10
of 20
Debbie Gibson
: Debbie Gibson attends Revels & Revelations 11 hosted by Bring Change To Mind in support of teen mental health at City Winery on October 09, 2023 in New York City.
Noam Galai/Getty
While Debbie Gibson finally achieved her dream of competing on season 25 of Dancing with the Stars, the singer admitted her Lyme disease made the experience a challenging one. "I can't be cavalier with my body," she told PEOPLE. "I can't just push myself without thinking what happens next. [Lyme disease] can affect my stamina."
But there's a silver lining: after fighting the disease for years, Gibson knows her physical strengths and weaknesses. "I've always been in tune with my body," she said. "But the last few years have helped me learn where I can push my limits. I'm going to choose to think of that as an advantage!"
In a candid chat with PEOPLE in August 2021, she elaborated on her symptoms and treatment, saying she's "learned to expect the unexpected."
"I know I can get through it," she said of tougher days. "And every time I get through it, I'm reminded of how strong we all are."
11
of 20
Kelly Dodd & Rick Leventhal
Kelly Dodd and Rick Leventhal
Rick Leventhal and Kelly Dodd.
Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
In June 2021, the Real Housewives of Orange County star revealed the couple's diagnosis on her Instagram Story.
"So, we tested positive for Lyme disease," Dodd said, while filming Leventhal sitting across the table from her.
She went on to say that this is her first bout with the disease. "I've never had contact with a tick in my life," she said.
Leventhal, however, told Dodd he's had Lyme disease twice in the past.
He then took an antibiotic pill, adding that the medicine cured his other bouts with Lyme and stressing that he hopes it will work again.
Dodd didn't say where she and Leventhal suspected they contracted Lyme. A rep for the reality star did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
12
of 20
Amy Schumer
Amy Schumer attends the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall on February 14, 2025 in New York City.
TheStewartofNY/WireImage
The actress and comedian opened up about her diagnosis in a September 2020 Instagram post featuring a throwback photo with her "first ever fishing pole."
"Anyone get LYME this summer? I got it and I'm on doxycycline," she wrote. "I have maybe had it for years. Any advice? Can you have a glass of wine or 2 on it?"
"I know to stay out of the sun. I'm also taking these herbs from cape cod called lyme-2," Schumer continued, asking followers to comment with their own experience with the tick-borne disease. "I also want to say that I feel good and am excited to get rid of it."
13
of 20
Ramona Singer
Ramona Singer
Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan via Getty
The Real Housewives of New York City star was diagnosed with Lyme disease in March 2020. The diagnosis came after Singer started feeling sick around Valentine's Day, according to E! News.
The reality star believes that she contracted the tick-borne illness while in the Hamptons. She was diagnosed early and told E! that she is "very lucky and very blessed."
14
of 20
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber.
Broadimage/Shutterstock
The superstar revealed in January 2020 that a July 2019 photo of him that sparked Internet speculation about his health (above) was taken at the height of his battle with Lyme.
"While a lot of people kept saying Justin Bieber looks like s---, on meth etc. they failed to realize I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease," he wrote on Instagram. "It's been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever."
15
of 20
Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Dolby Theatre on April 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty
In her 2015 PEOPLE cover story, the singer revealed she had been battling Lyme disease for a year. "I had no idea a bug bite could do this," said Lavigne, who believes she was bit by a tick in 2014. "I was bedridden for five months."
In a 2019 PEOPLE story, Lavigne — whose foundation is working with various Lyme disease organizations to raise money and awareness for the cause — said she was feeling well.
"It gave me a purpose," she added of her journey, "and made me find myself all over again."
"When you go through something like that, you realize how fulfilling simple things are - things I could do anymore, like being able to get up in the morning and go to the kitchen and grab a cup of coffee," she added. "It taught me patience; it taught me being more present. That was a beautiful lesson."
16
of 20
Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Brian Bowen Smith/NBC via Getty
As a legend in the country music world, Twain kept vocal struggles under the radar so as to not worry her fans. But she eventually shared her diagnosis to explain why she was having vocal struggles due to the effects of dysphonia, the result of Lyme disease. "I was very scared for a little while that I wouldn't sing again, ever," she told PEOPLE. "I went through that moment, but I found a way. I found a way to do it."
Using her voice to sing now, she says, requires lengthy warmups and physical therapy that's "very, very difficult."
