Home / Health / Recurring Lyme Disease Leaves Nova Scotia Resident Struggling
Recurring Lyme Disease Leaves Nova Scotia Resident Struggling
16 Nov
Summary
- Woman's second bout with Lyme disease took 3 months to diagnose
- Initial blood test came back negative despite persistent symptoms
- Lyme disease can be difficult to detect, even for those with prior experience
In November 2025, a woman from Hubley, Nova Scotia is recovering from her second bout with Lyme disease. Karn Nichols first contracted the illness four years ago, but this time, she did not have the telltale bullseye rash that is often associated with a tick bite.
Nichols noticed a rash on her leg at the end of July 2025 while at her cottage in Annapolis County. She also had a lymph node infection, leading her to suspect she had Lyme disease again. However, when she went to a pharmacy seeking antibiotics, they were unable to help because the rash did not present as a classic bullseye and she did not have the tick itself.
Nichols then saw her doctor, who was reluctant to prescribe the antibiotic but ordered a blood test for Lyme. The test came back negative two weeks later, but Nichols' health took a turn for the worse in the subsequent weeks. She experienced a debilitating headache that radiated down her back, making it difficult to sleep.
Eventually, Nichols ended up in the hospital, where another test for Lyme came back positive. It took a total of three months from the initial rash for her to receive the positive diagnosis. Nichols is now encouraging everyone to be diligent about checking for ticks, as Lyme disease can be tricky to detect, even for those with prior experience.
