Avril Lavigne opens up about battle with Lyme disease in Good Morning America interview
Canadian singer Avril Lavigne has broken down in tears while discussing her battle with Lyme disease.
The 30-year-old star contracted the debilitating illness in December 2013.
Describing her road to recovery during an appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, she said: "This is my second shot at life."
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Symptoms of the condition include pain and swelling in the joints, heart problems, inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and increased sensitivity to light.
The Complicated hitmaker, who was bedridden for five months, said that she had seen improvements in her health and was grateful that she would she would soon be back to full strength.
"I'm about halfway through my treatment. I'm doing a lot better," she told ABC's Jesse Palmer as she struggled to hold back the tears.
"I'm seeing a lot of progress... I'm just really grateful to know that I will make a 100% recovery."
Explaining her frustrations over several misdiagnoses by doctors and health professionals, she revealed it took two months to confirm that she had the disease.
"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?' This went on and off for a month," she recalled.
"I started going to other doctors and specifically telling them and asking 'I have Lyme disease. I know I do. Can you check me?''" she said. "Then I finally figured out, 'Find a Lyme specialist'."
Lavigne, who is married to Nickelback icon Chad Kroeger, said fans have helped her through the tough times.
"I sat there in my bed and watched [fan videos showing their support for her] and I cried through the whole thing and honestly I felt very loved and it sounds silly, but I really did feel my fans through the process," she added.
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