Amy Schumer Reveals Lyme Disease Diagnosis
What happened: Amy Schumer has been open about her life experiences in her stand-up comedy acts and on social media. She’s been forthright about her infertility journey, her husband Chris Fischer’s autism diagnosis and her father’s multiple sclerosis.
The comedian and actress tends to put a funny spin on any struggles and challenges she’s encountered, even when sharing news that she has Lyme disease. True to form, the 39-year-old posted a throwback pic of her holding a fishing pole, and shared her diagnosis on Instagram.
Anyone get LYME this summer? I got it and I’m on doxycycline. I have maybe had it for years. Any advice?
The Frontlines: Lyme disease can be a debilitating bacterial infection typically caused by a tick bite. It can cause flu-like symptoms, headaches, fever, fatigue, body aches and joint pain. But there are potentially other serious symptoms, if untreated, that can include neurological problems, memory issues, hearing and vision problems, inflammation of the brain and heart, and even paralysis. For some people, symptoms can linger for months and even years.
- Lyme disease is one of the fastest growing vector-borne illnesses with an estimated 300,000-plus new cases per year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- According to LymeDisease.org, 56% of those with Lyme disease test negative on the tests recommended by the CDC.
- Antibiotics commonly used for treatment include doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime axetil, according to the
A Mighty Voice: Our contributor Donna Fiala shared what they don’t tell you about Lyme disease and the long list of symptoms that can affect your life, even if “you don’t look sick.”
“They don’t tell you how unspeakably lonely it is to have an illness that nobody understands…They don’t tell you about the depression — that you’ll spend each night praying you won’t wake up the next morning. They don’t tell you about the dreadful insomnia. They don’t tell you about the Lyme rage.” You can submit your first-person story, too.
Add your voice:
Other things to know: Schumer joins a growing list of celebrities who have opened up about their experience Lyme disease, including Justin Bieber, Shania Twain and Kelly Osbourne. Here are some helpful articles about Lyme disease:
- 9 Lyme Disease Basics You Need to Know
- 10 Everyday Tasks That Can Be Difficult for Those With Lyme Disease
- What Lyme Is to Me
How to take action: To learn more about Lyme Disease, visit LymeDisease.org.
Header image via Amy Schumer/Instagram
Maria Lianos-Carbone is the author of “Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year”, and publisher of amotherworld.com, a popular family lifestyle blog for women.
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