Olivia Flowers, one of the stars of the Bravo reality show Southern Charm, has recently opened up about the cause of death of her brother, Conner Flowers, who passed away in January 2023 at the age of 32. In an interview with People, Olivia revealed that Conner died of an accidental fentanyl overdose, which was the result of his long and painful struggle with Lyme disease and addiction.
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What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted by ticks. It can cause a variety of symptoms, such as fever, rash, joint pain, fatigue, neurological problems, and heart issues. If left untreated, Lyme disease can become chronic and cause serious complications, such as arthritis, meningitis, nerve damage, and heart failure.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the United States. However, the actual number may be much higher, as many cases are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Lyme disease is often difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms can mimic other conditions and the tests can be unreliable.
Conner’s Battle with Lyme Disease
Olivia shared that Conner first started experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease when he was 15 years old, but he was not diagnosed until many years later. She said that her parents took him to many doctors and clinics, but they were told that his symptoms were “all in his head” or that he had other conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or fibromyalgia. He was given treatments that were unnecessary and harmful, such as antidepressants, steroids, and antibiotics.
Olivia said that by the time Conner was properly diagnosed by Dr. Jemsek, an infectious disease specialist, the disease had caused severe internal damage and the consequences of his earlier treatments were devastating. She said that Conner suffered from debilitating symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, joint and body pain, brain fog, memory loss, and insomnia. He also developed a sensitivity to light, sound, and electromagnetic fields, which made it hard for him to use electronic devices or be around people.
Conner’s Addiction to Opioids and Xanax
Olivia said that Conner was prescribed opioids and Xanax to treat his chronic pain and anxiety, but he became addicted to them. She said that he tried to quit several times, but he experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, shaking, and seizures. He also relapsed several times, as he could not cope with his pain and emotional distress.
Olivia said that Conner was aware of the dangers of his addiction, and he wanted to get better. He enrolled in a rehab program in January 2023, but he left after a few days, saying that he felt worse there. He told Olivia that he loved her and that he was sorry for everything. He also said that he was going to see Dr. Jemsek again and that he had hope for the future.
However, two days later, Conner was found dead in his apartment, with a syringe and drugs next to him. The coroner ruled that he died of an accidental fentanyl overdose, which is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, or counterfeit pills, without the user’s knowledge, increasing the risk of overdose and death.
Olivia’s Grief and Advocacy
Olivia said that she was devastated by Conner’s death, and that she misses him every day. She said that Conner was a beautiful, tender-hearted, and generous person, who loved golf, music, and his family. She said that he had a lot of potential and dreams, but his life was cut short by a disease that was misunderstood and mistreated.
Olivia said that she wants to honor Conner’s memory by raising awareness and advocacy for Lyme disease and addiction. She said that she wants to help other people who are suffering from these conditions, and to prevent more tragedies from happening. She said that she hopes that Conner’s story will inspire more research, funding, and education for Lyme disease and addiction, and that more people will get the proper diagnosis and treatment that they deserve.
She also said that she wants to spread a message of love, compassion, and hope, and to encourage people to reach out to their loved ones who are struggling. She said that she believes that Conner is in a better place now, and that he is watching over her and her family. She said that she is grateful for the time that she had with him, and that he will always be in her heart.
