How a safari holiday ruined the life of a high-flying fashion designer: 13 years after handling a monkey during her trip she has been left in a wheelchair and struggling to breathe from Lyme disease

  • Fine Rees, 43, was the owner of a highly successful lingerie boutique in London 
  • But she was bitten by a tick while handling monkeys in South Africa back in 2004
  • She has now developed late stage Lyme disease - which has left her very weak
  • Weighing just 7st 5lbs, she is reliant on a wheelchair and is mostly bed-bound

By Stephen Matthews For Mailonline

Published: 04:24 EST, 3 February 2017 | Updated: 04:35 EST, 3 February 2017

A former high-flying fashion designer suffers from uncontrollable shakes after being bitten by a tick 13 years ago.

Fine Rees, who owned a successful lingerie boutique in London, developed a bacterial infection while handling monkeys on a trip to South Africa in 2004.

Doctors say her lack of treatment immediately led to her being plagued with late stage Lyme disease - forcing her to weigh just 7st 5lbs.

More than a decade on, she is now reliant on a wheelchair and spends 95 per cent of her time in bed, living with her parents at their home in Warwickshire. 

Struggling to breathe and often forced to use an oxygen mask, she is unable to complete the simplest of tasks and is even carried to the toilet.

And the bacterial infection, which could eventually lead to heart failure, causes her to body to violently rattle - leaving her feeling like a 'complete invalid'.  

Fine Rees developed a bacterial infection while handling monkeys on a trip to South Africa in 2004. More than a decade on, she spends 95 per cent of her time in bed, using an oxygen mask to help her breathe

Ms Rees said: 'My life has changed beyond recognition. I am in a wheelchair. I can't tie my shoelaces. I've lost the ability to read.

'I can't believe a bite from a tick in the early 2000s could have done this. I thought it was the flu, overwork, migraines.

'I just want to feel better. I just want help.' 

Ms Rees was bitten by a tick while playing with monkeys during a camping trip in KwaZulu–Natal.

Almost immediately afterwards, she developed Lyme's tell-tale bulls-eye rash on her leg. 

A visit to the doctors in South Africa led to just three days worth of antibiotics being provided and no mention of the disease.

Lyme disease, which could eventually lead to heart failure, causes her to body to violently rattle - leaving her reliant on a wheelchair

Ms Rees, who owned a successful lingerie boutique in London, now lives at her parents home in Warwickshire (pictured on holiday in 2008)

She returned home and forgot about the bite and the rash which had faded – until years later when she began to suffer worrying symptoms.

She repeatedly felt faint at work and gradually her memory diminished. Headaches became prevalent and fatigue set in.

During business meetings, she would mix up people's names and say hello instead of goodbye.

My life has changed beyond recognition. I am in a wheelchair. I can't tie my shoelaces

Doctors repeatedly said she was suffering from overwork, depression or migraines – which she initially accepted, but gradually began to disbelieve.

But in December 2009, her symptoms came to a head when she collapsed at work.

Taken to the GP, she subsequently self-referred to a private clinic, where Lyme disease was confirmed.

Her lingerie boutique store, Miss Lala's Boudoir in London - which sold to Kate Moss, Scarlett Johansson and Amy Winehouse, was closed down after she fell ill. 

Ms Rees, recalling the immediate aftermath of the bite, said: 'I had a rash, I visited the doctors, I got treatment.

'I was worried about mosquitoes; malaria was well-known. But not once had I heard of Lyme disease.'

Ms Rees said: 'My life has changed beyond recognition. I am in a wheelchair. I can't tie my shoelaces. I've lost the ability to read'

Doctors in California have helped ease her symptoms by providing her specialist treatment to combat the bacterial infection

She then decided to move back in with her parents in Warwickshire when she became seriously ill in 2010. 

Last year, she went to California, where she said treatment eased her symptoms including her tremors.

Her parents spent thousands of pounds on treatment for her, even selling their home and downsizing.

Doctors specialising in the bacterial infection have conducted daily oxygen therapy and blood tests.

She also had a port catheter fitted - allowing her to have IV medication administered, alongside her combination of drugs. 

But even with the expensive, privately-funded treatment, she said her quality of life had been significantly diminished.

Despite once having a thriving social life in the city, she has not dated a man in years and spends the majority of her time in bed.  

Ms Rees is now raising money for more treatment. Donate here.

She returned home and forgot about the bite and the rash which had faded – until years later when she began to suffer worrying symptoms (pictured receiving treatment earlier this year)

During business meetings, she would mix up people's names and say hello instead of goodbye (pictured celebrating her 35th birthday with her friend, Jenny, in 2008)

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE? 

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks.

The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash called erythema migrans.

The disease can typically be treated by several weeks of oral anitbiotics. 

But if left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous symptoms.

Lyme disease is diagnosed through the symptoms, physical findings - such as rash - and the likelihood of exposure to infected ticks.

To prevent Lyme disease, it is recommended that people use insect repellent, remove ticks promptly, apply pesticides and reduce tick habitat.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE INFECTED?

During the first three to 30 days of infection, these symptoms may occur:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Erythema migrans (EM) rash

The rash occurs in approximately 80 per cent of infected people.

It can expand to up to 12 inches (30 cm), eventually clearing and giving off the appearance of a target or a 'bull's-eye'.

Later symptoms of Lyme disease include:

  • Severe headaches and neck stiffness
  • Additional EM rashes
  • Arthritis with joint pain and swelling
  • Facial or Bell's Palsy
  • Heart palpitations
  • Problems with short-term memory
  • Nerve pain

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