Medical dismissal in Lyme disease is one of the most common experiences reported by patients with persistent illness. Individuals may present with disabling fatigue, neurologic symptoms, autonomic instability, and chronic pain—yet be told that their symptoms are unrelated to infection or cannot be explained. Many patients initially seek medical care because of unexplained symptoms such […]
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A parent’s guide to recognizing and treating Lyme disease in children Quick Answer: Can Lyme Disease Look Like Stress in Teenagers? Yes. Lyme disease in teenagers can cause fatigue, anxiety, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems. Because these symptoms overlap with stress or mental health concerns, Lyme disease may be overlooked if physical symptoms
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Lyme disease tests the limits of modern medicine because diagnosis, biology, and recovery often do not follow simple or uniform patterns. Lyme disease tests the limits of modern medicine because it exposes the tension between surveillance criteria, clinical complexity, evolving biologic science, and the limits of current diagnostic tools. It challenges frameworks designed for population
Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) is a recognized post-infectious complication of Lyme disease characterized by persistent, function-limiting symptoms after standard antibiotic therapy. Patients may experience ongoing fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive difficulties that significantly impair daily function. Quick Answer: What Is PTLDS? PTLDS refers to persistent symptoms—most commonly fatigue, widespread pain, and cognitive difficulties—that last
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Children and Lyme Disease: Why Most Never See a Tick Bite A mother once told me, “I check my kids every night after they play outside. I would have seen a tick.” She was certain. But her 8-year-old son had Lyme disease—and neither she nor her son ever saw a tick. This is one of
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Persistent Lyme disease mechanisms help explain why symptoms may continue after treatment and why recovery often fluctuates. Rather than reflecting a single cause, persistent Lyme disease mechanisms often involve interacting biologic processes that evolve over time. This page serves as the explanatory framework within the broader discussion of Why Lyme Disease Tests the Limits of
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Chronic Lyme Disease Misconceptions: How Outdated Science Continues to Harm Patients Chronic Lyme disease misconceptions kept her sick for three years before anyone took her seriously. A former marathon runner, she came to my office unable to climb stairs without resting. She’d seen rheumatologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists. Each ruled out their specialty and sent
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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
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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
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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 »
