How virus left Australian surfer Tyler Wright bedridden for 14 months

From a world surfing champion to a vegetable: How a mysterious virus left Tyler Wright bedridden for 14 months – terrified of loud noises and sunlight

  • Tyler Wright opened up about the debilitating virus that left her bedridden
  • The 25-year-old was hit with influenza and a fever while in South Africa last year
  • She suffered with post-viral syndrome, which caused her brain to shut down 
  • She spent 14 months in bed in tears as she didn’t know what was happening
  • Ms Wright praised her girlfriend, Alex Lynn, who nursed her back to health 

Two-time world champion surfer Tyler Wright has opened up about a mysterious and debilitating virus that left her confined to her bed for more than a year.

The 25-year-old Australian was first hit with influenza and a fever during a surf tour in South Africa in July last year, but her health started to deteriorate rapidly.

Doctors sent her back to her home on the NSW south coast to rest up, but it was there that her condition began to worsen.

Two-time world champion surfer Tyler Wright (pictured middle) has opened up about a mysterious and debilitating virus that left her confined to her bed for more than a year

Most of the burden fell on her family and her partner Alex Lynn (pictured together), who Ms Wright credits for nursing her back to health

Most of the burden fell on her family and her partner Alex Lynn (pictured together), who Ms Wright credits for nursing her back to health

‘I ended up being unable to get out of bed for 14 months,’ she told the Sunday Telegraph.

The virus sparked a string of neurological problems known as post-viral syndrome which often leaves the body feeling weak after battling an infection.

In Ms Wright’s case it left her bedridden for 14 months, frequently in tears, suffering from painful headaches and unable to deal with sunlight or loud noises.

Her condition was so bad she has no memory of her 25th birthday party in March.

 

‘I’ve only just started remembering things again. Essentially my brain suffered the most. My body was shocking, but my brain … I mean I couldn’t have a conversation,’ she said.

Ms Wright said she was so frustrated no doctors could tell her what was happening that she spent most of the 14 months in tears.

Her condition was so bad she does not remember celebrating her 25th birthday in March (pictured in 2016)

Her condition was so bad she does not remember celebrating her 25th birthday in March (pictured in 2016)

The 25-year-old Australian surfer was first hit with influenza and a fever during on a surf tour in South Africa in July

The 25-year-old Australian surfer was first hit with influenza and a fever during on a surf tour in South Africa in July

She visited multiple medical professionals in the hopes of finding a cure, but they all told her she needed to rest. 

Both her career and life were put on hold as she stayed at her home, requiring 24 hour care.

POST-VIRAL SYNDROME: 

Post-viral syndrome makes people feel tired and weak after fighting off a viral infection.

It can arise after the flu and other common infections and causes fatigue for weeks or months after.

Symptoms:

  • Confusion
  • Trouble focusing
  • Headaches
  • Aches and pain in muscles
  • Stiff joints
  • Sore Throat
  • Swollen lymph nodes 

Source: Medical News Today 

Most of the burden fell on her family and her partner Alex Lynn, who Ms Wright credits for nursing her back to health.

‘I was at my house, my partner Alex did most of it. She’s probably the one who has seen all of it and can remember more than I can,’ Ms Wright said.

She spent a lot of the time confused because while she could still move her body, her brain functioning failed.

Ms Wright found it difficult to think, process, watch a movie or even hold a conversation for longer than five minutes.

The constant stress on her brain means Ms Wright has lost most of her memory over the past year.

Three months ago the 25-year-old turned to the intervention of neuro-orthopaedic rehabilitation expert Brett Jarosz which helped her gain her strength back.

In those three months she went from bedridden to ready to compete in the world surf league women’s tour in Hawaii on Monday.

Ms Wright said he helped her to understand how her brain was functioning and how she often overt stimulated it which caused it to shut down.

While she is excited to get back into competing, Ms Wright said she is also nervous about going up against the world’s best surfers. 

Both her career and life were put on hold as she stayed at her home on the NSW South Coast, requiring 24 hour care (pictured Ms Wright on the right, Alex Lynn next to her)

Both her career and life were put on hold as she stayed at her home on the NSW South Coast, requiring 24 hour care (pictured Ms Wright on the right, Alex Lynn next to her)

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