Having Chronic Lyme Disease has been the most painful and debilitating experience of my life. I wouldn't wish Lyme Disease on anyone. It is becoming more and more wide spread and not just contracted from ticks in woodlands, but also from mosquitos and in general parklands and a variety of areas.
Living with Lyme gives you constant pain in your muscles, joints and neck, a burning sensation on the inside of legs, hands and arms, tingling and numbness, headaches, a sore throat, chronic debilitating fatigue, inability to sleep, memory loss, blurred vision, brain fog, inability to concentrate, exhaustion, pain during any kind of physical activity, and for a lot of people – depression. All of that rolled up into one very unhealthy, mentally challenging package.
Your whole world turns up side down with this devastating disease. Normal life disappears. You can’t work, go out or take part in any kind of activity. Your world shrinks. Who you used to be no longer exists.
Imagine the worst flu virus you have ever had and times it by 10. Then imagine waking to every day for years feeling like that. Many people go to develop problems with their liver, thyroid, brain and heart.
People are losing their lives to this devastating disease. My own life has turned upside down with this illness and I wouldn't want anyone else to have to suffer it.
Protect Yourself!
If you are out walking tuck your trousers in to your socks, wear long sleeves and insect repellant. Be careful when you take your clothes off as they may attach to your skin that way.
The best way to remove a tick is with a tick remover. (You can use a tweezers but be really careful that you don’t leave any part of the tick in you).
If you want to know more about Lyme Disease or help, you can visit the https://caudwelllyme.com/ website or https://lymediseaseuk.com/
Previous Charity Support
From 2007 to 2016, I was a trustee and Chair of Angels – a charity established in 2006 for fighting poverty and disease amongst the world’s poorest children and their communities.
In November 2014, I walked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru to raise money for Angels. A challenging journey, undertaken with severe altitude sickness, followed by a heart wrenching trip to South Africa in January 2015 to see the benefits of the charity's work supporting those in need.
Due to my ill-health, I had to resign from my role but am still a contributor in providing aid to the disadvantaged children in South Africa.
