Photo: Instagram.com/gigihadid
Gigi Hadid is more than excited for her sister to get back to living her best life. Earlier this year, a source told E! News that Bella Hadid was taking some time off to care for her health, primarily her Lyme disease. So, when Gigi took to her Instagram to post a photo of the pair with the words “can’t wait 4 the comebaccckkkkkk” fans were sure that it meant they would see Bella on the runway soon. On Wednesday, the older Hadid sister reshared the story with some clarifications.
“Just wanna touch on this post from last week. Bella just finished a long and intense treatment for Lyme disease. (Didn’t want some to take my post as a promise she’ll be back for shows this next season …) I’m so proud of her and excited for her comeback whenever she feels ready,” Gigi wrote.
Photo: Instagram.com/gigihadid
According to the CDC, Lyme disease is “transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash.” Although most cases of the infection can be cured with a course of antibiotics, some patients develop long-term symptoms. At present there is no proven treatment for Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.
Bella has been quite open about her struggle with the disease in recent years. She was first diagnosed almost a decade ago in 2012 with her mother, Yolanda Hadid, and younger brother, Anwar Hadid. Two years ago, she also shared an infographic on her story detailing the symptoms of Lyme disease stating, “Every day I feel at least 10 of these attributes without fail … since I was probably 14, but more aggressively when I turned 18.”
Photo: Instagram.com/bellahadid
In April, she shared a video of her face from different angles revealing that she had a jaw infection. “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.”
A day later, she posted a second video. “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
The supermodel also revealed how it has impacted 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 added, “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.”
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