Ticks and Lyme disease will be the focus of the documentary Under Our Skin that will be shown at the North Battleford Library, Wednesday. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Lyme disease awareness

Documentary on Lyme Disease coming to N.B.

May 13, 2019 | 3:15 PM

Those interested in learning more about ticks and Lyme Disease will want to visit the North Battleford Library Wednesday for a presentation by the Saskatchewan Lyme Disease, Vector Borne and Zoonotic Illness Association.

Organizers are planning to show the award-winning documentary Under Our Skin, a story about how Lyme disease has impacted several individuals’ lives. The follow up to the story, Under Our Skin 2: Emergence, which will be screened on May 22, follows the same individuals and shows how they are coping seven years later.

Janet Sittler, a board member of Saskatchewan Lyme Disease, Vector Borne and Zoonotic Illness Association, will be among the presenters at the upcoming events.

“Both these documentaries have the same patients, the same doctors, the same scientist so it’s really interesting,” she said. “It’s a well-done awareness documentary explaining the controversy around Lyme disease, and the co-infections.”

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Sittler, who resides in the North Battleford area, said the follow up documentary also shows how more information is available now on Lyme disease, leading to a quicker detection, as a positive sign.

“It’s a documentary of hope as well,” she said.

Sittler encourages anyone who can to attend the event to become more knowledgable on the disease. She noted the issue hits close to home as her own daughter contracted the disease.

“I think it’s something that people need to be aware of,” she said.

Sittler said if she had the same knowledge earlier in life, it would have led to an earlier diagnosis for her daughter.

But a decade ago there was not enough information available on Lyme disease, she said. As well, most doctors did not know what signs to look for that may have led them to an earlier prognosis.

“Lyme disease and co-infections never once crossed our minds,” Sittler added. “We were of the idea that you go to the doctor, the doctor will figure it out and will help you. That never happened. That never happened for many years.”

The advocate said most of all she hopes the documentary increases awareness about the disease and potential co-infections so more people can get help sooner.

The presentation and showing of Under Our Skin will be held at the North Battleford Library, May 15 at 7 p.m.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW