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Lyme Disease: Understanding the Silent Epidemic

Updated: Nov 9, 2024



 Table of Contents


What is Lyme Disease?


 What is Lyme Disease?

Borrelia bacteria is what leads to the illness called Lyme disease. Typically, a tick will infect an individual by biting them. Ticks can be found in woody, grassy, or bushy areas. A tick bite looks like a red bump on the skin that is tiny and itchy. It is important to note that not all ticks carry Lyme disease. 


Lyme disease progression has 3 stages with symptoms that vary: 

  • Stage 1: rash, headache, fever, sleepiness, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches. 

  • Stage 2: muscle weakness on sides of the face, neck pain, and painful swelling in tissues of the eye or eyelid.

  • Stage 3: Stage 3 symptoms usually begin 2 to 12 months after a tick bite. This stage is referred to as the late disseminated disease.


Several types of ticks:

  • Deer Tick (carries Lyme disease)

  • Western Black-Legged Tick (carries Lyme)

  • Ixodes Angustus Tick

  • The Lone Star Tick

  • American Dog Tick

  • Brown Dog Tick

  • Rocky Mountain Wood Tick


Knowing and understanding what causes Lyme disease is crucial. This will lead to an accurate diagnosis and a successful treatment. If you think you have Lyme disease, consider reaching out to a medical professional and working together to tackle your symptoms. 


References: Mayo Clinic




 Inspirational Stories

Living with Lyme disease might seem like a barrier. However, when knowing how to approach the condition the right way, Lyme disease becomes manageable. The following links lead to inspiring stories of individuals living with the disease and their personal experiences battling it:





 Management Tips

Prevention: 


Wear bug repellent. Buying a chemical spray to scare away ticks is one of the most important steps before going on a hike or hanging around bushy areas. 


Make sure to wear non-revealing clothes. Wearing full long sleeves, thick pants, protecting your head by choosing to wear a hood or a hat is crucial. Ticks are less likely to bite an individual when they have to get through thick fabric. 


Start prioritizing body checks. After finishing a hike, ask your friend or a family member to check for ticks. Make sure to properly go through the body, and don’t forget to check your hair!


Management: 


  • Typically, Lyme disease is managed through the use of antibiotics. To be specific, doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil are used to maintain a patient’s well-being. 

  • However, it is important to try your absolute best to prevent the disease. Extra steps and effort taken during prevention always pay off in the long run. 


References: CDC



 Tips for Caregivers

Know what you are talking about. Knowing what Lyme disease is key before making any suggestions regarding the illness. Please do your research. 


Remember that patience is key. Due to the fact that this illness affects reaction times and causes fatigue and brain fog, it is salient to take the time to understand. 


Do not forget about those struggling. In some cases, individuals with Lyme disease struggle to get out of bed and may stay in bed. It makes it easy for the caregiver to forget about them! Choosing simple activities such as board games and puzzles are solutions to cure boredom. Make sure to have a plan. 


Do not just talk about it, take action! As mentioned in the previous suggestion, try your best to engage the individual instead of dismissing activities because the patient is not feeling their best. One activity per day goes a long way for an individual’s overall well-being, 


Make joining support groups a priority. Sometimes, all we need is a small push to commit to an activity. Caregivers should encourage individuals with kidney stones to join social support groups to let them know they are not alone. In the next section of the article, social support groups are mentioned and details on them are given. Make sure to check to check them out!


References:  CARE + WEAR


 Social Support Groups

There are several online resources to help those struggling with Lyme disease. These websites bring warmth, communication, and a sense of community. Social support groups are backed up by research and often include medical advice. Reaching out is an effective part of recovery, so do not shy away from it! Make sure to take advantage of these resources and engage with them: 


This website offers several resources​ that encourage individuals to share their thoughts with others. Not only are there social support groups, this website also includes resources such as success stories. This aims to encourage others to stay active and engaged in their recovery process.  


On this website, Zoom Meetings are held five times a week. Everyone is welcome to join as often as they need to. This resource emphasizes the fact that Lyme disease is real and is an issue that often affects individuals of all ages. Make sure to check this website out!



 Resources

Educational Websites: 

This resource has a variety of contact examples for individuals who are looking for help. This website prioritizes spreading awareness on Lyme disease. 


Contact 


2. CDC

This website gives users easy access to any form of upload they need. Whether it is a poster or a brochure, this website has it all!


Contact 

Phone Number: 1-800-232-4636


 References

(n.d.). Generation Lyme. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.genlyme.org/

Educational Materials | Lyme Disease. (2024, May 15). CDC. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/communication-resources/index.html

Lyme Disease: Care Instructions. (n.d.). MyHealth Alberta. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=uf8384

Lyme disease - Symptoms and causes. (2023, February 10). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374651

Lyme Story #2 - Jonah Cummings, Living with Lyme. (2020, April 29). YouTube. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU0oQach2-M

Lyme Story #3 - Maddy Pinckney, "I wish I had known!" #GivingTuesday. (2020, May 4). YouTube. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nNRi3zTnhQ

My Lyme Story: Natasha Metcalf. (2023, August 16). Lyme Disease UK. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://lymediseaseuk.com/2023/08/16/my-lyme-story-natasha-metcalf/

My Lyme Story: Roland Maxted. (2023, August 12). Lyme Disease UK. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://lymediseaseuk.com/2023/08/12/my-lyme-story-roland-maxted/

Support Groups. (n.d.). Project Lyme. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://projectlyme.org/resource/support-groups/

Treatment and Intervention for Lyme Disease | Lyme Disease. (2024, August 16). CDC. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/treatment/index.html




 
 
 

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