Penny Jackson, 56, from Wentworthville, NSW, shares what it’s like to be diagnosed with a forgotten disease
I winced as the doctor examined my leg.
I’d been in hospital for two weeks with cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection, on the bottom half of my left leg.
I’d had it for months, but despite taking antibiotics, I couldn’t shake off the painful condition.
I have diabetes, which can slow healing, but the doctor thought there was another underlying problem, so arranged for blood tests.
When I got the results I was stunned.
‘You’ve got scurvy,’ she told me. ‘Scurvy?!’ I exclaimed.
My mind instantly went to images of sick sailors from hundreds of years ago.
‘I didn’t know you could get scurvy these days!’
As I listened to the symptoms, I realised they fitted me perfectly – my gums often bled and I also bruised easily.
“Scurvy?!” I exclaimed.
The doctor explained it was a vitamin C deficiency and asked me about my diet.
I didn’t eat a lot of fresh food because of how long it took to prepare, so instead I tucked into takeaways.
I avoided fruit because I was worried the sugar would affect my diabetes, and oranges gave me digestion problems.
The doctor told me to eat more fruit and vegies, and to take vitamin C supplements as well.
Around a month later, my infection cleared up. I felt a lot healthier too.
Five years on, I’ve stuck to my new diet. I had a second bout of cellulitis three years ago, but it cleared up much more quickly.
There’s been a resurgence of scurvy in Australia recently, and it’s thought that New Zealand could follow suit.
If the symptoms ring any bells, I hope people will see their GP.
I’d love to see scurvy consigned to the history books.
What is scurvy?
➜ Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C. It is important for the formation of collagen, which is needed by bodily tissues.
➜ Symptoms include gum disease, slow healing times, anaemia and weakness.
➜ The condition was common among 16th to 18th century sailors who couldn’t eat fresh food at sea
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