A MUM who is desperately fighting a serious bacterial infection after being bitten by a TICK has released harrowing footage of herself screaming in pain to raise awareness of Lyme disease.
Heidi Luckraft, from Beeston, Nottinghamshire, was walking her dog four years ago when she was bitten but it wasnt until last year that she was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease.
YouTube
YouTube
The horrific clip sees the 34-year-old hunched over on the floor as she howls in pain, while tears stream down her face, smudging her eye makeup.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the mum-of-two said:I really want to help others as it left me fighting for my life in hospital. It could have been prevented by an early diagnosis.
It isnt the NHSs fault. Its overstretched, underfunded and they need more trained doctors and urgent funding from the government.
Its no life having to live with Lyme disease and I just wish others suffering would be able to get treatment and diagnosis sooner.
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Heidi claims she was misdiagnosed with various illnesses including meningitis and chronic fatigue syndrome before a tell-tale rash emerged which identified her symptoms as Lyme disease.
Her friend Jodie Deegan, 34, and Heidis husband, Mark, set up a fundraising page to raise cash for treatment in the US which isnt currently available in the UK last year.
After raising 17,000 and remortgaging her house, she had Infusion treatment at a clinic in Germany.
This works by restoring the immune function, ridding the body of harmful parasites.
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Shes since stopped having seizures and shakes, and has managed to reduce pain medication by a whopping 70 per cent.
Shes now calling for better and more accurate blood testing for Lyme disease, as roughly only 30 per cent of cases in the UK are diagnosed correctly.
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence is set to devise guidelines setting out the care people diagnosed with Lyme disease should receive in 2018.
Speaking last year, Jodie, who lives in Stockport, described her friends condition: She needs IV infusions, immune boosting IV therapies, stem cell treatments alongside IV antibiotics.
There are no UK trained NHS Lyme doctors here, we need her to be treated in the States and her bloods need to be tested in Germany.
Caters News Agency
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Shes always done so much for charity and helped kids with cancer.
Shell go to an event, dressed up as Elsa and sing for the children, then collapse in her wheelchair and cry from all the pain when shes finished.
She puts on a brave face, but what shes going through is really serious.
Heidi was walking her dog in Wollaton Park, Nottinghamshire, in 2012 when she was bitten by an infected tick.
She immediately felt tired and unwell, but a series of misdiagnosed illnesses meant that by the time she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2015, doctors couldnt do anything to treat it.
Jodie speaking on behalf of Heidi because she was too unwell said: Last week she had to be resuscitated three times.
She says her brain feels like its swelling and she gets really bad migraines.
All she can do is sit in a dark room and not even look at her phone.
At first she would have more good days than bad days, but now were thankful if she gets a good hour.
Shes just in agony.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection It is spread by infected ticks who feed on human blood Many sufferers develop a distinctive red circular rash with a ring around it Early signs include flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness and muscle pain If diagnosed early, it can be treated with antibiotics
Heidi, mum to Ocian, 16, and Rhianna, 13, was forced to hide from the world after keeping her illness secret for so long.
Jodie added: She never really told anyone about it, she just got on with it.
Now her phone is going mad with people getting in touch.
When I told her wed already raised 800 she burst into tears.
She keeps asking do you think well do it?, but I know she doesnt want to get her hopes up just in case.
The musical theatre performer said: Her and Mark have been together for 20 years.
Its the love of his life and theyve got two gorgeous girls, its just heartbreaking.
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"I met Heidi when I was 14 and in a children's home.She took me under her wing and she's been like a big sister ever since.
"When she showed me that video and I saw how much pain she was in, I just knew we had to do something.
"She always puts other people first, it's time she did something for herself."
Lyme disease is spread via infected ticks which are found in woodland.
Cases are on the rise: in 2003, there were 346 reported cases which rose to 1,000 in 2015.
And the disease has become more well-known after it was revealed model Bella Hadid, her mum Yolanda and brother Anwar all suffer from the illness.
A number of celebs have also contracted Lyme disease
- Model Bella Hadid has been open about her battle with Lyme disease - The star's mum, Yolanda Hadid, and her brother Anwar also suffer - Singer Avril Lavigne was diagnosed with the condition in 2014 - Actor Alex Baldwin found out he had Lyme in 2011
If caught early enough, Lyme disease is treated with a course of antibiotics.
Jodie said: "If she was correctly diagnosed within 48 hours, all she would have needed is a two week course of antibiotics.
"When she was finally diagnosed it was bittersweet.
"She was relieved to have a diagnosis but by that time, it was so serious.
"But she's such a positive person.
"She keeps saying she's been given the disease so she can help other people in the future."
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Lyme disease mum releases video of herself doubling-over in agony to warn others of tick infection - The Sun