A parliamentary debate has been requested to raise awareness of Lyme Disease by Darlington’s MP Peter Gibson after meeting with a long-term sufferer of the disease.
Chloe Daly shared her experience with the town’s MP after facing more than fifteen years of tests, treatment, and misdiagnosis and is now seeking to raise funds for further treatment that is only available in the United States.
Chloe Daly, 25 from Darlington is suffering from chronic Lyme Disease caused by a suspected tick bite when she was eight years old met with Peter Gibson MP for Darlington to share her experience of the disease and to raise awareness of the issue.
Originally diagnosed with Post Viral Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and then Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chloe was then diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease, along with several co-infections.
Speaking about her experience Chloe Daly said “I tested positive for Lyme Disease at the end of 2019, and since then I have been treated by several different Lyme and Infectious Disease Specialists in Ireland, Scotland and Germany. Over the last three years we have spent countless hours researching possible treatment options.
“Although some of the treatments gave me some significant improvements for the first six months, I would then plateau and decline, nothing has worked long-term.
“Symptoms include, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, head and neck pressure, headaches, brain fog, eye pain, anxiety, processing and concentration difficulties, insomnia, nausea, migraines, flu-like symptoms, heartburn, light and temperature sensitivity, sore feet, puffy face, breathlessness, heart palpitations and tremors, alongside multiple others which have fluctuated over the years.
“Lyme disease has taken so much away from me; fatigue has always been my worst symptom and is incredibly debilitating. The fatigue from Lyme disease is more than just ‘tiredness’, it is the feeling of complete physical and mental exhaustion on a cellular level, resulting in me not having the energy to talk, lift my head or walk.
“Chronic Lyme Disease is significantly lacking in understanding and therefore any treatment is very difficult and not available on the NHS, partly due to inefficient testing”.
Chloe has since launched a go fund me campaign to help raise funds for treatment in the United States where a Functional Medical Doctor who specialises in Lyme disease, has created a detailed treatment programme for her.
Peter Gibson MP today (25.05.23) raised Chloe’s case in the House of Commons with the Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt MP saying “Despite there being around 1,500 laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme Disease in England and Wales each year, there has only been one written question on the matter in Parliament.
“Can my Right Honourable friend find time for us to have a debate on the study and treatment of Lyme Disease, so that Chloe and others who suffer with this disease can have their voices heard”
Responding Penny Mordaunt MP, Leader of the House of Commons said “Can I first of all thank Chloe for all the work she is doing to raise awareness of this matter.
“I understand the UK Health Security Agency has published the first quarterly report on animal associated infections, which summarises the numbers and cases of laboratory confirmed cases of particular diseases, including Lyme Disease.
“The UK Health Security Agency is also working on public awareness campaigns, and we are actively seeking out opportunities to work with academic partners both nationally and internationally.
“I think it would be an excellent topic for a debate”
Chloe’s Go Fund me link:
Lyme Disease UK website:
