Par Florian Puche
Published on
The face is smiling and the moral fully pumped up. At the beginning of the year, we relayed to you the story of Laurence Legaud, suffering from Lyme disease.
Since March 2020, when she was bitten by a tick when she was walking Cantachethis 54-year-old Vitréenne lives a true nightmare at the health level.
Negative Reviews
After several attempts at treatment without significant success, she had therefore turned abroad to try to treat herself. A hospital in Spain convinced her. But following the publication of the article of Friday January 6, 2023, several opinions made him change his mind.
“I had very many returns from all over France following publication. And I received several negative testimonials regarding the hospital in Spain and in particular from a Spanish association which deals with Lyme disease, ”says Laurence.
Convinced of her approach to seek treatment abroad, the Vitréenne therefore changes his rifle and turns to Germany.
In a specialized hospital that many French patients with Lyme disease attend: “Once once more, I have had many feedback, but this time positive, on the seriousness of this hospital, including a man from Fougères who was completely cured. »
First meeting in Germany
Laurence therefore initiated the process and got her first date Monday, February 20, 2023 To Augsburg, in Germany. “It was a first contact, with numerous blood tests and analyses. The objective is to search for all the co-infections that Lyme disease can cause and therefore to provide the necessary treatment. »
Fifteen days later, another meeting is fixed with the German doctors where they will announce the results and the protocol to be continued. It will then take four weeks of treatment on site at Laurence, then regarding four months of treatment at home.
But with all the evidence of sympathy received since she told her story, morale is back at the Vitréenne.
I know there is still a long way to go. It will be an obstacle course, because I also know that the treatment is very heavy in Germany. But today, hope is there and I am ready.
But this is not the only positive point for Laurence.
His story has, it seems, made move the lines in France following a vehement criticism of the care of patients with Lyme disease: “In France, there is no budget for this disease. We do tests that are 50% reliable, where in Germany they are 50% reliable. 90 %. It therefore takes months or even years to diagnose Lyme disease and it is often too late. It saddens me to see the lack of training of treating physicians on this pathology. Why such a big delay? I don’t know and it upsets me. »
The first symptoms
The tick is a mite whose bite can cause diseases, including Lyme disease. It feeds on blood to grow hence the infections. The tick lives almost everywhere where there is greenery (woods, bushes, parks, shrubs, etc.) and it clings to every living being that passes close to it. The sting is often painless, but can cause noticeable symptoms quickly. First of all an “erythema migrans”. A kind of white circle surrounded by a red circle on the skin. It grows and then disappears a few days later. Be careful all the same, because its appearance is not always systematic. There may also be flu syndrome. It is then necessary to inform your doctor quickly so that he transmits you an antibiotic treatment. “However, not all ticks carry diseases. In Brittany, it is estimated that 20% carry ticks, ”explains Laurence, unbeatable on the subject. Apart from her fight once morest her illness, Laurence has made it her mission to prevent and inform regarding Lyme disease. In Vitré, she regularly organizes meetings at the Café Bulle.
Working group in Pontchaillou
His message was heard and le CHU de Pontchaillou in Rennes contacted her. “An infectiologist called me to ask me if I wanted to participate in a working group on Lyme disease with ten doctors and ten other patients. Of course I accepted. »
The first meeting will take place on monday 27 february. “It went very quickly,” rejoices Laurence, still moved by the progress of her fight once morest the disease.
€8,000 in the kitty
Moved, she is too following all the attentions from his view.
I saw work colleagues once more, I had messages from childhood friends, family, friends and even anonymous people. Each message touched me a lot. I really want to thank everyone for this support.
Laurence’s sister had also launched an online kitty to help cover the costs. Next to 8 000 € have been harvested. “I would never have thought that so many people would participate. I sincerely thank them, ”she insists.
It is therefore a revitalized Laurence Legaud who will begin a new page to live.
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