I’ve had patients sit in my office and ask, “Why doesn’t anyone believe me?” The answer isn’t simple — but it starts with understanding why Lyme disease is so controversial in the first place. Few medical conditions spark as much debate. Disagreements over how Lyme disease is diagnosed, treated, and understood have created deep divides […]
Medical Abandonment in Chronic Illness: An Ethical Analysis Read More »
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
Targeted Screening Could Save Lyme Patients from Years of Misdiagnosis Read More »
You just got back from a beautiful hike or a long afternoon working in the yard. You toss your clothes in the wash, assuming that will kill ticks on clothing and leave nature behind. But here’s the surprising truth: a trip through the washing machine does not reliably kill ticks on clothing. These tiny pests
How to Kill Ticks on Clothing: Why the Dryer Matters More Than the Washer Read More »
A nine-year-old complains of knee pain at bedtime. A twelve-year-old wakes up crying with leg aches. A teenager limps after soccer practice. When children report joint or muscle pain, “growing pains” becomes the default explanation—delaying investigation of Lyme disease. Understanding the key differences prevents months of dismissed symptoms while treatable infection damages joints. For a
Growing Pains or Lyme Disease? How to Tell the Difference Read More »
A mother brings her daughter to three different doctors over six months. The child has debilitating fatigue, recurring headaches, and joint pain. Each visit ends the same way: “The tests are normal. There’s nothing wrong.” But the mother knows something is wrong—and she’s right. Medical dismissal in pediatric Lyme disease reflects systemic challenges—testing limitations, atypical
When Doctors Say Nothing Is Wrong: Medical Dismissal and Lyme Disease in Children Read More »
A straight-A student starts forgetting homework. A focused child suddenly can’t sit still in class. An organized teenager becomes scattered, impulsive, and unable to concentrate. When cognitive symptoms appear abruptly rather than gradually, the diagnosis may not be ADHD—it could be Lyme disease affecting the brain. The overlap between ADHD and Lyme-induced cognitive dysfunction creates
Is My Child’s ADHD Actually Lyme Disease? Read More »
After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve seen how Anaplasmosis—a bacterial coinfection transmitted by the same ticks that carry Lyme disease—can transform what appears to be typical Lyme disease into an acute, severe illness with high fever, profound headache, and dangerously low white blood cell counts. Anaplasmosis occurs in approximately 5-10% of Lyme disease patients
Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease: Symptoms & Treatment Read More »
After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve learned that Ehrlichiosis—like its close relative Anaplasmosis—can turn a typical Lyme disease presentation into a severe acute illness requiring immediate recognition and treatment. The same ticks that transmit Lyme disease also carry Ehrlichia bacteria, creating coinfections that produce high fever, severe headache, and dangerous blood count abnormalities. Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichiosis and Lyme Disease: Symptoms & Treatment Read More »
After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve learned that Babesia—a malaria-like parasite transmitted by the same ticks that carry Lyme disease—is often the reason patients don’t get better with standard Lyme treatment. It’s the most common and most debilitating Lyme coinfection, affecting 30-40% of Lyme patients in endemic areas. Babesia produces a distinct symptom pattern:
Babesia and Lyme Disease: Symptoms & Treatment Read More »
Complete guide to Lyme disease coinfections: Babesia, Bartonella, and more After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve learned that Lyme coinfections are far more common than most doctors realize. The tick bite that transmits Borrelia burgdorferi rarely comes alone. In many cases, that same tick carries multiple pathogens—Babesia, Bartonella, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, or Powassan virus—creating layers
Lyme Coinfections: Babesia, Bartonella & More Read More »
