I spent 20 years feeling like something was eating away at me – then I found it came from a tick bite

A WOMAN has revealed how she spent twenty years feeling like one thing was "consuming away at her" - earlier than discovering it was as a result of she was bitten by a tick as a toddler.

Briony Hunt, from Bracknell, Berks, has lastly been identified with a number of tick-borne diseases together with Lyme Illness after struggling a "lengthy listing of signs" for a few years.

Briony Hunt has been identified with a lot of tick-borne ailments

The 26-year-old was bitten by a tick as a toddler. Inventory pic

The 26-year-old was bitten by a tick on the age of two, a day she says "modified her life eternally" as she's endured a "traumatic 20-plus 12 months journey" of well being points.

She has been identified with diseases corresponding to late-stage Lyme Illness, Bartonella, Babesia and Analplasma in addition to secondary circumstances together with mitochondriopathy and lymphocytic vasculitis.

Briony says she must journey to Poland for personal Supportive Oligonucleotide Approach remedy and supportive therapies which are unavailable on the NHS.

She says it is taken so lengthy to get identified as a result of there's "little understanding of tick-borne ailments and the way they current".

"It’s been an actual battle to get to the place I'm immediately. At instances, I felt overwhelmed and alone," Briony informed BerkshireLive.

"Some didn’t consider it was doable for me to be so sick for thus lengthy and have a protracted listing of signs — I’ve even been laughed at.

"When a analysis couldn’t be recognized a physician tried to persuade me it was ‘all in my head’, with no trigger. Some stated I ought to quit the hope that I might get higher.

"A few of these ailments, significantly Lyme and Bartonella, have an effect on the mind, inflicting quite a lot of psychological points, and having to battle by means of this day by day takes its toll too.

"Though I've had some very darkish days, this life has taught me resilience and to be grateful I nonetheless have a life."

Briony has been unable to work for greater than two years and is now on a mission to boost the £50,000 she wants for remedy overseas by means of a GoFundMe web page.

"It’s onerous however I remind myself that I'm not the sickness. I gained’t quit hope that I'll get higher," she added.

"I felt hopeful after I discovered a personal specialist, who may actually assist," she tells me.

"I used to be excited by the prospect of a pioneering remedy and with it, the hope of a full life.

"I'm deeply grateful for all of the help I've acquired. Individuals have despatched me so many variety messages, have referred to as me to want me effectively and have shared their heartfelt phrases about my plea on social media."