Lyme Science Blog

Post-Exertional Malaise in Lyme Disease: Why Pacing Matters Post-exertional malaise in Lyme disease is a pattern many patients recognize: they feel well enough to be active—then crash. The next day, fatigue deepens, pain flares, and concentration fades. This is not ordinary tiredness. It is post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a delayed worsening of symptoms after physical, mental, or […]

Babesia Blood Transfusion: How One Blood Donation Revealed the Diagnosis Babesia blood transfusion screening can detect infections missed in routine care—sometimes revealing the diagnosis when symptoms were overlooked. Quick Answer: Babesia blood transfusion screening uses sensitive nucleic acid testing to detect infection. In some cases, blood donation testing identifies Babesia when routine medical evaluation has

Guillain-Barré Syndrome or Lyme Disease? When an Infection Mimics Autoimmune Neuropathy GUILLAIN-BARRÉ—OR LYME DISEASE? WHEN AN INFECTION TRIGGERS A SERIOUS NEUROLOGIC SYNDROME A patient presents with progressive weakness, numbness, and difficulty speaking or swallowing. The diagnosis seems clear: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nerves. But what if the trigger isn’t purely

Can Lyme Disease Cause Weakness and Hyporeflexia? NUMBNESS AND WEAKNESS SPREADING WITHOUT EXPLANATION? LYME DISEASE MAY PRESENT ATYPICALLY “It started as numbness—then it spread everywhere.” Lyme disease does not always begin with a rash, joint pain, or fatigue. Quick Answer: Lyme disease can cause progressive weakness and hyporeflexia due to neurologic involvement, even without classic

How to Tick-Proof Your Yard and Prevent Lyme Disease Creating a tick-proof yard is one of the most effective ways to reduce tick bites and lower the risk of Lyme disease. Ticks thrive in shady, moist, overgrown environments—and by making small changes to your landscaping, you can make your yard far less welcoming to them.

Why Lyme Treatment Fails: Could Babesia Be the Missing Diagnosis? Still sick after Lyme treatment? One common reason is a missed co-infection—especially Babesia. Many patients improve partially with antibiotics like doxycycline, only to continue experiencing fatigue, brain fog, night sweats, or shortness of breath. Quick answer: Lyme antibiotics treat bacteria, but Babesia is a parasite.

He Had POTS—But It Was Lyme disease Too The Symptoms Seemed to Fit Dizzy when standing. A racing heart. Constant fatigue.The diagnosis? POTS—Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. My patient followed all the usual advice: increase salt, drink more fluids, wear compression gear. But the symptoms didn’t go away. They lingered. Some even got worse. Something didn’t

The Chronic Lyme Disease Debate Explained WHY DO DOCTORS DISAGREE ABOUT CHRONIC LYME DISEASE? THE ANSWER IS MORE COMPLEX THAN IT SEEMS “I finished treatment—but I’m still sick.” This is where the chronic Lyme disease debate begins. Patients continue to experience fatigue, pain, brain fog, and neurologic symptoms—yet are often told the infection is gone.

Back Pain Mystery Solved… It Was Lyme Disease Back pain is one of the most common complaints in medicine. For most people, it’s caused by something mechanical—disc degeneration, a pinched nerve, or muscle strain. Clinical Insight: Back pain in Lyme disease may mimic disc disease or muscle strain, but in some patients it reflects a

Do Ticks Wash Off in the Shower? Quick Answer: No. A tick that has already attached will not wash off in the shower. However, showering soon after being outdoors can help remove unattached ticks and allows you to check your skin for bites. How a Shower Can Help Taking a shower after being outdoors is