Lyme disease Superfit woman left housebound believes tick bite’s to blame
ACHELTENHAM woman has warned people to be aware of ticks when they are out and about in grassy areas this spring and summer.
With lockdown restrictions easing and the weather getting warmer, more of us will be spending time outdoors.
And while Vicky Hamlin is not saying people should stay indoors, she is urging them to be very careful if they do go out.
It comes after she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in March last year, following a lengthy illness that doctors believe can be traced back to her being bitten by a tick while she was travelling around the world.
She took a year out, in 2016, to experience life in places such as Asia and South America and did a lot of camping and trekking.
At the time she did not realise she had been bitten by a tick, thinking instead that a rash she had was due to ringworm.
But she now believes that was when she contracted the disease, which has left her so poorly that she often has not got the strength to leave her home.
The 36-year-old, of Lansdown Terrace Lane, has gone from running in the London Marathon to sometimes not being able to walk for more than 15 or 20 metres.
She said: “It has had a devastating impact on my life as I was previously someone who was very healthy, fit and active - I worked long hours, had cycled from London to Paris, ran a marathon and travelled extensively for work and leisure. I have been housebound now for five years.”
Vicky lives alone but has the support of a brother who lives in Cheltenham, another brother who lives in Bristol as well as her mother who also lives in the city.
They are doing a series of epic challenges this year to raise awareness of Lyme disease and generate funds for research.
All of the money raised will go to the Caudwell Lymeco Charity, founded by British billionaire John Caudwell.
Vicky said taking a simple precaution, such as putting a pale coloured sheet on the grass before sitting down, could help to prevent getting bitten by a tick.
Vicky urged people to check to see if they have any ticks on them after being out.
If you do get bitten, she said, it is important to treat it carefully and seek medical advice quickly.
She hopes to recover from her illness as quickly as possible but knows that it might be months or even years before she is better.
One positive aspect of her life has been writing poetry. It has given her an outlet to express her feelings and help improve her mental health.
She was named as one of the winners of a UK poetry competition held by Disability Talk.
The NHS says Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early.
It has had a devastating impact on my life as I was previously someone who was very healthy Vicky Hamlin