Project Lyme

Three tick-bite victims describe years of misery from an array of infections that were difficult to diagnose and treat. Casper, Wyoming, resident Jack Murray was bitten by a black-legged tick and contracted Lyme disease, Bartonella, and Babesia, suffering years of neurological problems and severe muscle cramps, eventually losing his job, before finding a Lyme-literate Maryland doctor to help him recover. Fellow Wyomingite Stacy Dana-Price was also bitten by a black-legged tick, contracting Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, despite the lack of a known Wyoming population of black-legged ticks, raising fears of ticks encroaching into the state. Dana-Price lost her job, marriage, and the ability to read and write, suffering severe pain and years of mental and physical decline: “I became just a non-functioning person. It feels like you’re walking underwater through life.” Meanwhile, former army helicopter pilot Sonny Baltimore of Killen, Alabama, was twice bitten by Lone Star ticks that gave him debilitating red meat allergies for three years each time. Their stories highlight the life-altering consequences of tick-borne illness and the urgent need for improved awareness, diagnostics, and treatment options. Read more from Cowboy State Daily: https://lnkd.in/eqrxQiPV #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #alphagal #allergy #rockymountainspottedfever #rmsf #bartonella #babesia #science #patientstories

NEW TICK-BORNE DISEASE CASE STUDY: After returning home from an Australian safari, a 62-year-old man from Connecticut arrived at the hospital complaining of a mysterious fever accompanied by appetite changes, fatigue, and headaches. His doctors initially suspected tropical diseases like malaria, but closer examination revealed a different culprit: Babesia microti, a tick-borne parasite commonly found in New England. A major clue? A tick bite he got while camping in Maine months before his trip abroad. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of distinctive Maltese cross-shaped parasites in his blood smear, and he was treated successfully with a combination of atovaquone, azithromycin, and doxycycline. This case highlights how traveling can make tick-borne diseases more complicated to diagnose and treat. Check it out now on the Medical Journal of Australia: https://lnkd.in/g6C5rpmm #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #babesia #travel #australia #safari #science #research

Jessica from Long Island has suffered Lyme symptoms on and off for most of her life. The pain got so bad that she was unable to walk and was bedbound for a year and a half. She has gone into remission with the help of S.O.T. treatments and now aims to spread awareness and help others navigate their Lyme disease journey. This is Jessica’s story. ?? Do you have a story to share? Connect with us at https://lnkd.in/eFh5ajNd #projectlyme #lyme #lymedisease #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #chronicillness #chronicpain #neurological #brain #health #medicine #tickbite #mentalhealth #patientstories #hope

Lyme disease can affect the functioning of many bodily systems, including the endocrine, reproductive, and urological. While some of these symptoms may be embarrassing, reporting them to a doctor could be the key to getting a correct diagnosis and treatment. Here's what you need to know about the many symptoms of Lyme disease: https://lnkd.in/eNevnZpU #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #bacteria #endocrine #reproductive #urological #symptoms #science #research

Researchers used a mouse model to show that Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, can spread to the female reproductive system and lead to long-term health problems. Infected female mice developed uterine cysts, thickened vaginal tissue, and signs of inflammation, with older mice experiencing more severe symptoms. The researchers also analyzed electronic healthcare records and discovered that women with Lyme disease had a higher risk of conditions like miscarriage, heavy menstrual bleeding, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. This suggests that Lyme disease could impact female reproductive health more than most people realize. Further research is needed to understand the consequences. Read the preprint article: https://lnkd.in/eYmWvZXC #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #bacteria #reproductive #gynecology #symptoms #women #science #research

Thanks, Olivia Flowers, for the shout-out about Lyme-A-Palooza 2025, a music festival that Project Lyme is putting on to raise awareness of tick-borne disease in South Carolina. We'll have great music and food and educational sessions hosted by multiple doctors (as well as an appearance from Olivia!). If you're in the Mount Pleasant area, be sure to check it out! Get your tickets now via this link, or email [email protected] with any questions: https://lnkd.in/eEtCAztn #projectlyme #lyme #lymediseaseawareness #coinfections #tickbornediseases #chroniclyme #fightlyme #chronicillness #music #concert #event #MakeLymeLoud #lymeapalooza #lymeapalooza2025

