Avril Lavigne breaks down talking about Lyme Disease diagnosis
The singer talks about dealing with the diagnosis.
It's not unusual for pop stars to disapear for months on end, so when Avril Lavigne resurfaced in April the showbiz world was shocked to find out this was absence was due to suffering from Lyme Disease.
In a tearful interview with Good Morning America, Lavigne, 30, reveals it took months to be diagnosed:
"They would pull up their computer and be like, 'Chronic fatigue syndrome'. Or, 'Why don't you try to get out of bed, Avril, and just go play the piano?' It's like, 'Are you depressed?'
The Canadian singer revealed that doctors failed to take her symptoms seriously. If undiagnosed the disease carries long-term health risks and Lavigne discussed how she needed to seek out a specialist to convince Doctors something was seriously wrong:
“I started going to other doctors and specifically telling them, and asking: “I have Lyme Disease. I know I do. Can you check me?” Then I finally figured out, “Find a Lyme specialist. The thing is, when you’re a specialist, you also really know the disease inside and out and you can diagnose their symptoms.”
As she spoke through tears she sought to encourage others who may have syptoms to seek help and those with the disease that it can get better:
“There is hope. Lyme disease does exist. And you can get better. I’m halfway through my treatment now. This is my second shot at life. I really just want to go out there and truly do what I love. So I’m excited for life after this.”
Avril is married to Nickelback lead singer, Chad Kroeger.