Amy Schumer Reveals She’s Been Diagnosed With Lyme Disease

Amy Schumer revealed to fans in a Tuesday Instagram post that she has contracted Lyme Disease. The comedian informed the public that she is unsure of when she contracted the disease and that she sought advice on how to treat it.

Schumer published a picture of herself as a young child while holding a fishing rod earlier. The caption gave details about her diagnosis and read, “My first ever fishing pole. Anyone get LYME this summer? I got it and I’m on doxycycline. I have maybe had it for years. Any advice? Can you have a glass of wine or 2 on it? I know to stay out of the sun. I’m also taking these herbs from cape cod called Lyme-2. Please comment or text me on my number in my bio. I also want to say that I feel good and am excited to get rid of it.”

Schumer said she was supplementing her prescription of doxycycline, a drug similar to malaria treating hydroxychloroquine, with an herbal extract called Lyme-2.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that bacteria associated with Lyme Disease transmit themselves to humans through the bite of infected ticks, usually the ones found outdoors that feed on deer. Typical symptoms are similar to the flu in their first stages, with the addition of a signature bulls-eye shaped rash known as erythema migrans. Should the disease remain untreated, neurological issues like having trouble thinking and losing one’s sense of balance can occur. Joint inflammation is also common in later stages. The condition can remain dormant in a host for long periods after contraction, as Schumer suggested, could be her case.

Schumer joins the ranks of celebrities like Justin Bieber and Bella Hadid who have shared their experiences with the disease with the public. Hadid once described her her symptoms in a series of since-deleted Instagram stories, “Every day I feel at least 10 of these attributes without fail… since I was probably 14, but more aggressively when I turned 18.” Hadid spoke at length about her experience Lyme Disease’s symptoms at a New York Gala in 2016 hosted by the Global Lyme Alliance.