Singer Fletcher Reveals Lyme Disease Diagnosis: ‘Taken a Tremendous Toll on My Body’

Singer Fletcher revealed that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease.

On Wednesday, the 29-year-old announced her diagnosis on Instagram alongside two photos of herself during a doctor’s visit, sharing that her recent health battle has forced her to put her career on pause.

“I have recently been diagnosed with Lyme disease. I started becoming increasingly ill over the last couple years and just kept pushing even though I knew there was something deeper going on,” she wrote. “For the last few months I’ve been receiving treatments, following doctor’s orders and doing my best to learn more about this invisible illness.”

“Lyme has affected me in a variety of ways and while it has not only taken a tremendous toll on my physical body, it has also caused concern for my voice as well,” she continued. “This has won on my soul in a way that’s hard to even put words to as singing is the thing I love most in this world and my voice is my vessel for expression.”

Lyme disease is a potentially debilitating infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that is transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick.

Early stage Lyme symptoms include headaches, flu-like symptoms, joint pain, fatigue and sometimes a rash that has many different shapes including one which may look like a bullseye centered on the tick bite. Late stage Lyme symptoms can include paralysis, agonizing joint pain, neurological problems, severe headaches, problems with memory, hearing, and vision, inflammation of the brain, and inflammation of the heart.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE‘s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Fletcher then shared that because of her health, she’s decided to postpone her upcoming tours in Europe and Australia to next year. She also canceled her appearance at Corona Capital. She added that she’s “truly heartbroken” to let her fans down.

“I debated whether or not I wanted to speak about this publicly, but I’ve always let you into my world through the good, the bad and the ugly and I didn’t want to stop sharing with you now,” she said. “Unfortunately, touring and singing every night just isn’t something my body is capable of in this moment and I want to show up for you all 100% and give you the best show that I know that I have in me and one that you deserve.”

“It’s not lost on me how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to take time off to rest, heal and take care of my voice and body. I am extremely grateful and I can’t wait to perform for you bigger and better…and most importantly, stronger than every next year,” Fletcher ended. “But for now, I want to thank you for listening and thank you for all of your endless love and support. I love you all so much. Please take good care of yourselves.”