Lyme Science Blog

Clinical judgment in Lyme disease isn’t just a medical decision-making skill—it’s a moral compass. It’s how we protect patients when standard tests fall short, when symptoms don’t follow textbook rules, and when waiting could mean long-term suffering. As a Lyme doctor with decades of experience, I’ve seen clinical judgment turn dismissed cases into recovered lives. […]

Lyme disease can mimic menopause symptoms in women—fatigue, night sweats, and mood swings aren’t always hormonal. One of my patients came to me in her late 30s, convinced she was going through early menopause. She had all the classic symptoms—intense fatigue, night sweats, brain fog, anxiety, irregular periods, and mood swings. Several doctors told her

The Overlooked Trigger That Slows Healing Alcohol and Lyme disease don’t mix—and for many patients, even one drink can stall recovery. In my practice, I’ve seen this pattern often. A patient is making progress, then suddenly crashes after what seemed like a harmless toast or casual glass of wine. Symptoms flare: fatigue, brain fog, pain,

In my clinical experience, some of the most difficult cases I’ve seen began with one decision: “Let’s wait and see.” Delayed Lyme treatment is often framed as cautious or conservative. But for many patients, it’s the start of a long, complicated illness. Let’s look at what happens when treatment is delayed—and why early intervention can

Babesiosis treatment is often overlooked—especially in patients who also have Lyme disease. Babesiosis is a malaria-like illness caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. It’s frequently found alongside Lyme, but just as often, it’s missed. Unlike Lyme, which is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, babesiosis is caused by parasites (Babesia microti or

Our public health system has faced enormous pressure in recent years. Between emerging diseases, evolving science, and the challenge of clear communication, it’s no surprise that public trust has become strained. But for many Lyme disease patients, that mistrust didn’t start with the pandemic. It began with a deeper, longer-running problem: the chronic Lyme treatment

Not All Brain Fog Is Post-Viral In the wake of the pandemic, I’ve seen an increasing number of patients diagnosed with Long COVID. My patient was told her fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, and poor sleep were just viral aftereffects. Some reassured her it would fade. Others told her it was untreatable. But she wasn’t getting

Tick Bite Treatment Options: What to Know and When to Treat If you’ve been bitten by a tick, one of the first questions that comes up is: What should I do now? There are different tick bite treatment options, and in my practice, I walk patients through two main approaches: watchful waiting or 3–4 weeks

Tick Bite Ethical Concerns Start with False Reassurance A woman walked into my clinic six weeks after a tick bite. She’d been given a single dose of doxycycline at urgent care and told, “That’s all you need.” But now, she could barely get out of bed. Her fatigue was overwhelming. Her joints throbbed. Her thinking

Updated January 2026 Many patients with Lyme disease describe the same frustration: “Every test looks normal, but my body doesn’t function normally.” In many cases, these persistent symptoms reflect dysautonomia in Lyme disease, a form of autonomic nervous system dysfunction that affects heart rate, digestion, sleep, and temperature regulation. In many of these cases, the