Lyme Science Blog

Does Alcohol Make Lyme Disease Symptoms Worse? Does alcohol make Lyme disease symptoms worse? Many patients notice the same pattern: even one drink can trigger brain fog, fatigue, heart palpitations, poor sleep, or sudden emotional shifts. If your symptoms return after “just one drink,” you’re not imagining it. This isn’t a judgment. It’s physiology. Lyme […]

Can You Heal From Lyme Disease? Quick Answer: Yes, many patients can heal from Lyme disease. Recovery depends on early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and how the body heals afterward. Clinical Insight: Healing from Lyme disease is possible—but the timeline varies. Some recover in weeks, while others improve gradually over months. Patient: “Doctor, can you heal

Do You Have Lyme Disease for Life? Patient: “Doctor, do I have Lyme disease for life? Am I stuck with this forever?” Dr. Cameron: “That’s a question I hear often. The short answer is no—you don’t have Lyme disease for life. But the longer answer is more complicated, and it depends on when you were

Lyme Disease Racial Disparities: Why Diagnoses Are Missed Lyme disease is often missed in non-White patients—leading to delayed diagnosis, more severe illness, and worse outcomes. Lyme disease racial disparities affect how quickly patients are diagnosed, how severe their illness becomes, and how they move through the healthcare system. A large study analyzing more than 168,000

Do You Need Antibiotics After a Tick Bite? Why Doctors Disagree Tick bite antibiotics remain one of the most debated decisions in Lyme disease prevention. Depending on which doctor you see, you may receive a full course of doxycycline, a single preventive dose, or instructions to simply monitor for symptoms. For patients, these differing recommendations

Can Lyme Disease Spread in Under 24 Hours? The Tick Bite Myth Explained A tick does not always need 36 hours to transmit infection. Some pathogens may spread far faster than many people realize. Early removal lowers risk—but does not eliminate it. Can Lyme disease spread in under 24 hours? Yes—under certain conditions, transmission may

Fiber and Lyme Disease: How Gut Health May Support Recovery STILL DEALING WITH GUT ISSUES AFTER LYME? BLOATING, CONSTIPATION, OR IBS-LIKE SYMPTOMS? COULD FIBER HELP YOUR RECOVERY? Fiber and Lyme disease recovery may be more closely connected than many patients realize. Gut health plays a key role in immune function, and fiber supports the microbiome

Why I Stayed in Lyme Disease Care The Patients Who Changed My Path In 1987, I met three patients who would change the course of my medical career. Each had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Each had already completed treatment. And yet — each remained ill. At the time, I hadn’t been trained to manage

Shortness of Breath in Lyme Disease: What to Know Air hunger, chest tightness, and breathlessness can occur in Lyme disease. The causes are often physiologic—not psychological. Careful evaluation matters. When It’s Hard to Breathe: Could It Be Lyme? Shortness of breath can feel frightening — especially when it strikes without warning or a clear cause.

Still Sick After Lyme Treatment? PTLDS or Persistent Infection? Many patients are told their Lyme disease has been treated successfully. But what if the symptoms don’t go away? Quick Answer: Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) may reflect more than a lingering immune response—it may signal persistent infection or co-infection in some patients. Clinical Insight: When