17
of 20
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller seen at Apple TV+ global hit series Severance for a star-studded Outdoor Retreat Team Building Occurrence (ORTBO) at Lumon Industries on April 05, 2025
Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV+/Getty
The actor was first diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2010. He suspects he contracted the illness on a trip to Nantucket, Massachusetts. "I'm symptom-free now," Stiller told The Hollywood Reporter in 2011, "but Lyme doesn't ever leave your system. It's a really tough thing."
18
of 20
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin attends Storytelling Summit - Alec Baldwin during the 2025 Tribeca Festival at Spring Studios on June 12, 2025 in New York City.
Cindy Ord/Getty
Baldwin took the stage as Master of Ceremonies at the Bay Area Lyme Foundation's 2017 gala, LymeAid, where he got candid about his struggle with the illness. "I really thought this is it, I'm not going to live," he said of his condition. "I was alone, I wasn't married at the time, I was divorced from my first wife. I was lying in bed saying, 'I'm going to die of Lyme disease,' in my bed and 'I hope someone finds me and I'm not here for too long.' "
19
of 20
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Osbourne attends The Beacher Vitality Happy & Healthy Summit at The Hollywood Roosevelt on May 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Cassidy Sparrow/Getty
In 2004, the star attended dad Ozzy's surprise 56th birthday party, which featured a reindeer sanctuary in the family's backyard. During the event, Kelly was bitten by a tick, and would go on to face an array of symptoms, including a sore throat and stomach pains. "I've learned to advocate for myself when it comes to my health, and I trust my intuition," she wrote in her memoir, There Is No F*cking Secret: Letters From a Badass Bitch. "If I think something is wrong, I refuse to let anyone dismiss it. And sadly, I stay the f--- away from reindeer."
20
of 20
Ally Hilfiger
PHOTO16 presented by Milk Studios Auction of Photography Works to Raise Funds for The AIDS Monument in West Hollywood
Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
"I was convinced that bugs were crawling in my body. I could feel them eating at my organs, my stomach and especially my brain," Hilfiger wrote in her, Bite Me: How Lyme Disease Stole My Childhood, Made Me Crazy, and Almost Killed Me, speaking of first being diagnosed with Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick in 1992 at 7 years old.
"I wasn't me anymore. I was a weakly projected image of myself on a wall, crying out for someone to help me and figure out what was wrong."
[2 of 2]
10 of 20 Debbie Gibson : Debbie Gibson attends Revels & Revelations 11 hosted by Bring Change To Mind in support of teen mental health at City Winery on October 09, 2023 in New York City. Noam Galai/Getty While Debbie Gibson finally achieved her dream of competing on season 25 of Dancing with the Stars, the singer admitted her Lyme disease made the experience a challenging one. "I can't be cavalier with my body," she told PEOPLE. "I can't just push myself without thinking what happens next. [Lyme disease] can affect my stamina."
But there's a silver lining: after fighting the disease for years, Gibson knows her physical strengths and weaknesses. "I've always been in tune with my body," she said. "But the last few years have helped me learn where I can push my limits. I'm going to choose to think of that as an advantage!"
In a candid chat with PEOPLE in August 2021, she elaborated on her symptoms and treatment, saying she's "learned to expect the unexpected."
"I know I can get through it," she said of tougher days. "And every time I get through it, I'm reminded of how strong we all are."
11 of 20 Kelly Dodd & Rick Leventhal Kelly Dodd and Rick Leventhal Rick Leventhal and Kelly Dodd. Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty In June 2021, the Real Housewives of Orange County star revealed the couple's diagnosis on her Instagram Story.
"So, we tested positive for Lyme disease," Dodd said, while filming Leventhal sitting across the table from her.
She went on to say that this is her first bout with the disease. "I've never had contact with a tick in my life," she said.
Leventhal, however, told Dodd he's had Lyme disease twice in the past.
He then took an antibiotic pill, adding that the medicine cured his other bouts with Lyme and stressing that he hopes it will work again.
Dodd didn't say where she and Leventhal suspected they contracted Lyme. A rep for the reality star did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
12 of 20 Amy Schumer Amy Schumer attends the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall on February 14, 2025 in New York City. TheStewartofNY/WireImage The actress and comedian opened up about her diagnosis in a September 2020 Instagram post featuring a throwback photo with her "first ever fishing pole."
"Anyone get LYME this summer? I got it and I'm on doxycycline," she wrote. "I have maybe had it for years. Any advice? Can you have a glass of wine or 2 on it?"
"I know to stay out of the sun. I'm also taking these herbs from cape cod called lyme-2," Schumer continued, asking followers to comment with their own experience with the tick-borne disease. "I also want to say that I feel good and am excited to get rid of it."
