A growing epidemic and known as the great masquerader — Lyme produces a wide range of symptoms that resemble other conditions, which is why it is so frequently misdiagnosed.
Fatigue, joint pain, cognitive fog, mood changes, and neurological symptoms can all trace back to Lyme, and all have more common explanations that get considered first.
Standard antibody testing carries real limitations, particularly in longstanding cases. A negative result is often treated as a closed question when it should not be.
Dr. Kellman evaluates Lyme in the context of the whole system — immune function, inflammation, microbiome status, and co-infections that frequently travel alongside it.
Treatment is layered: addressing the infection and co-infections, calming the inflammatory response it provokes, and restoring the immune and microbiome function needed for the body to hold ground long term.
Standard serology can miss longstanding infection. Dr. Kellman weighs history, exposure, symptom pattern, and additional testing rather than treating a single negative result as definitive.
Ticks transmit more than Borrelia. Babesia, Bartonella, and others frequently accompany Lyme and each require their own consideration. Treating Lyme alone while a co-infection persists is a common reason patients plateau.