Mom with Lyme disease reveals what Justin Timberlake may be going through: ‘It's a terrible thing to live with'
After enjoying a career as a pageant queen, Kirstie Haysman, 36, was left unable to leave her house in 2015 after being struck down by the bacterial infection, spread to humans through infected ticks.
Lyme disease is known to cause high temperature, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, tiredness, and loss of energy.
Justin announced on his Instagram page yesterday (31) that he's been suffering from Lyme disease throughout his tour.
Kirstie's daughter, Harriet, 13, was given a test for the disease in 2023, which came back positive in July 2024.
6 After enjoying a career as a pageant queen, Kirstie Haysman, 36, was left unable to leave her house in 2015 after being struck down by the bacterial infection, spread to humans through infected ticks.
Kirstie Haysman / SWNS
The secondary school student now struggles with 'seizure-like' blackouts and extreme fatigue.
Kirstie has offered support on behalf of herself and her daughter to Justin Timberlake, who revealed yesterday [August 1] he's living with the disease.
Kirstie, who is now unable to work, from Watford, Hertfordshire, said: '[Lyme disease] is a devastating diagnosis and our hearts really do go out to him.
'I'm sure Justin is realizing now that it affects everything – it's your nervous system, your joints, and chronic fatigue.
6 Justin Timberlake announced on his Instagram page that he's been suffering from Lyme disease throughout his tour.
Amy Harris/Invision/AP
'The chronic fatigue, especially, is something you can't even fathom until you're in it.
'Justin's gone very viral within one of my Lyme disease support groups – I'm sure a lot of people within the group will be reaching out to him with words of support.'
Kirstie says she first started experiencing symptoms of what she now knows is Lyme disease in 2015.
Her health continued to deteriorate after an initial diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and Kirstie says her hands became 'disfigured' – leaving her with painful, swollen joints and unable to pick things up.
6 '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,' Timberlake wrote on his Instagram.
AP
Following further tests, she was told the long-term use of steroids had led to her bones deteriorating – with a rheumatologist telling her she had 'the bones of a 70-year-old.'
In January 2023, an acquaintance suggested she might be suffering from Lyme disease, and Kirstie began researching the condition.
She organised to travel to Mexico for blood tests specifically for Lyme disease in February and was left shocked when the results came back positive.
After returning to the UK with her diagnosis, Kirstie says she was put on three different antibiotics on a 12-month course and says she has also used herbal remedies to try to combat the illness.
Worrying about passing the disease onto Harriet, Kirstie decided to get her tested – but in July 2024, the results came back positive.
Online reports say 'Lyme disease cannot be inherited'.
MedlinePlus, part of the National Library of Medicine, says 'the risk of certain complications of the condition may be influenced by inherited genetic factors, but the inheritance pattern is unknown'.
'It's hellish, to be honest,' Kirstie said.
'Once you've got Lyme disease chronically, you have to live with it for the rest of your life – it doesn't go away.
'My daughter has it now – two months ago, further tests showed it's caused deficiencies in iron and folic acid.
'It affects us differently – while mine has left me in a wheelchair, Harriet's is very neurological.
'She experiences blackouts, almost like seizures, and migraines, which means she often has to sit in a dark room in school to recover.
6 Kirstie says she first started experiencing symptoms of what she now knows is Lyme disease in 2015.
Kirstie Haysman / SWNS
'If she has something like sports day, she'll be bedridden for days afterwards.'
Kirstie has offered advice to Justin Timberlake after he announced his diagnosis.
The singer wrote in an Instagram post: '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.
6 Haysman's health continued to deteriorate after an initial diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and Kirstie says her hands became 'disfigured' – leaving her with painful, swollen joints and unable to pick things up.
Kirstie Haysman / SWNS
'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.
'When I first got the diagnosis, I was shocked for sure.
6 Kirstie Haysman has offered advice to Justin Timberlake after he announced his diagnosis.
Kirstie Haysman / SWNS
'But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.'
Kirstie added: 'It's devastating for him, and we're heartbroken.
'There's no positive spin – it's a terrible thing to live with.'
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