Lyme Science Blog

When it comes to preventing Lyme disease, doctors disagree on the amount of antibiotics to prescribe — and the advice you get can change completely depending on who you see. You might walk out with a prescription, a single pill, or just instructions to “watch for symptoms.” For patients, that uncertainty can feel like a […]

If you’ve been told you’re safe from Lyme disease if you remove a tick within 36 hours, you’ve heard the 24 – 36 hour tick bite myth. This belief is often publicized in brochures, websites, and even at medical conferences. The problem? The science shows it’s not always true and relying on it can delay

The Overlooked Link Between Fiber and Lyme Disease When we talk about Lyme disease, the conversation usually centers on infection, inflammation, and immune response—not dietary fiber. But gut health is a powerful ally in immune recovery, and fiber plays a critical role. For patients navigating persistent symptoms, optimizing fiber intake could help restore balance, support

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 Lyme disease. There were no protocols for

One family came to me after their 11-year-old daughter had been struggling with stomach aches, poor appetite, and nausea for months. She was missing school, and every GI test came back normal. The family had tried changing her diet, adding probiotics, and even therapy because they were told it might just be stress. But when

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. While heart and lung conditions are common culprits, there’s another, often-overlooked possibility: Lyme disease. This tick-borne infection doesn’t just cause joint pain and fatigue—it can also affect the nervous

Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) may involve a persistent Lyme infection — not just a lingering immune response. Yet many patients are never told this is possible. When symptoms persist after antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, most patients are reassured that their illness is “resolved.” For some people (between 10-20%), symptoms like fatigue, brain fog,

When 10 Days Isn’t Enough In my clinical experience, Babesia treatment duration often needs to go beyond the standard 7–10 days. I recently treated a patient who failed a 10-day course of atovaquone and azithromycin. He still had fatigue, sweats, and brain fog. We extended therapy based on symptoms—not the calendar—and he improved. We considered

As we continue to grapple with the long-term effects of COVID-19 and deepen our understanding of post-infectious syndromes like Long COVID, it’s become increasingly clear: not all infections resolve cleanly. Some linger, disrupt multiple systems, and defy simplistic explanations. Lyme disease is one of those conditions. For years, Lyme has presented primary care clinicians with

Dismissed Lyme Symptoms: When Listening Matters More Than Testing In my practice, I’ve seen patients suffer for years—not just from Lyme disease, but from being told their symptoms weren’t real. They weren’t looking for sympathy. They were looking for answers. Instead, they were dismissed. Lyme disease and medical gaslighting often go hand in hand—fueling misdiagnosis,