Living with Lyme disease is a constant struggle, not only against debilitating symptoms but also against disbelief from medical professionals, friends, and even family. Ashley Baker and Maria Johnson, members of Project Lyme’s Emerging Leaders Board, have turned their pain into purpose by advocating for awareness and better treatment options. Ashley, who lost both of her jobs after her diagnosis, knows firsthand the emotional toll of not being believed. “It causes a lot of self-doubt in your own mind, especially having friends and family who don’t believe that you’re really sick,” she shared. Maria, diagnosed nearly a decade after her symptoms began, emphasized the importance of persistence, urging Lyme survivors to “find a team that supports you and your needs and listens to you, and don’t take no for an answer.” Through their work with Project Lyme, both women are determined to fight for recognition, community support, and policy changes, proving that advocacy is not just about awareness — it’s about survival. Explore their stories in this brand-new episode of the Love, Hope, Lyme Podcast: https://lnkd.in/eXQMf3hy #projectlyme #lyme #lymedisease #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #medicine #tickbite #patientstories #hope #resilience #medicalgaslighting #advocacy #podcast

BLACK-LEGGED TICKS SPREAD TO THE NORTHWEST: A tick pulled off a French Brittany hound in Eastern Montana has been identified as Ixodes scapularis or the black-legged tick, which is known to spread Lyme disease. After removal from the dog’s neck, the tick was sent to Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML), an NIH facility, where scientist Tom Schwan identified it. A detailed DNA analysis showed that the tick may have been carrying Lyme disease or relapsing fever, another tick-borne illness. While the tick may have hitched a ride to Montana on an animal traveling from one of the neighboring Dakotas, Marshall Bloom, a veteran RML scientist and chief of the Biology of Vector-borne Viruses Section, says, “We should be on the lookout for these Ixodes scapularis ticks in Eastern Montana, which is where this tick was from, as well as other parts of the state.” The RML will be conducting a search this Spring to determine if black-legged ticks have truly taken up residence in Montana and will be soliciting the public’s help in submitting ticks for identification. Learn more in this article by The Spokesman-Review: https://lnkd.in/eRbDk_sd #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #bacteria #science #research #news

NEW SCIENCE: Long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome, and late-stage Lyme disease tend to share overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. So, researchers decided to study how these conditions affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in hopes of finding some differences. The researchers divided 758 patients into four groups: long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome following COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome unrelated to COVID, and late-stage Lyme disease. Then they ran a battery of tests. Here's what they found: — Individuals with Lyme disease were more likely to have low blood pressure when going from a lying down or sitting position to standing (53.4%). — Lyme patients also showed signs of adrenergic failure, such as reduced heart rate variability and lower baroreceptor sensitivity, which affect blood pressure control. — Unlike the other groups, Lyme patients showed less parasympathetic dysfunction, suggesting a unique pattern of ANS imbalance. These findings highlight the importance of using specific ANS tests to better understand and treat these syndromes. However, the study’s limitations, such as uneven group sizes and not all patients completing every test, suggest that more research is needed. Check out the science: https://lnkd.in/eeKUS_qE #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #bacteria #chroniclyme #covid #longcovid #chronicfatiguesyndrome #cfsme #science #research

Project Lyme is excited to announce a new patient support program — Writing Therapy with Jenni Dawn Muro (IG: @jennidawnmuro). We invite you to participate in this week's prompts and to email any submissions to [email protected]. This week's prompts lean into the fact that winter is coming to an end. The season can feel isolating, but sometimes it’s an opportunity for introspection. Prompt 1: Write about how winter mirrored your Lyme symptoms, feelings, or mood, and what you might need from spring? Prompt 2: We have 1,440 minutes in a day. How do you use at least 60 of them for yourself? Jenni encourages you to remember that writing prompts like these are best suited for free writing. Write down what comes to mind first, but don’t overthink it. Use the page to free your thoughts and don’t edit yourself! If you’d prefer to set a timer for five minutes, then those five minutes are the least you can do for yourself today. If you want to go longer, let it flow. We look forward to your submissions! #projectlyme #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #lymewarrior #tickbornediseases #tickbite #coinfections #chronicillness #chronicpain #health #mentalhealth #writing #therapy #writingtherapy