Ryan Sutter
Sutter revealed in May 2021 that he had Lyme disease that had been exacerbated by mold exposure after battling a “mystery” illness for months during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sutter stated that following a plethora of tests and blood work over the previous year, doctors found that his body is susceptible to ingesting mold toxins, to which he is frequently exposed as a firefighter.
On his wife Trista Sutter’s podcast Better Etc, he stated, “It seems to be that what happened is that my immune system was weakened through exposures to toxins and especially mold.”. There are other members of the fire academy who most likely experienced the same exposures but aren’t experiencing the effects because their genetic make-up makes it easier for them to get rid of the toxins. “.
In addition, he had positive tests for the mononucleosis-causing COVID-19 and Epstein-Barr virus.
Trista remarked, “It’s been difficult. “It’s very difficult to watch the person you love most in the world suffer. He’s a big, strong guy, and it hurt me to see him get depressed and feel hopeless. The only thing I could really do was speak up for him, so I did. “.
When the couple met with PEOPLE in June 2022 to discuss Ryan’s health, they had good news to share.
“For so long, all I could think about was how to get through the day,” Ryan admitted. Nevertheless, I believe that my life is returning. And that has been very encouraging. “.
Kelley Flanagan
In August 2021, former Bachelor contestant Flanagan revealed “some not so good news” to her Instagram followers: she had tested positive for Lyme disease.
The former Bachelor contestant shared a video on Instagram in which she sobbed as she described how she was dealing with the bad news about her health.
Before disclosing that she had tested positive for Lyme disease, Flanagan said, “I’m not having the best day today. Her body “is so much more sensitive and super reactive to a bunch of things,” the reality star claimed, leading her to suspect something was wrong. “.
A lot of their symptoms were very similar to mine, and two of my brothers both have Lyme disease, she said. Because I’ve always been sick since I was young and had to take care of myself extremely well. “.
Flanagan claimed that she believes “this is something that I’ve probably had for a while” and that receiving a diagnosis has somewhat relieved her.
It’s a blessing and a curse because I can now pinpoint why I feel off so frequently, but it also requires changing my lifestyle and doing extensive research on how to help/hopefully cure this, she wrote in the caption. “I know this is going to be difficult for me considering what my brothers have gone through both physically and mentally, but I’m going to devote a tremendous amount of time and energy to researching and overcoming this.”. “.
Debbie Gibson
Despite the fact that Gibson finally fulfilled her goal of competing on Dancing with the Stars season 25, the singer acknowledged that Lyme Disease made the experience difficult. She reportedly told PEOPLE, “I can’t be careless with my body.”. “I can’t just push myself without considering the consequences. My stamina may be impacted by [Lyme Disease]. “.
The good news is that Gibson is aware of her physical strengths and weaknesses after four years of fighting the disease. I’ve always had a good sense of my body, she claimed. “However, these recent years have taught me where I can push my boundaries. That will be an advantage in my mind, I’m going to decide.
She elaborated on her symptoms and medical care in a frank interview with PEOPLE in August 2021, saying she’s “learned to expect the unexpected. “.
Regarding harder days, she remarked, “I know I can get through it.”. I’m constantly reminded of how resilient we all are every time I succeed in doing so. “.
Kelly Dodd & Rick Leventhal
On her Instagram Story in June 2021, the Real Housewives of Orange County star shared the couple’s diagnosis.
Leventhal was seated across from her at the table when Dodd said, “So, we tested positive for Lyme disease.”.
She continued, saying that this is her first experience with the illness. She claimed, “I have never in my life come into contact with a tick.
However, Leventhal informed Dodd that he had previously experienced two cases of Lyme disease.
After that, he took an antibiotic, mentioning how it had previously treated his Lyme disease and expressing his hope that it would do so once more.
Dodd declined to reveal from what source she and Leventhal believed they acquired Lyme disease. When PEOPLE asked a representative for comment about the reality star, they did not respond right away.
Amy Schumer
In an Instagram post from September 2020 that included a throwback image of her holding her “first ever fishing pole,” the actress and comedian revealed her diagnosis. “.
She penned, “Anyone get LYME this summer? I got it and I’m on doxycycline.”. I’ve had it for a while, maybe years. Can you have one or two glasses of wine on it?
I’m aware that I should avoid the sun. In addition, I’m taking these herbs from Cape Cod called lyme-2,” Schumer continued, inviting audience members to share their own experiences with the tick-borne illness in the comments section. “I’d also like to add that I feel great and can’t wait to get rid of it. “.
Ramona Singer
In March 2020, Lyme disease was discovered to be the star of the Real Housewives of New York City. Singer began experiencing symptoms of illness around Valentine’s Day, and the diagnosis followed, according to E! News.
