LymeSci Blog

Lonnie Marcum

is a Physical Therapist, with a dual degree in health administration and physical therapy. She has a passion for helping people heal from illness and injury by treating the whole body. She became active in the Lyme community after her daughter was diagnosed with tick-borne diseases in 2013. She now devotes much time to learning about Lyme and related conditions, and sharing that knowledge via social media. Her blog, LymeSci, seeks to help patients understand the science of tick-borne diseases and new developments in research.

LYME SCI: Early diagnosis necessitates Lyme-savvy doctors

AUG

2019

The following are my written comments to the ninth meeting of the Tick-borne Disease Working Group (TBDWG) on June 4, 2019. Dear Members of the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group: My name is Lonnie Marcum. I am a physical therapist in California. Seven years ago, I had to quit work... Read More »

LYME SCI: Ticks are worldwide. We all need to learn more about them.

JUL

2019

A 17-year-old dies of Lyme carditis, a toddler falls into a coma after a tick bite, another mother recalls “He loved to dance,” after losing her one-year-old to Lyme disease. Clearly, ticks and their diseases are things we all need to learn more about, to protect ourselves and... Read More »

LYME SCI: Found a tick on your dog? What you need to know.

JUN

2019

how to protect your dog from tick diseases

As much as we love our furry friends, we all have to face one fact—owning a pet increases our exposure to tick bites. Mostly because our pets roam outside, then allow ticks to hitchhike back inside where we live. One recent study demonstrated that when compared to households... Read More »

LYME SCI: Seeking better treatments for persistent Lyme disease

APR

2019

A new study in mice sheds more light on the question of Lyme disease symptoms that persist after a “standard” course of antibiotic treatment. These findings from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) may lead to more effective treatment for human patients with persistent Lyme disease... Read More »

LYME SCI: Nerve damage shown in patients with chronic Lyme symptoms

MAR

2019

Many Lyme disease patients report severe chronic pain, numbness and tingling, even after they have supposedly “completed” treatment for Lyme disease. But up until recently, there hasn’t been an objective way to measure those symptoms. You had to report them to the... Read More »

LYME SCI: When brain inflammation persists after Lyme disease treatment

FEB

2019

In a new study, researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have found evidence of chemical changes and widespread inflammation in the brains of patients with chronic symptoms following treatment for Lyme disease. This Johns Hopkins (JH) study, published in Journal of... Read More »

LYME SCI: Are hidden ingredients in pills making you sicker?

JAN

2019

Allergies to hidden ingredients in pills, and mast cell activation syndrome

Two years ago, we discovered that my daughter was allergic to microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)–one of the most common fillers in medications and supplements. Just two months prior to that discovery, she was diagnosed with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). This followed... Read More »

LYME SCI: Lyme? Mold toxicity? Other chronic ills? Read this book.

NOV

2018

Toxic: Health Your Body from Mold Toxicity and Lyme Disease

Dr. Neil Nathan’s new book, “TOXIC: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness,” is a must read for anyone wanting to unlock the mysteries of complex chronic illnesses. When Dr. Nathan started treating... Read More »

LYME SCI: Paving the way for better Lyme diagnostic tests

OCT

2018

For decades, one of the biggest barriers to good medical care for Lyme disease has been a dearth of effective and accurate Lyme diagnostic tests. Through the years, the CDC has continued to recommend an inadequate test that was designed in the 1980s. All along, the CDC, the IDSA,... Read More »