Home / Health / Nova Scotia Woman's Recurring Lyme Disease Exposes Diagnostic Hurdles
Nova Scotia Woman's Recurring Lyme Disease Exposes Diagnostic Hurdles
16 Nov
Summary
- Woman recovers from second bout of Lyme disease after initial negative test
- Experienced persistent headache and other symptoms before positive diagnosis
- Encourages others to advocate for themselves and seek additional testing
In November 2025, a woman from Hubley, Nova Scotia is recovering from her second bout of Lyme disease, a condition she first contracted four years ago. This time, the telltale bullseye rash associated with Lyme was absent, making the diagnosis more difficult.
Karn Nichols first noticed a rash on her leg in late July and also had a lymph node infection, prompting her to seek medical attention. However, when she visited a pharmacy, they were unable to help because the rash did not present as a classic bullseye and she had not found the tick that transmitted the disease.
Nichols then saw her doctor, who was reluctant to prescribe antibiotics but ordered a Lyme disease blood test. The test came back negative two weeks later, but Nichols's health took a turn for the worse in the following weeks. She experienced a debilitating, persistent headache that radiated down her back, making it difficult to sleep.
Eventually, Nichols ended up in the hospital, where a second Lyme test came back positive. It took three months from the initial rash for her to receive the positive diagnosis. Nichols is now encouraging others to be diligent about checking for ticks and to advocate for themselves if they suspect Lyme disease, even if initial tests are negative.
