American supermodel Bella Hadid periodically shares insights into her life with chronic illness on Instagram. In a recent post from September 2025, she documented receiving various treatments at a specialized medical facility. Another post from August 2023 showed Hadid with an intravenous catheter, mentioning her battle with Lyme disease for over 100 days and years of hidden suffering. The post received significant engagement with about three million likes and 19,000 comments, many expressing support for her journey.
Lyme disease, a recognized infection, may result in symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, some celebrities, including Bella Hadid, Justin Timberlake, and Justin Bieber, discuss chronic Lyme disease, which lacks recognition in conventional medicine. This term is used by alternative practitioners to describe ongoing pain, fatigue, and neurological issues attributed to persistent Lyme infection, despite no confirmation through standard Lyme disease tests.
While individuals seek answers and relief through chronic Lyme identification, experts caution against unregulated private testing and treatments, emphasizing potential risks. Lyme disease, transmitted by infected ticks, has been on the rise globally, with Canada reporting an increasing number of cases due to factors like climate change and heightened awareness.
Most cases of Lyme disease can be effectively treated with early antibiotic therapy, preventing severe complications. Yet, some patients experience persistent symptoms post-treatment, known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), with unclear causes and limited treatment options. Misconceptions about chronic Lyme may lead to unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments, as well as misdiagnoses of other underlying medical conditions.
Private clinics offering unproven treatments for chronic Lyme, such as long-term antibiotic use or unverified therapies, can exploit vulnerable individuals seeking relief. Patients may spend substantial amounts on treatments without scientific backing, potentially endangering their health. The chronic Lyme industry’s growth underscores the need for increased research into chronic illnesses and improved healthcare services to address patients’ unmet needs effectively.
