Huston on the mend
British international Patrick Huston has been slightly off the front lines of competition this year after unfortunately contracting Lyme disease, a viral infection of the nervous system which can be difficult to shift. He has been tackling the disease with his usual elan and spoke to Bow earlier this month:
"I have been undergoing treatment for the symptoms of Lyme disease, which can take many forms and is caused by Spirochetes bacteria. Often those afflicted with Lyme disease suffer from aches, fatigues, bulls-eye rashes, and a variety of potential neurological symptoms. Why? A few hours sat on the grass in a meadow near a marsh close to my home. I found out by developing feverish symptoms, sweating and swelling at the bite sites, I had small pieces embedded in them and a red ring around them. Later that week I developed various neurological symptoms, most noticeably muscles moving and twitching on their own accord.
I’ve been under Doxycycline (antibiotic) treatment for three months, which unfortunately rendered me very sensitive to sunlight. One of the biggest things I’ve been doing has been Wim Hof breathing techniques. This is a powerful practice involving cold exposure and lots of breath work. This has been some of the most beneficial to my symptoms. I’ve learnt that Lyme can be treated effectively if caught quickly - if you ever develop a red ring around a bite get to A&E! I’ve also learnt a lot about the lymphatic system, the nervous system and flexibility, I’ve been working archery movements into yoga style exercises to keep my conditioning."
Lyme disease is a particular problem for field archers who can spend a long time in the woods and in undergrowth, and long trousers tucked into socks, long sleeves and bug spray are almost always recommended for field competition, along with carefully checking yourself for bites after a session anywhere there might be ticks.