Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Disease and IBS: When It’s Not Really IBS BLOATING. ABDOMINAL PAIN? COULD THIS BE LYME DISEASE Lyme disease and IBS are often confused. IBS-like symptoms in Lyme disease are frequently driven by autonomic nervous system dysfunction—not a primary gastrointestinal disorder—even when testing is normal. The connection between Lyme disease and IBS is more common […]

Teenage Lyme Disease: When Symptoms Don’t Match SYMPTOMS DON’T MATCH LYME DISEASE? IN TEENS, THE PATTERN IS OFTEN MISSED A teenager develops headaches, fatigue, and joint pain—but is told, “This doesn’t look like Lyme disease.” Tests are normal. Imaging is normal. The explanation becomes stress, anxiety, or school-related pressure. But what if the symptoms don’t

Chronic Lyme Disease Debate: Why Patients Are Still Left Without Answers Why are patients still sick after Lyme disease treatment—and why do doctors disagree? Quick Answer: The chronic Lyme disease debate reflects differing views on why symptoms persist after treatment—ranging from immune dysfunction to possible ongoing infection. Clinical Insight: These differences affect real patients. When

Do All Ticks Carry Lyme Disease? Patients often ask me, “Do all ticks carry Lyme disease?” The short answer is no—but the full answer is more nuanced. In simple terms, only certain ticks can spread Lyme disease, and most tick bites do not lead to Lyme. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.

The Chronic Lyme Disease Crisis: Why We Can’t Wait Chronic Lyme disease has quietly shifted from an isolated medical concern into a public health crisis, affecting individuals, families, and healthcare systems alike. We are not just seeing more Lyme disease cases—we are seeing more people who do not recover after standard treatment. Patients are getting

“It’s Too Cold for Ticks” — Why This Lyme Myth Is Dangerous When one of my patients developed Lyme disease symptoms in January, she was told, “It’s too cold for ticks — it can’t be Lyme.” That statement is one of the most common and dangerous Lyme disease misconceptions in tick-borne illness. The phrase “too

When Driving Becomes Difficult At first, the change was subtle. The road felt unfamiliar, even though nothing had changed. He found himself needing to concentrate in ways he never had before. Traffic felt overwhelming. He became anxious just thinking about getting behind the wheel. What once had been muscle memory became mentally exhausting. Over time,

Blue Hands and Feet in Lyme Disease: Why They Turn Cold and Change Color Blue or discolored hands and feet in Lyme disease are a common but frequently missed symptom, often accompanied by coldness, numbness, or mottling. These symptoms are often described as “cold hands,” but the key clinical feature is color change—pale, bluish, or

Lyme Disease Underfunded: Why Research Is Still Too Slow Diagnosis is still too slow Treatment is often delayed Research has not kept pace Patients continue to suffer Lyme disease is underfunded—and patients are paying the price. Every day, clinicians see the pain, confusion, fatigue, and brain fog that disrupt patients’ lives. Delays in diagnosis and

When Lyme Patients Can’t Decide: How Cognitive Symptoms Affect Decision Making Can’t make decisions like before? Forgetting what was just discussed? Lyme disease may affect cognition and clarity. Can Lyme disease affect decision making? Yes. Cognitive symptoms such as brain fog, memory loss, and slowed processing can make decisions difficult—not from lack of motivation, but