Lancashire farmer Dan Duerden was 22 when he developed Lyme disease whilst contract sheep shearing. Dan came home with a rash on his elbow, which he and his family initially thought was ringworm. Ticks can be tiny and their bite painless, so Dan did not see a tick or realise that he had been bitten or developed an erythema migrans (EM) rash, also known as a bull’s-eye rash.
This rash is diagnostic for Lyme disease, yet it does not always develop. After his rash faded Lyme symptoms then started to show, which for Dan included stiffness and pain in his arm, and locking of his hands, which he then thought was carpal tunnel syndrome.
Dan Duerden
A difficult diagnosis
One day when shearing he could not continue anymore due to the pain, so he decided to seek medical attention. Dan went to hospital where he was tested for Lyme disease, but the NHS test came back negative. However, due to worsening symptoms, as Lyme was still suspected, Dan started on antibiotic treatment anyway. It was not until a later visit to a private hospital in Hertfordshire, four months after his tick bite, did he receive a positive test result.
Challenging symptoms
Following his bite Dan battled many life-changing effects, such as excruciating pain in his joints, extreme fatigue, and brain fog. After an initial six weeks of antibiotics Dan was feeling much better, but he then started to feel rather flat for one day a week, and slowly his health worsened again.
His symptoms became so severe that he became bedbound and was unable to work for more than 15 months. Dan struggled with daily frustration when unable to carry out simple day-to-day jobs, the whole ordeal taking a toll on his mental health.
A slow recovery
A further 26 weeks of antibiotics finally brought some relief and allowed Dan to get on top of the disease. Despite this improvement it took several years for Dan to fully recover his health.
Spreading awareness
Dan’s awful experience battling Lyme disease has driven him to proactively help raise awareness of the illness. He has become a valued patient ambassador for Lyme Disease UK, keen to share his story with the press and the farming community to help protect others.
In recent years Dan, his family, and friends at Pendle Young Farmers’ Club have also organised annual Charity Sheep Shear fundraising events for the local community in support of LDUK and other important causes.
LDUK is very grateful for these donations which have gone a long way to help the charity to support Lyme disease patients and to spread awareness of the illness across the UK.
“I had somebody the other day contact me to say they haven’t been well for a year, but they saw an article in the press about me, and it led to them discovering they have Lyme disease.”
~ Dan Duerden