Focus – Opinions and Features

by Nicole Danielle Bell When I finally realized that my husband’s early-onset Alzheimer’s was caused by Lyme disease and other co-infections, I tried to use my engineering background to make sense of it all. I very quickly found myself lost. An excerpt from my memoir about... Read More »

By Katy Reid, LPC Navigating complex, chronic illness is a uniquely stressful situation for both patients and their caregivers. I dealt with this myself starting at age 16, when a myriad of tick-borne diseases created a slow, physical, decline until I was bedridden. My parents... Read More »

By Christina D. Campbell The phlebotomist leaves to photocopy my blood test order. Meanwhile, I stare at the offensive words on the whiteboard. They’ve been there at least a month. I saw them during my last draw. The words irritated me then, and they irritate me now. I dread... Read More »

by Mary Jane Heppe I probably contracted Lyme decades ago without seeing a tick or a bull’s-eye rash, but only began exhibiting early-stage symptoms in 1998. I had been a major athlete and was terrified that I’d lost energy and use of my body. I asked for two Lyme... Read More »

By Fred Diamond When I wrote Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survive Need to Know, I was surprised to learn that many relationships were at risk due to the challenges tick-borne illnesses caused. I launched the Love, Hope, Lyme... Read More »

By Daniel A Kinderlehrer, MD Those of us dealing with Lyme disease are well aware that most symptoms reside in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. And for many of us, the worst symptoms in the nervous system are neuropsychiatric. The severity of anxiety, panic attacks,... Read More »

by Robin Fields, ProPublica and The Capitol Forum This story was originally published by ProPublica, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. It’s one of the most crucial questions people... Read More »

By Fred Diamond On the “Love, Hope, Lyme Podcast,” I have interviewed numerous people who have made it their mission to educate the world about tick-borne illnesses and the challenges they can present to the survivor and those who love them. Usually, they found... Read More »

by Kris Newby, Invisible International If a person is diagnosed with cat scratch disease, what should be done with the pet cat that transmitted the disease through a bite or scratch? A recent publication in the American Journal of Ophthalmology provides guidance on this... Read More »