Lyme Science Blog

When Headaches Hide Missed Lyme Disease In my practice, I’ve seen patients suffer for months—sometimes years—with headaches that don’t respond to migraine treatments. They’re told it’s hormonal. Or due to stress or lack of sleep. In some cases, however, the deeper issue is missed Lyme disease—especially when the symptoms extend beyond the head. Missed Lyme […]

Finding a Doctor who Treats Chronic Lyme Can Change Everything In my clinical experience, one decision often makes the biggest difference in a patient’s outcome: Choosing a doctor who knows how to treat chronic Lyme disease. Patients come to me after months—or even years—of fatigue, brain fog, pain, and frustration. Many have been told their

She came in with a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder—but nothing was working. Her symptoms had escalated quickly: racing thoughts, compulsions, insomnia, and sensory overload. She’d tried multiple psychiatric medications without relief. The turning point? We discovered it was Lyme disease misdiagnosed as OCD—a diagnosis no one had considered until now. Lyme Disease Misdiagnosed as OCD:

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