She never saw the tick. Never got the rash. But weeks after a mild flu, everything changed—fatigue, brain fog, joint pain. One doctor blamed stress. Another said early menopause. No one tested her for Lyme.

When she finally reached me, she said:

“It feels like something hijacked my body.”

She was right. It was Lyme—and Babesia too.

Her story isn’t rare. The real question is:
Are we doing enough to catch Lyme before it’s too late?

Let’s talk about it—in a clinical dialogue.

A Clinical Dialogue on Lyme Screening

Cameron: Some patients are not diagnosed early—and that delay can make all the difference. The question is: should we be screening more in endemic areas?

Colleague: Screening asymptomatic people is tricky. But if someone has outdoor exposure and classic symptoms—fatigue, joint pain, brain fog—Lyme should be on the radar.

Cameron: Exactly. That patient I mentioned? She never saw a tick or rash, but had a textbook case. When we tested, we found Lyme and Babesia. With treatment, she began to get her life back.

Colleague: Did she improve quickly?

Cameron: It took time. But the turning point was someone finally listening, asking the right questions.

Colleague: Are you suggesting broader screening?

Cameron: Not mass screening. But targeted case finding—in high-risk patients with unexplained symptoms.

What the Research Shows

1. 1. Testing early can be inconclusive.

   2. Many patients don’t recall a tick bite.

   3. Most never get the bull’s-eye rash.

   4. Lyme can mimic fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis

   5. Co-infections like Babesia and Bartonella often go overlooked.

   6. Early treatment—with antimicrobial therapy—yields better outcomes, lowers chronic risk.

Why Proactive Screening Matters

Cameron: We routinely screen for high-burden conditions like hypertension and cancer. Why not apply the same principle to Lyme in symptomatic patients?

Colleague: What about overdiagnosis?

Cameron: Clinical judgment ensures we screen thoughtfully—not reflexively.

My Approach to Patient Care

1. 1. I ask about outdoor activities, travel, pets, even without known bites.

   2. I screen patients with fatigue, brain fog, migrating pain, dizziness, or POTS

   3. I test early for Babesia and Bartonella

   4. I rely on clinical patterns—not just lab results.

   5. I customize treatment and adapt based on patient response.

Final Thoughts

Too many Lyme cases are missed or diagnosed late. Testing might not be perfect—but delaying diagnosis until severe disease sets in is avoidable.

That moment when a patient says, “I wish someone had looked sooner,” reminds me:
“Is there something we’re overlooking?”

1. 1. Fibromyalgia & Lyme

   2. MS & Lyme case study:

   3. Babesia & Lyme: It’s Worse Than You Think:

   4. Lyme disease treatment approach: