Lyme Science Blog

Many Lyme patients tell me the same story: “I used to tolerate a glass of wine — now it wipes me out.” What was once an ordinary social experience becomes unpredictable and uncomfortable. This shift is a hallmark of Lyme alcohol intolerance — a physiological change that now brings flushing, dizziness, anxiety, nausea, or next-day […]

Introduction: A Clinical Guide to Post-Exertional Malaise in Lyme Disease Patients often tell me they can complete a workout or a busy day without any immediate problem, only to crash hours later. This phenomenon—called post-exertional malaise Lyme patients frequently experience—is one of the most misunderstood patterns in post-infectious illness. Instead of symptoms appearing during exertion,

A Case That Surprised Both Patient and Clinician One of my patients recently developed black teeth after taking antibiotics for Lyme disease. The discoloration appeared suddenly and was deeply alarming to her — dark streaks and patches that looked like severe decay or even necrosis. She feared something irreversible had happened. But when she visited

Light feels sharper. Sound feels louder. Ordinary environments suddenly become overwhelming. For some Lyme disease patients, sensitivity to light and sound is one of the earliest and most disruptive neurologic symptoms. The brightness of the kitchen lights may feel blinding, and the sound of a spoon dropping can trigger a jolt of discomfort. Patients often

Lyme-related Tinnitus and Ear Fullness Patients often ask me whether Lyme disease can cause tinnitus or ear fullness. The answer is yes — Lyme tinnitus and ear fullness are well-recognized presentations. Many patients describe ringing or hissing sounds, fluctuating pressure, crackling sensations, a feeling of water trapped in the ear, distorted sound perception, and hypersensitivity

The electrical jolts started without warning. Every few minutes, Lisa felt a sudden shock run through her head, like a live wire had touched her brain. The sensation would shoot down her spine, leaving her briefly disoriented, as if her nervous system had misfired. “It feels like my brain is short-circuiting,” she told her doctor.

When Bladder Symptoms Don’t Make Sense Many patients come to me after months of bladder discomfort that no one can explain. They describe pelvic pressure, burning, or an overwhelming urge to urinate — yet every culture, scan, and exam has been normal. They tell me things like, “My bladder feels inflamed,” or, “It’s like interstitial

Someof my patients recovering from Lyme disease describe a familiar pattern: they finally feel well enough to be active—maybe a short walk, a trip to the grocery store, an hour of work—then crash. The next day, fatigue deepens, pain flares, and concentration fades. This isn’t ordinary tiredness. It’s post-exertional malaise in Lyme disease (PEM)—a delayed

When Lyme Symptoms Worsen During Your Period Many women tell me the same thing: their Lyme symptoms get worse during their period, often in the exact same window every month. Fatigue deepens. Pain sharpens. Dizziness, palpitations, and air hunger return. What should be a predictable cycle becomes a predictable crash. Many women don’t realize that

When Your Body Stops Regulating Temperature Normally Many patients with Lyme disease describe something they never struggled with before: they suddenly can’t tolerate heat or cold. They walk into a warm room and feel flushed or dizzy. A mild chill hits them and their body reacts as if winter has arrived. Some swing from sweating