Lyme Science Blog

Panic attacks after Lyme disease are not widely discussed in mainstream guidance, yet they appear in clinical practice more often than many physicians expect. In a published case report, Garakani and Mitton describe a patient whose prior Lyme disease history complicated the interpretation of new neuropsychiatric symptoms. The case raises important questions about diagnostic framing, […]

When Does a Herxheimer Reaction Start? Timeline and Duration Herxheimer reaction timeline is one of the most common concerns for patients starting Lyme disease treatment. Many ask: How soon will symptoms begin? How long will they last? Is day 3 normal? Quick Answer: A Herxheimer reaction typically begins within hours to a few days after

IBS and Lyme Disease: Why Gut Symptoms Don’t Always Fit IBS and Lyme disease can look surprisingly similar. Patients may develop bloating, constipation, abdominal discomfort, or irregular bowel habits—even when gastrointestinal testing is normal. These symptoms are often labeled as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, in Lyme disease, they may reflect changes in immune signaling

Conditions Lyme Disease Can Mimic (And Why It’s Often Misdiagnosed) Conditions Lyme disease can mimic are often the reason patients go months—or even years—without a clear diagnosis. Lyme disease rarely presents in a single, predictable way. Instead, symptoms may shift, overlap, and evolve across multiple body systems. Many patients are treated for multiple conditions—neurologic, rheumatologic,

Severe Herx Reaction Lyme Disease: When Symptoms Escalate Quickly Severe Herx reaction Lyme disease can be alarming. Symptoms may intensify suddenly after starting treatment, leaving patients unsure whether they are improving—or getting worse. This reaction, often referred to as a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, is typically linked to the body’s response to bacterial die-off rather than treatment

Is It Dementia, Parkinson’s… or Lyme Disease? What if symptoms that look like dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or seizures are actually Lyme disease? In some patients, Lyme disease affects the nervous system in ways that closely resemble primary neurologic disorders. Patients may present with memory loss, movement changes, tremors, or seizure-like episodes—symptoms often attributed to neurodegenerative

Can Lyme Disease Trigger Autoimmune Symptoms? Lyme disease autoimmune symptoms are increasingly discussed as patients experience persistent or evolving symptoms even after treatment. While Lyme disease is caused by infection, the body’s response to that infection may continue long after the initial trigger. How Infections Can Trigger Autoimmune Responses The immune system is designed to

Can Lyme Disease Cause a Stroke? Can Lyme disease cause a stroke? In rare cases, Lyme disease can trigger inflammation in brain blood vessels, leading to stroke-like symptoms or even an ischemic stroke. This is uncommon—but important—especially when symptoms do not follow a typical pattern. In these situations, neurologic Lyme disease may present in unexpected

Can You Get Lyme Disease Outside Endemic Areas? Lyme disease outside endemic areas is more common than many patients and clinicians realize. While Lyme disease is traditionally associated with the Northeast and Upper Midwest, cases are increasingly reported in regions once considered low risk. This raises an important clinical question: Can Lyme disease occur outside

Sensory Neurons in Lyme Disease: Why Your Body Overreacts to Pain and Sensation Sensory neurons in Lyme disease may explain why pain, touch, and sensation feel amplified—sometimes dramatically. Patients often say, “Everything feels too intense.” This includes symptoms such as burning pain, allodynia, sensitivity to temperature, and even discomfort from clothing or light touch. These