Woman with disease common among A-listers speaks out on reality of symptoms as Justin Timberlake shares diagnosis
Increasing numbers of Hollywood A-listers have been sharing their diagnosis of a particular condition in an attempt to raise awareness of the symptoms - with Justin Timberlake being the latest to reveal his diagnosis.
The singer took to his Instagram to share his struggle with the condition amidst his 'Forget Tomorrow' world tour, writing: "If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically."
And he's not the only one, as several other celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Bella Hadid, Avril Lavigne, Ben Stiller, and Amy Schumer, have all shared their health diagnosis, with around 400,000 estimated new cases diagnosed in the US and 3,000 to 4,000 yearly in the UK (via UK Health Security Agency and AFMC).
However, that number may be substantially higher, thanks to many people, like me, not having undergone official laboratory testing because a classic 'bullseye' rash appeared, alerting sufferers and medical professionals to the condition.
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Here's my experience with getting Lyme disease not once, but twice, and what you should look out for.
What is Lyme disease?
According to the NHS, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through infected ticks, which are more prevalent in grassy and wooded areas.
It is for this reason that Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases, theorised why celebrities seem to be more prone to developing this condition.
"If you go walking in these sorts of places the best thing to do is check, when you get home, that you don't have any ticks on you and if you have remove them safely." he said.
'I thought it was flu'
Back in 2017, I had taken a holiday to France, which involved walking through woodland to return to the hotel. As someone who mosquitoes seem to love, it wasn't uncommon for me to get bitten and react badly to it, so when a number of bites appeared on my legs, I didn't think anything of it.
A week after returning home, I was travelling to London when I started to feel like I had the flu, with a fever, sweats, and terrible aches and pains.
It lasted for a week, and I was due to be tattooed on my shin, but one of the bites hadn't gone away, so I emailed my artist asking if we were okay to proceed, and he said yes, but we would just move the design over slightly to avoid it.
Days after the tattoo, the flu-like symptoms came back, which isn't anything out of the ordinary, as tattooing can be hard on your immune system.
However, a few days later, a rash resembling a large, red ring appeared around the bite, adjacent to the tattoo. A girl on my course at uni had also had it the year before, so I had a fear it might be Lyme.
My sister is a dermatology nurse, so I sent her a photo saying I was worried - and my worst fears came true when she took one look at it and told me to go to A&E immediately.
Lyme disease diagnosis
The classic 'bullseye' rash came up both times, in 2019 at a festival (top) and 2017 (bottom) after being tattooed (Jen Thomas)
I did as I was told and went to my local walk-in centre in Nottingham, where a doctor took one look at the 'bullseye' rash, known as an erythema migrans, and diagnosed me with Lyme disease.
I began a 28-day course of an antibiotic called doxycycline, which in the middle of summer was not fun, as it increases sun sensitivity and means you burn incredibly easily.
The flu-like symptoms, aches, and pains lasted for a few months after the treatment, and the red ring mark took nearly three months to go away.
'I couldn't get warm'
Although I am the least outdoorsy person, as a music journalist, I attend many festivals and spend time in fields watching bands.
In 2019, I either contracted it again or had a relapse after being bitten by another tick at a music festival held in the grounds of a deer park.
Deer ticks are the carriers of the condition, but it's worth remembering that not every tick carries Lyme, nor will every bite result in infection.
A week after being bitten, I went back to my tent early at another festival as I thought I had come down with flu again thanks to a good old British festival downpour a few days before.
Wrapped in a duvet, I couldn't get warm and hurt all over, and realised it was the same way I'd felt last time.
I grabbed a torch and started examining the bites I'd received a week earlier, and saw to my horror that there was a smaller red ring around one of them.
A colleague came and picked me up and took me to A&E, where they confirmed it was Lyme disease again, and started me on another 28-day course of doxycycline.
Due to the rash, they suspected it was a new infection.
I count myself as one of the lucky ones despite the incredibly tiny odds of getting it twice, seeing as the tell-tale 'bullseye' came up both times, leading to an instant diagnosis.
I still experience fatigue on occasion, and it's common for the lymph nodes under my arms to swell or be painful, but fortunately, I've avoided most of the more severe symptoms due to early diagnosis.
You'll never get me hiking or walking through the countryside, though, and I cover myself in insect repellent before every festival now.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
The NHS says that the main indication of Lyme disease is the presence of a 'circular or oval shape rash' around a bite, which can appear up to three months after being bitten and last for 'several weeks'.
They further explain: "The rash can have a darker or lighter area in the centre and might gradually spread. It's not usually hot or itchy."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 70 percent of sufferers will develop the 'bullseye' rash.
Other signs include numerous 'flu-like' symptoms, such as:
- A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Tiredness and loss of energy
The NHS says that a round of antibiotics will be prescribed depending on the severity of the symptoms, which will need to be finished even if your symptoms subside.
Topics: Health, True Life, Lyme disease, Justin Timberlake
Jen Thomas