Avril Lavigne Shares Her Battle With Lyme Disease

Last December, the always energetic and vibrant Avril Lavigne caused some concern amongst her fans when they noticed she hadn't released new music or performance any shows for some time. She reached out to a fan via Twitter direct message citing "health issues," and many assumed she was pregnant. Well, on Wednesday, Avril Lavigne revealed that she has been battling Lyme Disease, which had left her bedridden.

In her exclusive interview with People, Lavigne shared some harrowing details of how crippling the disease was in the early stages. After a few months of feeling lethargic and dizzy, the singer said a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate her 30th birthday was the final straw. As she explained, "I could barely eat, and when we went to the pool, I had to leave and go lie in bed... My friends asked, 'What's wrong?' I didn't know."

Because most people are not even aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease, Lavigne shares that when she was diagnosed, she couldn't believe a bug bite could cause her "to be bedridden for five months." This hits close to home for me personally as one of my cousins was diagnosed in much the same way Lavigne was. She never noticed a bite, only a slight rash and the following months were plagued by joint pain, migraines, extreme lethargy, and other symptoms. It took quite a few months to diagnose since Lym Disease can mimic so many other conditions, and by then it has caused havoc on your nervous system.

Lavigne shared more of the harrowing details of the sickness, which was happening while her husband Chad Kroeger had been away on tour with his band, Nickelback, saying,

I felt like I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk and I couldn't move. I thought I was dying... There were definitely times I couldn't shower for a full week because I could barely stand — It felt like having all your life sucked out of you.

Luckily, Lavigne cites that she is about "80% better" although the road to full recovery will have many ups and downs. In the face of this terrible disease, I give props to Lavigne for speaking out and this will hopefully lead her down another path in her career to raise awareness as it has happened for celebrities touched by Lyme, such as Parker Posey and Yolanda Foster of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame. Lavigne credits her fans for their continued support and is bravely working in spite of the illness, preparing to release a new single, "Fly," for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

There's no doubt that "Fly" will have a bigger meaning for Lavigne now and I wish her nothing but the best in her recovery from this devastating illness. As of right now, she's on the right path. She shared with People, "This was a wake-up call... I really just want to enjoy life from here on out."

Images: Getty Images (2); Giphy