13 of 20 Ramona Singer Ramona Singer Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan via Getty The Real Housewives of New York City star was diagnosed with Lyme disease in March 2020. The diagnosis came after Singer started feeling sick around Valentine's Day, according to E! News.
The reality star believes that she contracted the tick-borne illness while in the Hamptons. She was diagnosed early and told E! that she is "very lucky and very blessed."
14 of 20 Justin Bieber Justin Bieber Justin Bieber. Broadimage/Shutterstock The superstar revealed in January 2020 that a July 2019 photo of him that sparked Internet speculation about his health (above) was taken at the height of his battle with Lyme.
"While a lot of people kept saying Justin Bieber looks like s---, on meth etc. they failed to realize I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease," he wrote on Instagram. "It's been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever."
15 of 20 Avril Lavigne Avril Lavigne at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Dolby Theatre on April 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty In her 2015 PEOPLE cover story, the singer revealed she had been battling Lyme disease for a year. "I had no idea a bug bite could do this," said Lavigne, who believes she was bit by a tick in 2014. "I was bedridden for five months."
In a 2019 PEOPLE story, Lavigne — whose foundation is working with various Lyme disease organizations to raise money and awareness for the cause — said she was feeling well.
"It gave me a purpose," she added of her journey, "and made me find myself all over again."
"When you go through something like that, you realize how fulfilling simple things are - things I could do anymore, like being able to get up in the morning and go to the kitchen and grab a cup of coffee," she added. "It taught me patience; it taught me being more present. That was a beautiful lesson."
16 of 20 Shania Twain Shania Twain Brian Bowen Smith/NBC via Getty As a legend in the country music world, Twain kept vocal struggles under the radar so as to not worry her fans. But she eventually shared her diagnosis to explain why she was having vocal struggles due to the effects of dysphonia, the result of Lyme disease. "I was very scared for a little while that I wouldn't sing again, ever," she told PEOPLE. "I went through that moment, but I found a way. I found a way to do it."
Using her voice to sing now, she says, requires lengthy warmups and physical therapy that's "very, very difficult."
17 of 20 Ben Stiller Ben Stiller seen at Apple TV+ global hit series Severance for a star-studded Outdoor Retreat Team Building Occurrence (ORTBO) at Lumon Industries on April 05, 2025 Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV+/Getty The actor was first diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2010. He suspects he contracted the illness on a trip to Nantucket, Massachusetts. "I'm symptom-free now," Stiller told The Hollywood Reporter in 2011, "but Lyme doesn't ever leave your system. It's a really tough thing."
18 of 20 Alec Baldwin Alec Baldwin attends Storytelling Summit - Alec Baldwin during the 2025 Tribeca Festival at Spring Studios on June 12, 2025 in New York City. Cindy Ord/Getty Baldwin took the stage as Master of Ceremonies at the Bay Area Lyme Foundation's 2017 gala, LymeAid, where he got candid about his struggle with the illness. "I really thought this is it, I'm not going to live," he said of his condition. "I was alone, I wasn't married at the time, I was divorced from my first wife. I was lying in bed saying, 'I'm going to die of Lyme disease,' in my bed and 'I hope someone finds me and I'm not here for too long.' "
19 of 20 Kelly Osbourne Kelly Osbourne attends The Beacher Vitality Happy & Healthy Summit at The Hollywood Roosevelt on May 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Cassidy Sparrow/Getty In 2004, the star attended dad Ozzy's surprise 56th birthday party, which featured a reindeer sanctuary in the family's backyard. During the event, Kelly was bitten by a tick, and would go on to face an array of symptoms, including a sore throat and stomach pains. "I've learned to advocate for myself when it comes to my health, and I trust my intuition," she wrote in her memoir, There Is No F*cking Secret: Letters From a Badass Bitch. "If I think something is wrong, I refuse to let anyone dismiss it. And sadly, I stay the f--- away from reindeer."
20 of 20 Ally Hilfiger PHOTO16 presented by Milk Studios Auction of Photography Works to Raise Funds for The AIDS Monument in West Hollywood Stefanie Keenan/WireImage "I was convinced that bugs were crawling in my body. I could feel them eating at my organs, my stomach and especially my brain," Hilfiger wrote in her, Bite Me: How Lyme Disease Stole My Childhood, Made Me Crazy, and Almost Killed Me, speaking of first being diagnosed with Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick in 1992 at 7 years old.
"I wasn't me anymore. I was a weakly projected image of myself on a wall, crying out for someone to help me and figure out what was wrong."
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