Romain’s story: getting Lyme disease during a working holiday in Canada

Hello, my name is Romain. I’m 30 years old and a video editor. I went on a working holiday to Montreal, Canada in July 2023. Today I want to share my experience with Lyme disease, which I developed shortly after arriving.

In September 2023, during a hike in the Charlevoix region near Baie‑Saint‑Paul in Quebec, I was bitten by a tick on the back of my neck. I didn’t notice it at the time, but I later found an unusual lump, which I thought was a cyst. I had no idea that it would lead to what followed, as it wasn’t until much later that the first symptoms appeared.

I really began to sense something was off three months later, in December 2023. I remember it clearly; it was during Christmas. I felt a kind of exhaustion I had never known before, like my energy evaporated all at once without warning. At first, I thought it was just the harsh Canadian winter causing simple fatigue. I didn’t think too much because these bouts of extreme tiredness seemed to come and go.

But in hindsight, I realize now that I was ignoring my body’s signals. These fatigue cycles persisted for about six to seven months.

The earliest symptom was severe chronic fatigue, far beyond just normal tiredness.

Then I experienced:

• Irritation of the eyes
• Strong sensitivity to light and noise
• Unusual irritability
• Multiple neurological symptoms

Then chronic sinusitis set in. The symptoms were confusing, varied, and sometimes vague, often called “polymorphic.” Nothing made sense and my general health was deteriorating. I began seeking care in Canada but with little success. When I saw a doctor but still couldn’t get any answers, I became deeply concerned.

I returned to my parents’ home in France in July 2024 and everything worsened dramatically. My body literally shut down. I compare it to a hangover you never recover from: dizziness, rapid heartbeat, pain, extreme fatigue, burning eyes, light sensitivity, weakness in arms and legs, headaches, sweats… a long list of serious symptoms.

I underwent many medical tests including bloodwork and full exams, but still nothing showed up.

Upon returning to Canada after the summer, I saw an ENT who diagnosed chronic sinusitis. At the time, I was convinced that all my issues stemmed from that illness. I received some treatment in Montreal but it didn’t help. In fact, things got even worse. No longer physically capable of working, I decided to go home to France for good in October 2024, cutting my WHV short.

Once in France, I started a long, grueling journey of seeking care, seeing more than 10 doctors who couldn’t pinpoint the cause of my symptoms. It was a very difficult time; I didn’t understand my own body and also felt unseen by medical professionals. Suffering from an invisible sickness, I felt abandoned.

Eventually, the fifteenth doctor I consulted mentioned Lyme disease to me for the first time. After that, I began doing some research myself and discovered the existence of many others who faced similar situations. They were wide-ranging, confusing symptoms affecting multiple organs: chronic fatigue, migrating muscle pain, headaches, irritability… I realized I could be dealing with chronic Lyme.

I sought a formal diagnosis but French Lyme tests are notoriously insensitive and unreliable, especially for chronic cases. Diagnosis relies heavily on clinical symptoms, not clear lab results.


French physicians demand tangible proof: numbers, exam results. That can trap patients like me in a nightmare, wrongly labeled with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, long‑COVID, or psychiatric disorders.

I soon accepted that France simply does not recognize chronic Lyme. Some doctors even told me “it doesn’t exist” or “I don’t want to get involved in that nonsense.” So began a second ordeal: seeking formal acknowledgement of my very real but misunderstood condition.

Luckily, I found France Lyme, an association that connected me with a doctor who was willing to help. He promised to do all that he could. His support was both a relief and a wake‑up call. I understood that in France, help for Lyme patients comes almost entirely from associations and just a few specialized doctors, often scrutinized by the Medical Board due to what they deem as non‑standard practice.

That doctor correctly diagnosed multiple co‑infections from the tick bite. Though he continues to support me, he is limited by lack of research.

In France, chronic Lyme patients are basically on their own: no reliable tests, no meaningful public health coverage, no official recognition, and most crucially, no real treatment. That’s why I’m seriously considering treatment in Germany, a country where chronic Lyme is recognized and specific therapies are offered.

I chose Germany for several reasons. Firstly, Germany has a more comprehensive understanding of Lyme, especially in regions near Alsace (Eastern France) where it’s most common. The unfortunate prevalence of the disease there has advanced research more than in France. There, many medical experts treat chronic Lyme with very good results. What convinced me is that German doctors can practice freely without restrictive government policies. Unlike in France, they can prescribe tailored treatments without fearing consequences. This freedom allows them to be much more effective.

As for my expectations, I hope to finally receive care in a serious, structured environment at a specialized clinic. I’ll get advanced diagnostics and a truly personalized treatment.

Lyme isn’t caused by Borrelia alone; it often involves bacterial or parasitic co‑infections that the immune system battles, resulting in chronic disease. In Germany, I can get targeted, long-term antibiotic therapy tailored to my case. This comprehensive approach, which doesn’t exist in France, gives me real hope for recovery.

First off, I want to reassure everyone that Canada’s nature is beautiful and rich in biodiversity. My aim isn’t to scare or discourage anyone from doing outdoor adventures, but rather to raise awareness and encourage precaution.

Know that Quebec and northeastern Canada are endemic Lyme regions. Lyme, first identified in Lyme, Connecticut, is now common elsewhere too. Mites and ticks carry Borrelia and other co-infections in forests home to deer, squirrels, raccoons… These wild spaces foster their spread.

My recommendations are to:

• Stick to trails whenever possible.
• Wear long, light-colored clothing and tuck pants into socks.
• Use tick repellent spray before forest outings.
• Shower within two hours after being outdoors and check carefully behind ears, under arms, between legs, and on the scalp.

Tick bites are often painless and unnoticed. If you find a bite, monitor for an erythema migrans rash (a bullseye red patch); that’s a clear sign. Consult a doctor or pharmacist immediately for early antibiotic treatment.

Also, always carry a tick-removal tool (tweezers aren’t recommended). Use the tool to gently twist the tick out clockwise.

These simple steps can make a huge difference, I speak from experience. I mistook my bite for a mere bump. Today, I know how vital vigilance truly is.

My top priority now is regaining my health. It’s only when you lose it that you realize how much you took it for granted. Your whole life can change in an instant, as mine did due to a simple tick bite, and then you realize that everything is secondary in importance to health. Every day, I fight with complex treatments that aren’t recognized in France, which is why I have to look to Germany. Their treatments are better, but certainly aren’t cheap.

Fortunately, I’m surrounded by supportive family and friends. I even set up a crowdfunding campaign to cover treatment costs, since I don’t qualify for public assistance.

Once recovered, I plan to return to editing and filmmaking. I’m working on a documentary about Lyme disease and the medical labyrinth many go through. I want to share the stories of those with invisible struggles. I’m deeply passionate about this topic, both for my own reasons and because it affects so many silently.


Though my life is currently on pause, I remain hopeful. I made a promise to myself at Montreal’s YUL airport: to come back someday, but with my health regained. My departure from Canada was sudden and heartbreaking; Montreal had welcomed me so warmly. I want to return and enjoy it as a visitor, but next time free of all the pain.

I also want my story to serve as prevention and resilience. I’ve accepted that recovery from chronic Lyme will take time, but I’m determined. I won’t give up. I want to fight alongside associations like France Lyme to get chronic Lyme recognized in France. It’s a long battle, but a necessary one.