When patients come to the office with Lyme disease, many have already been treated — yet they’re still sick. Others are newly diagnosed, overwhelmed by strange symptoms and uncertain about what lies ahead. The question most often asked is: “What’s the best treatment?” There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Answer Lyme disease can affect the brain, nerves, joints, […]
What Is the Best Treatment for Lyme Disease? Read More »
Intravenous (IV) Rocephin, or ceftriaxone, is often viewed as the gold standard for late-stage Lyme disease. And yes, it has an important role. But in my practice, I don’t routinely start with IV treatment—even for patients with chronic manifestations like fatigue, brain fog, nerve pain, or autonomic dysfunction. Let’s break it down—in the form of
Why I Don’t Start with IV Rocephin for Chronic Lyme Read More »
As part of their treatment for Lyme disease, many patients are prescribed multiple rounds or combinations of antibiotics. At some point, they ask: “Will these antibiotics hurt my gut? Should I be taking probiotics too?” It’s a common question—and a smart one. The short answer: yes. But let’s break it down—in the form of a
Should I Be Taking Probiotics While I’m on Antibiotics for Lyme? Read More »
Patients with Lyme disease rarely walk into a clinic with the classic bull’s-eye rash or a clear memory of a tick bite. Instead, they often present with vague, nonspecific symptoms that are easy to overlook — especially when laboratory tests are negative or equivocal. By the time Lyme is considered, many patients have already seen
Forget the Rash: These Are the First Symptoms of Lyme Disease Read More »
When a 21-day-old infant developed a fever and rapid heartbeat just hours after receiving antibiotics for Lyme disease, doctors were faced with a critical question: Was it sepsis—or something else? Could it possibly be a Herxheimer reaction? This case highlights a rare but important phenomenon: a Herxheimer reaction can even occur in a newborn infant.
Lyme disease triggers herxheimer reaction in infant Read More »
A “wait and see” approach in managing Lyme disease can have long-lasting consequences, sometimes resulting in months or even years of unnecessary suffering. In this case, a woman was diagnosed with Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). Initially, diagnosed with Lyme disease, she followed every instruction: rest, wait, let the antibiotics work. But months later, her
She Was Told To Wait. Then Told It Was PTLDS. But Her Lyme Infection Never Left. Read More »
It’s a fair concern. Mold toxicity has received growing attention, and some patients with chronic Lyme disease are told that mold is the real issue—or that detoxing from mold is the missing link. But in my experience, treating mold without addressing a persistent tick-borne infection seldom leads to sustained improvement. So let’s break it down—in
Mold Treatment and Lyme Disease: My Common-Sense Take Read More »
A Patient’s Story from the South My patient from Florida looked me straight in the eye and said, “But Lyme doesn’t exist down here, right?” That’s what she’d been told—by more than one doctor. She had a rash. Fatigue. Joint pain. Classic signs of Lyme disease. But instead of being tested or treated, she was
Does Lyme disease exist in the South? Read More »
When a Patient Asks Why I Treat Babesia Even if the Tests Are Negative, They Often Say: “But my test was negative—why are we treating Babesia?” It’s a fair question. I’ll often explain that Babesia testing isn’t perfect. False negatives are common. And many patients improve when we treat for Babesia—despite negative test results. So
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It’s not uncommon for the mouthparts of a tick to break off and remain in the skin after removal. Fortunately, this rarely increases the risk of infection, including Lyme disease. Do Tick Mouthparts Increase Risk? No. If the tick’s body is removed, the risk of Lyme or other tick-borne infections does not increase. Most disease
What Happens if a Tick’s Mouthparts Stay in Your Skin? Read More »
