A Patient’s Story from the South My patient from Florida looked me straight in the eye and said, “But Lyme doesn’t exist down here, right?” That’s what she’d been told—by more than one doctor. She had a rash. Fatigue. Joint pain. Classic signs of Lyme disease. But instead of being tested or treated, she was […]
Does Lyme disease exist in the South? Read More »
When a Patient Asks Why I Treat Babesia Even if the Tests Are Negative, They Often Say: “But my test was negative—why are we treating Babesia?” It’s a fair question. I’ll often explain that Babesia testing isn’t perfect. False negatives are common. And many patients improve when we treat for Babesia—despite negative test results. So
Why I Treat Babesia Even if the Tests Are Negative Read More »
It’s not uncommon for the mouthparts of a tick to break off and remain in the skin after removal. Fortunately, this rarely increases the risk of infection, including Lyme disease. Do Tick Mouthparts Increase Risk? No. If the tick’s body is removed, the risk of Lyme or other tick-borne infections does not increase. Most disease
What Happens if a Tick’s Mouthparts Stay in Your Skin? Read More »
One of the biggest concerns Lyme disease patients have when beginning treatment is whether or not they will have a herxing response. In fact, it’s one of the most common questions I hear in my practice: “What if I Herx?” A Herxheimer reaction (or “Herx”) is a temporary flare of symptoms that can occur when
Should I Worry About Herxing? My Answer for Lyme Patients Read More »
New research into Lyme arthritis (joint pain due to an infection with Borrelia burgdorferi) is challenging long-standing assumptions about what causes persistent symptoms after treatment. For years, many clinicians believed that when patients continued to experience swollen joints, even after treatment with antibiotics, the inflammation was simply due to an overactive immune system. The body’s
Lyme Disease and Joint Pain: Is It Debris—or a Missed Persistent Infection? Read More »
She wasn’t immunocompromised. So why was she still sick months after Lyme treatment?That was the question we kept coming back to. She’d been told Babesia wouldn’t be a problem—unless she had a weakened immune system. She didn’t. But she was still dealing with fatigue, air hunger, night sweats, and brain fog long after her Lyme
Babesia doesn’t just affect immunocompromised Lyme disease patients Read More »
When a patient walks into my office after a tick bite, they often ask: “Isn’t one dose of doxycycline enough to prevent Lyme disease?” That belief traces back to a 2001 study that has, unfortunately, shaped Lyme disease treatment guidelines. But what most people don’t realize is that the study only found that the single
Can one doxycycline dose really stop Lyme disease? Read More »
He was ready to quit treatment. The antibiotics were making him feel worse, not better—nausea, fatigue, and a sense that his body was shutting down. He told me, “Doc, I don’t think I can keep doing this.” I knew we needed a new approach—but not necessarily a new medication. Instead, I asked:What if we adjusted
My Lyme Disease Patient Got Worse on Antibiotics—Until We Adjusted the Dose Read More »
🧠 When a Patient Hears “Spinal Tap,” They Often Ask: “Do I really need one just to check for Lyme disease?” It’s a reasonable question. A spinal tap—more formally, a lumbar puncture—is invasive, uncomfortable, and not without risks. But the conversation around spinal taps and Lyme disease is often oversimplified. So today, let’s unpack the
Can you have neurologic Lyme disease even if your spinal tap is normal? Read More »
It’s a fair concern. Steroids are widely used to reduce inflammation, but they come with significant risks when used during an active infection—especially Lyme disease. The conversation is often oversimplified or brushed aside. So today, let’s break it down—in the form of a clinical dialogue. A Clinical Dialogue on Steroids in Lyme Disease Cameron: One
My doctor wants to give me steroids—will that make Lyme disease worse? Read More »
