The model opened up about how Lyme disease has impacted her life, including her self confidence.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Bella Hadid gave an honest update on a jaw infection she experienced and opened up about her struggles with Lyme disease.
Along with a video showing her face in a series of angles she wrote, “There was a low-grade infection underneath the tooth, NEXT to the tooth I thought was suffering (she’s good) which is the one I got a root canal on a year ago. It continued to spread down, causing a low grade infection in my jaw. I have felt in my heart for months that I needed this tooth out, to heal the rest, and if not, it was going to take me out!”
The model was diagnosed with tick-borne bacterial Lyme disease in 2012 when she was 16 years old. Bella went on to explain that the infection caused her Lyme to flare up. “This made my Lyme flare up, which means the Lyme is attacking the places that are suffering ie tooth, jaw, guy, brain, spine, bones etc oh, and the entire nervous system,” she explained.
@babybella777 Tooth update! There was a low-grade infection underneath the tooth, NEXT to the tooth I thought was suffering(she’s good) which is the one I got a root canal on a year ago. It continued to spread down,causing a low grade infection in my jaw. I have felt in my heart for months that I needed this tooth out, to heal the rest, and if not, it was going to take me out!Please listen to your bodies my friends please!!! This made my Lyme flare up, which means the Lyme is attacking the places that are suffering ie tooth, jaw, gut, brain, spine, bones, etc oh and the entire nervous system💕 Any minor trauma to the body whether it’s physically or mentally can cause Lyme to flare up. My jaw has been so inflamed, and would flare up/inflame randomly when I was/am overly stressed or over working. Lyme flare ups happen all the time, so that doesn’t worry me, it’s more-so the jaw situation and how radiating the pain is especially with the Lyme. Some days okay! and some days are difficult. but when my jaw/nerves started to hurt on an aggressive level; it just went 0-100. And now we’re here! I am ok though!! i feel better when I’m riding! (And after starting the 2 rounds of anti-biotics) (that in itself is a wild ride) I think my horses just really take my mind off the pain. This is the reason i stopped riding 10 years ago, and i wasn’t going to let it get to me at my first show back🤭anyways , moral of the story , I’m getting this tooth extracted tomorrow! Going to heal that infection! Ive never been so excited go to the dentist..thank you for checking in on me I see you all!! wish me luck!!!
In a second video posted a day later, Bella showed a picture of herself during a flare up and wrote, “Most of my pictures /selfies look like this on a normal basis when I’m flaring up. (When I’m working a lot, FW, stressed etc, (aka always) my skin changes color, I break out randomly, I get (what feels like) lesions, lethargy, chronic anxiety, zero motivation or purpose, leaky gut, adrenals, depressed [sic].”
@babybella777
She went on to say that the flare ups have had an impact on her self confidence. “That’s why I hate looking in the mirror or taking pictures especially lately, truly wanting to throw up at the sight of myself constantly,” she continued. “Years and years of this. If I’m all dolled up maybe I’ll try for the girls, but man is it hard to do this as your profession while also feeling/looking sick like this.”
In the comments, Bella responded to fans who praised her for her openness and shared their own stories with chronic illness. She also told a commenter that her job as a model has made these changes to her face and body particularly difficult and that she prefers to be with her horses.
According to the CDC, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by “the bite of infected black-legged ticks.” About 476,000 Americans are diagnosed every year.
This post was originally published on Teenvogue.com
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