Justin Timberlake has gone public with his Lyme disease diagnosis. The Cry Me A River singer said that he had been experiencing nerve pain, fatigue and sickness while performing on stage in the lead up to the discovery.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection which is spread from infected ticks to humans. While most cases are treated by antibiotics, some people suffer from more long-term symptoms, especially if the infection remains untreated.
Timberlake took to Instagram to share the news of his diagnosis online. The 44-year-old US singer posted on Thursday: “As many of you know, I’m a pretty private person. But as I’m reflecting on the tour and festival tour – I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me.
“Among other things, I’ve been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease – which I don’t say so you feel bad for me – but to shed some light on what I’ve been up against behind the scenes.
“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.”
What is Lyme disease and how is it spread?
Lyme disease is spread by ticks who attach themselves to small mammals, birds and livestock who are carrying the disease. An infected tick will then attach itself to a human, such as a passing walker, and pass on the bacteria. Not all ticks in England carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
But it’s still important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case. Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk places include grassy and wooded areas in southern England and the Scottish Highlands.
Unlike many other insect, tick bites don’t itch which means they can often go unnoticed. However, the disease is much less common in the UK than in most of Europe as the proportion of infected ticks isn’t as high.
There have long been issues with some patients struggling to get a diagnosis. “It’s only really in the last 5 years that doctors have recognised that patients are actually telling the truth – that people do have continuing symptoms – not many but some,” says Stella Huyshe-Shires, Chairman of Lyme Disease Action, who also caught Lyme Disease 25 years ago.
In part, this is because testing around Lyme Disease is complicated. It can take several weeks for the necessary bacteria to show-up on the current PCR test, used by the NHS.
“Other tests have been produced from labs who are jumping on the bandwagon looking for other markers – they have been shown to give false positives but they also give false negatives,” adds Stella.
So, if you think you may have contracted Lyme Disease, the best thing to do is be open with your doctor and explain where you think you could have come into contact with a tick. It is important to bear in mind that the symptoms can cross over with many other infections.
“People need to show doctors they are rational and looking for a genuine cause of their problems. Although there have been huge medical advances we don’t know everything so there are conditions we can’t diagnose or know they’re there,” says Stella.
What are the symptoms of Lyme Disease?
Initial symptoms of Lyme Disease include a circular or over rash (Erythema Migrans) that expands over time. Some people also get flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after they were bitten by an infected tick, such as:
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- headache
- muscle and joint pain
- tiredness and loss of energy
Later symptoms, which can develop in the weeks to months following the bite, include arthritis, neurological problems, such as nerve pain and numbness, heart problems, fatigue and other issues.
Not everyone who has the disease will get the characteristic EM rash, and symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. The most important thing is to try and get an early diagnosis and treatment, so if you suspect you have the infection go to the doctors immediately.
Got a story? Please get in touch at [email protected]
Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.
