Lyme Disease: An “Invisible Illness” Finally Getting National Attention
Do you struggle with fatigue, joint or muscle pain, brain fog, poor sleep, mood changes, palpitations, or a bull’s-eye rash?
These symptoms are increasingly common among patients with Lyme disease, and I’m seeing more cases than ever in clinical practice.
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium transmitted primarily by deer ticks. While many patients improve with standard antibiotic therapy, a significant subset continues to experience persistent, life-altering symptoms that are still not fully understood.
On December 15, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. convened a federal roundtable of patients, clinicians, and researchers focused on Lyme disease. He described Lyme as an “invisible illness” and acknowledged that many patients have felt dismissed, unheard, or misdirected—sometimes even referred for psychiatric care rather than further medical evaluation.
Highlights from the discussion included:
The urgent need for better and earlier diagnostic tools
Research into blood markers and neuroimaging for persistent symptoms
Development of rapid point-of-care Lyme tests
An announced NIH Lyme disease research framework planned for 2026
Regardless of politics, it is encouraging to see long-overdue attention being paid to a disease that has affected millions of Americans. Too many patients are still searching for answers—and relief.
If you’re concerned about possible Lyme disease or ongoing symptoms after treatment, I’m happy to talk through your situation.
👉 Schedule a free phone meet-and-greet here:
https://calendly.com/drlarry-hearthstonefamilycare/meet-and-greet
#LymeDisease #HearthstoneFamilyCare #DPC #DrLarryMiller #DirectPrimaryCare #WarringtonDPC