease.

“An Alberta doctor agreed with the diagnosis and I was given antibiotics to treat it.”

However, the side effects from the pills caused Larson to continually throw up and she was put on an intravenous antibiotic. She finally started to improve.

“After about a month I noticed I began having more energy and week by week I began thinking better and my pain subsided. I finished up the medication feeling 85 to 90 per cent better from the time I took the first dose.”

However, the medication eventually ran out and within a few weeks Larson began to experience a recurrence of the symptoms.

She returned to her doctor but was told the treatment she received was experimental and no longer available.

“I was told it (the treatment) is outside of the general practices of Alberta Health Services by my family doctor,” she said.

“I greatly respect my family doctor,” she added. “This doctor has done a lot to help me and I am very grateful.”

However, Larson said her doctor’s hands are tied.

“I have no choice but to go back to the United States. This treatment is available across the border, but I will have to pay for it out of my own money.”

Meanwhile, Larson is filled with anger, resentment and questions.

“Could this have anything to do with the fact that I tested in the United States for the very controversial Lyme disease that everyone would like to pretend does not exist? If it weren’t the controversial Lyme disease would my family have already had to pay tens of thousands of dollars already in US medical expenses?”

But even as the huge question marks continue to plague her, Larson remains hopeful that the treatment will one day be available in Alberta. She has contacted MP Blaine Calkins and MLA Ty Lund and is hopeful they will be able to get some results.

Meanwhile, she continues to wait and hope.

“I just want my life back,” she said.