Lyme Science Blog

Why Doctors Dismiss Chronic Lyme Disease If you have been told your persistent symptoms are “all in your head,” that “Lyme disease doesn’t last that long,” or that you simply need to “accept” your diagnosis of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) and move on—you are not imagining the dismissal you are experiencing. Over 37 years

Exercise Intolerance in Lyme Disease: Why Activity Makes Symptoms Worse Exercise intolerance in Lyme disease occurs when physical or mental activity leads to worsening symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, or pain—often hours after exertion rather than during it. For a complete overview of recovery, see our Lyme disease recovery guide. “Should I push

How Long Does Lyme Disease Last? Duration by Stage After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve seen patients recover in weeks and others struggle for years. “How long will I be sick?” is the first question patients ask after diagnosis. Some are told they’ll recover in a few weeks with antibiotics. Others watch months turn

How I Became a Lyme Disease Doctor How did I become a Lyme disease doctor? It’s a question I’m asked often, and the honest answer is that medicine—let alone Lyme disease—was not my original plan. I didn’t set out to become a physician. And I certainly didn’t imagine that Lyme disease would become the focus

Lyme Guidelines Conflict: IDSA vs ILADS Explained My patient had been sick for two years, caught between conflicting Lyme guidelines that left her doubting her own experience. One specialist told her, “You’re cured—what you’re experiencing now is psychological.” Another said, “You still have active infection and need continued treatment.” She didn’t know which doctor to

Babesia Symptoms: Often Missed, Easy to Misdiagnose For a complete overview of Babesia symptoms, testing, and treatment, visit our Babesia hub. Babesia is a malaria-like parasite spread by ticks and often found alongside Lyme disease. Unlike Lyme disease, which is caused by a bacterium, Babesia infects red blood cells—leading to symptoms that are often systemic,

When Does Lyme Become Chronic? Understanding the Transition It’s one of the most debated questions I hear in clinic: When does Lyme become chronic? Is it after a few months? A year? Or when antibiotics “fail”? The truth is, chronic Lyme disease isn’t defined by a date—it’s defined by persistence. The infection and immune response

Not All Lyme Treatment Approaches Are Created Equal Proactive individualized Lyme treatment can be the difference between full recovery and chronic illness. In my practice, I’ve seen patients respond very differently depending on how—and how soon—their Lyme disease was treated. Some improve after a brief course of antibiotics. Others continue to struggle for months or