Amy Schumer says she has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, and 'maybe had it for years'
- Amy Schumer revealed she has Lyme disease, a tick-borne bacterial infection that cause chronic pain, fatigue, and headaches.
- In an Instagram post, Schumer said she it's possible she had Lyme disease for years without knowing, since the symptoms are common of other illnesses too.
- She's taking antibiotics to cure her symptoms, but could still experience them for months following treatment.
Comedian Amy Schumer recently revealed she has Lyme disease, a tick-caused bacterial illness that can lead to chronic fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes, and that she's "maybe had it for years."
In a September 8 Instagram post, Schumer shared a picture of herself as a child, holding a fishing pole with the caption, "Anyone get LYME this summer?"
Schumer said she may have contracted the disease years ago without realizing, since Lyme disease symptoms are common signs of other ailments, including stress.
The "Trainwreck" actress said that she's been taking doxycycline, an oral antibiotic, to treat the condition, and asked for advice from any of her followers who have experienced Lyme disease.
Schumer joins a growing number of people who have shared Lyme disease diagnoses, including Bella Hadid and Justin Bieber. In the United States, 300,000 people are diagnosed with the condition each year.
Even after treatment, Lyme disease symptoms can last for months
After an infected tick bites a person and bacteria enters their bloodstream, they might start to feel brain fog, headaches, joint aches, fever, and chills, according to the CDC.
Once diagnosed, a doctor can give them antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection, like in Schumer's case.
If treated soon after the onset of the infection, a person can make a full recovery in a few weeks, the CDC website says.
But after that, they may experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, in which the symptoms they had remain for six or more months, Insider previously reported. Health experts are unsure why this happens.
Schumer is in the midst of her treatment, so it's unclear how she'll recover in the long-term.
In her Instagram post, she said she feels "good" and is "excited to get rid of it."
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