According to the reality star, she visited the Hamptons when she allegedly caught the disease spread by ticks. She told E! that she was “very lucky and very blessed” to have received an early diagnosis. “.
Justin Bieber
The famous person admitted in January 2020 that the July 2019 image of him that sparked Internet rumors about his health (above) was taken at the height of his Lyme disease battle.
“While many individuals kept saying Justin Bieber looks like s—, on meth, etc. They were unaware that I recently received a Lyme disease diagnosis, he wrote on Instagram. “It’s been a difficult couple of years, but I will be back and stronger than ever once I find the right treatment to help with this as of yet incurable illness. “.
Avril Lavigne
The singer acknowledged that she had been dealing with Lyme disease for a year in her 2015 PEOPLE cover story. Lavigne, who thinks she was bitten by a tick in 2014, stated, “I had no idea a bug bite could do this.”. “I spent five months confined to a bed. “.
In a 2019 PEOPLE article, Lavigne claimed to be in good health. Her foundation collaborates with various Lyme disease organizations to raise money and awareness for the condition.
She continued, “It made me find myself all over again and gave me a purpose. “.
She continued, “When you experience something like that, you realize how rewarding simple things are – things I could no longer do, like being able to wake up in the morning and go to the kitchen and grab a cup of coffee. It gave me the ability to be more patient and mindful. What a lovely lesson. “.
Shania Twain
To avoid worrying her fans, Twain, a legend in the world of country music, kept her vocal difficulties a secret. The damage caused by dysphonia, a complication of Lyme disease, has forced her to regain and retune her singing voice, which is now getting better. She admitted to PEOPLE, “I was very afraid for a short while that I wouldn’t sing again, ever. “I experienced that moment, but I managed to overcome it. I came across a solution. “.
She claims that doing physical therapy is “very, very difficult” and that using her voice to sing now requires extensive warmups. “.
Alec Baldwin
At the Bay Area Lyme Foundation’s 2017 gala, LymeAid, Baldwin took the stage as Master of Ceremonies and spoke openly about his battle with the disease. He said of his condition, “I really thought this is it, I’m not going to live.”. I was divorced from my first wife, single, and not yet married. I was lying in bed, lamenting the fact that I would soon pass away from Lyme disease and wishing that I wouldn’t be left alone for too long. ‘ “.
Yolanda Hadid
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star opened up about her diagnosis in her 2017 book, Believe Me: My Battle with the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease, onstage, on social media, and in interviews.
“This illness has left many of us, including myself, in a state of complete hopelessness and exhaustion, with frequent wishes to die. She remarked, “Like I always say, you don’t get it until you get it,” in 2016 at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala. “It’s challenging for people to comprehend the invisible disability that governs our lives, especially when it’s hidden behind the stunning face that glows so brightly on magazine covers. “.
Anwar & Bella Hadid
Models Anwar and Bella Hadid, who are Yolanda Hadid’s children, also struggle with the “invisible illness.”. In her speech at the 2016 Global Lyme Alliance, Bella described how her Lyme battle has hampered her love of horseback riding as well as many other aspects of her life.
When Bella suddenly stopped and realized she no longer had the mental capacity to ride horses, she put an end to what she described as her life’s dream and what she did every single day. “I understand how it feels to not want to get out of bed due to bone pains, exhaustion, and days-long refusals to engage in social activities or be around people because the anxiety and fog of the mind simply aren’t worth it. Instead of being cured and continuing with your life after years of this, you start to get used to living with the illness. “.
Ben Stiller
The actor was first given a Lyme disease diagnosis in 2010, and he believes he got the illness while visiting Nantucket, Massachusetts. Stiller admitted to Lyme disease in 2011, saying, “I’m symptom-free now, but Lyme never leaves your system. It’s a really difficult thing. “.
Kelly Osbourne
A reindeer sanctuary was set up in the family’s backyard for the star’s surprise 56th birthday celebration in 2004 for dad Ozzy. Kelly was bit by a tick that bit her during the incident, and the tick later developed a number of symptoms, including stomach pains and a sore throat. She stated in her latest book, There Is No F*cking Secret: Letters From a Badass Bitch, “I’ve learned to advocate for myself when it comes to my health, and I trust my intuition.”. “I won’t allow anyone to discount something I believe to be wrong. And regrettably, I avoid reindeer like the plague. “.
Ally Hilfiger
“I was sure that insects were scurrying around inside of me. In her new book, Bite Me: How Lyme Disease Stole My Childhood, Made Me Crazy, and Almost Killed Me, Hilfiger describes how she first received a Lyme disease diagnosis in 1992 at the age of seven after being bitten by a tick. “I could feel them eating at my organs, my stomach and especially my brain,” she wrote.
“I had changed into someone else. I cried out for someone to understand what was wrong as a flimsy projection of myself on a wall. “.
