Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Disease Symptoms: Early, Late, and Persistent Patterns Lyme disease symptoms rarely follow a predictable pattern. Patients may experience joint pain in one area, brain fog the next, dizziness one day, and heart palpitations another—often without a clear explanation. Key Insight: Lyme disease is not a single-symptom illness. It is a multisystem condition where neurologic, […]

Breaking the Groundhog Day Cycle in Chronic Illness After 37 years treating Lyme disease, I’ve seen many patients describe their experience the same way: every day feels like Groundhog Day. They wake up with the same symptoms, repeat the same conversations with doctors, undergo the same tests, and receive the same reassurances—yet meaningful improvement never

The Ethics of Lyme Disease Treatment: Patient Rights and Physician Responsibility The ethics of Lyme disease treatment often arise at the intersection of diagnostic uncertainty, guideline interpretation, and patient suffering. Lyme disease does not always follow predictable timelines. When symptoms persist or testing does not align neatly with clinical presentation, ethical tension can emerge. Ethical

Lyme Disease Co-infections: What You Need to Know Lyme disease co-infections occur when a single tick bite transmits multiple pathogens. Up to 40% of Lyme patients in some regions also carry Babesia, Bartonella, Anaplasmosis, or Ehrlichia—yet these infections are frequently missed. When co-infections go unrecognized, patients don’t fully recover. Standard Lyme treatment won’t clear a

Borrelia miyamotoi: What You Need to Know Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne bacterium that causes relapsing fever. It is transmitted by the same ticks that spread Lyme disease but can cause different symptoms. Unlike Lyme disease, Borrelia miyamotoi does not typically cause a bull’s-eye rash. Understanding Borrelia miyamotoi – What is Borrelia miyamotoi? – What

Powassan Virus: What You Need to Know Powassan virus is a rare but serious tick-borne illness that can cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Unlike Lyme disease, Powassan virus can be transmitted within minutes of a tick bite. Understanding Powassan Virus: – What is the

When Lyme Disease Is Missed: A Case from My Practice A Lyme disease missed diagnosis often begins quietly—when key diagnoses are never considered. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had a new patient on my schedule—someone who specifically requested a consultation for Lyme disease. Before the visit, I reviewed her chart, expecting to see

Lyme Disease Loneliness Lyme disease loneliness can be one of the hardest parts of living with chronic illness. One of my patients once told me, “No one really understands what this feels like.” That quiet sentence captures the emotional burden so many people with chronic Lyme disease carry. The physical symptoms—pain, fatigue, brain fog, burning

Lyme Treatment Abandonment: Ethical or Not? Stopping Lyme treatment is often framed as a clinical decision based on guidelines—but what if it’s something more troubling? Many patients still experience symptoms like pain, brain fog, or fatigue long after standard antibiotics end. Yet they’re told, “There’s nothing more we can do.” Is stopping treatment at that

How Do You Get Lyme Disease: Ticks, Transmission, and Risk How do you get Lyme disease? Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. These ticks can also carry other pathogens, meaning a single bite may transmit multiple infections. Quick Answer: You get Lyme disease from the bite of an infected