A Scots dad-of-three who has been living with Lyme disease for over a decade says his life 'has changed completely' following his diagnosis.
Rico Franchi, 40, was left with severe fatigue and crippling headaches after being diagnosed with the bacterial infection, which is spread to humans by infected ticks, in 2012.
The singer and vocal coach, from Glasgow, says he went from being 'super fit and healthy' to being 'completely floored' and 'out of breath' from doing the simplest of tasks.
He also had to give up playing football and going to the gym due to the extreme joint pain and muscles aches he was experiencing as a result of the life-altering condition, which still impacts his day-to-day life.
Rico said: "One of the worst things about Lyme disease is not knowing how you’re going to feel when you wake up in the morning, if it’s going to be a good day or a bad day.
"I play a lot of gigs and sing at lots of weddings, meaning late nights and long days. It's an intense job and it's challenging putting on a brave face. I had to conserve all my energy for work, and even then, I struggled.
"I would love to be able to do sport again, or just go for a big walk without feeling completely out of breath, and not always have to ration my energy."
Rico first started experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease in 2010 but wasn't officially diagnosed until two years later when a friend's dad, who was a doctor at the time, suggested he get tested for the condition.
The man suspects, however, that he may have been living with the disease for much longer than originally thought as he can't remember where he got bitten.
He continued: "I searched for a diagnosis for over two years, which was frustrating, because it was hard trying to explain how I was feeling.
“Like many sufferers, I can’t recall where I got bitten. Ticks are incredibly hard to spot so it could have been years before, even when I was a child, with symptoms only occurring years later.
“So many people still have no idea what this invisible illness is. I have my three kids, my wife and I love my job, so I am still able to live a happy life, but a lot of others with Lyme disease can’t."
The musician says that if he was more clued up on how to spot symptoms of Lyme disease early, he may not have had to go through the painstaking process of trying to pin-point what exactly was wrong with him.
To stop others from experiencing the same devastating consequences of the condition as he has, Rico is now backing a national campaign, headed up by NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government, to raise awareness of tick bites.
Rico added: "At the time I got infected with Lyme disease, myself and my parents didn’t know anything about Lyme disease or what to look out for. If we’d known, we might have caught it early and had it treated.
"I hope this campaign helps create awareness of Lyme disease and associated symptoms and encourages more people to take precautions against tick bites when spending time outdoors."
Tom Evans, Professor of Molecular Microbiology for the University of Glasgow, said: “If you do get bitten, you should remove the tick as soon as possible to prevent infection.
"Using fine-tipped tweezers to gently grip the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull it steadily away from the skin without twisting or crushing it.
"Special tick removers are also available from most pharmacies. You should wash the area with water and soap afterwards and apply an antiseptic cream.
“Lyme disease can be difficult to detect, and while most cases are mild, if not found early it can have serious and lifelong side effects."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
