2 days ago
Billie Faiers reveals lingering symptoms of Lyme Disease battle amid devastating moment that triggered dormant illness
BILLIE Faiers has opened up on her ongoing battle with Lyme disease and the moment that led to her latest flare up.
The 35-year-old reality star described the disease as "horrendous" and spoke about how it can get so bed that she can't even get out of bed.
4
4
4
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by ticks which spreads when they bite humans.
There are around 3,000 cases in England and Wales every year.
It can cause flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, headache, swollen joints and a fever, which can last for a few weeks.
The former Towie star opened up on how she still suffers from symptoms such as brain fog, tiredness and sporadic aches and pains.
'Some mornings I couldn't even get out of bed. I would have to crawl, going to the toilet, I was in bits, I was hysterical, crying, because I was in so much pain,' Billie told The Mirror.
'It was hard for me to sit on the toilet without [husband] Greg helping me. It was so scary.
''I had so many blood tests but no one could figure it out. One doctor said she'd never seen anything like it. It was frustrating. This went on for about two months before we learnt it was Lyme.'
Doctors searched for weeks as to what could be wrong with Billie and eventually diagnosed her with Lyme disease, saying she was liklely bitten by an infected tick as many as three years ago.
The first symptom of the illness tends to be a red, bulls-eye ring around the bite.
But people bitten by bacteria-laden ticks can be struck with debilitating symptoms days or months afterwards.
Billie Faiers mum-shamed for 'flaunting her wealth' as she throws extravagant festival-themed party for Nellie's 11th birthday
Billie struggle so much after her diagnosis, that not even the antibiotics she was prescribed helped her.
'I was so unwell. It was only after [sister] Sam introduced me to a holistic doctor and I started taking natural medicines that I started to notice a difference and things slowly began to turn around,' she told the publication.
The TV star also wondered if the dormant condition was triggered by a string of stressful events, including rushing daughter, Margot, two, to hospital after she had a seizure.
"That whole situation was really, really scary," Billie said.
"As a parent, you never think it's going to happen to you. You wouldn't even want to imagine it. I was petrified."
Billie added: "Margot hasn't had a seizure since, and that was back in January. So I'm praying she's grown out of them.
"As any parent who's experienced their child having a febrile seizure will tell you, you're on edge a lot of the time. It's made me realise how much stress can affect your body."
She continued: "I think I was holding in a lot of worry and anxiety about the kids and not knowing at the time what was wrong with me. I think it all led to a massive immune system crash."
A number of celebs have spoken out about suffering from the disease - from Bella Hadid and her mum Yolanda, to Justin Bieber, Miranda Hart and Ben Stiller.
4
