Tick Boot Camp

Episode 541: Dr. Myriah Hinchey: Inside the LymeBytes Symposium 2025 – Fast-Tracking Healing for Lyme and Chronic Illness

Episode Summary

In this special Tick Boot Camp Podcast episode, Dr. Myriah Hinchey (ND) joins Matt Sabatello and Rich Johannesen from Tick Boot Camp to spotlight the 2025 LymeBytes Symposium, a physician- and patient-focused conference designed to shorten the healing journey for Lyme, mold illness, PANS/PANDAS, Long COVID, and other complex, infection-driven chronic conditions. We dig into why immersive learning accelerates progress, how an intimate format fuels direct access to top clinicians and vendors, and what attendees—both in-person and virtual—will actually experience over two packed days in Fort Lauderdale.

  • Exclusive Listener Offer: Use code TBC100 at checkout for $100 off in-person or virtual tickets at shop.lymebytes.com.

Why This Episode Matters

  • End the isolation: Dr. Hinchey explains how community, validation, and shared learning unlock momentum for both patients and clinicians.
  • Immersion = speed: Concentrated exposure to leading experts and technologies helps you discover the next best step faster.
  • Bridging the gap: Learn why precision care often requires a team—LLMDs, specialty labs, compounders, targeted supplements, and therapeutic devices—working together.

What You’ll Learn

  • Inside the LymeBytes philosophy: Healthy, gluten- and dairy-free meals, beach-side community dinner, structured networking, and vendor access that mirror the lifestyle principles used in treatment.
  • Adjunctive therapies on site: Demos and education around hyperbaric oxygen therapy (OxyHealth), infrared/red light, Relax Sauna, Therasage, plus niche supplement brands (e.g., Alight by Dr. Jill Crista, NutraMedix, Lymecore Botanicals) and specialty labs for Lyme, co-infections, and mold.
  • Precision testing & interpretation: Why test results (e.g., Western Blots, specialty panels) must be read in clinical context, and how collaboration between vendors and clinicians personalizes care.
  • PRP/TruDose spotlight: A primer on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and how TruDose aims to reset immune function and calm the nervous system using your own platelets—plus a teaser for a future deep-dive episode.
  • Virtual experience (no FOMO): Live access to all clinician lectures, slides, full-day recordings to rewatch/scrub, and new vendor mini-interviews so remote attendees don’t miss the expo value.

Who Should Attend the Symposium

  • Patients & caregivers seeking credible, actionable strategies to shorten recovery time
  • Clinicians (conventional, integrative, functional) looking to upgrade protocols for chronic infection and inflammation
  • Allies & advocates ready to learn the truth about Lyme and related conditions from top voices in the field
  • Anyone who wants direct access to vendors, labs, and tools that often stay off patients’ radars

Event Details (In-Person + Virtual)

  • Dates: November 14–15, 2025
  • Location: Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa (Florida)
  • Format: Limited-capacity, intimate event (≈180–200 attendees) fostering direct interaction with clinicians, researchers, and vendors
  • Perks: Healthy meals (GF/DF), Friday night beach dinner, curated vendor hall, 14.5 CME credits available in person (additional fee)
  • Virtual: Live stream + full-day recordings (Day 1 & Day 2), slide access, vendor mini-features
  • Register: shop.lymebytes.com
  • $100 Off: Use code TBC100 at checkout (in-person or virtual)

Notable Quotes

  • On immersion: “The more volume of opportunities in an immersive environment, the more your internal diagnostic system can sense what resonates—and that’s often your next right step.”
  • On community: “Patients and clinicians are often dismissed or isolated. This event builds real connections you can rely on after you go home.”
  • On precision: “Chronic cases are outliers—they need specialized testing, targeted supplements, and coordinated care to get unstuck.”

Call to Action

If travel isn’t possible, don’t wait—join virtually to access the same lectures, slides, and full-day recordings. And if you can make it to Florida, come say hi to Rich and the Tick Boot Camp crew in person.

👉 Register now: shop.lymebytes.com | Use code TBC100 for $100 off.

Episode 540: Dr. Bill Rawls on Chronic Lyme, Herbs, Gut Health, and Stepwise Recovery at Project Lab Coat, New York Fashion Week

Recorded in person in Central Park, NYC just before Project Lab Coat at New York Fashion Week (NYFW), this Tick Boot Camp Podcast features Dr. Bill Rawls on what helps chronic Lyme patients move from overwhelm to progress. We talk immune-first strategy, why antibiotics often fall short in chronic cases, how to protect the gut, and a stepwise plan that reduces flare risk and builds confidence.

Episode snapshot

Dr. Rawls explains why stealth microbes like Borrelia, Bartonella, and Babesia grow slowly and hide in tissues, which is why a quick-fix antibiotic approach often disappoints in chronic illness. We discuss a four-phase healing framework — prehabilitation, assist the immune system, rehabilitation, and maintenance (PARM) — and how a gradual, system-calming on-ramp helps patients tolerate protocols without crashing. We also dig into gut protection, community support, and how AI can speed education and research.

What you will learn

  • Why “assist the immune system” beats “kill at all costs” for chronic Lyme
  • Stealth microbe biology and why slow growth changes the treatment playbook
  • Antibiotic overuse risks including microbiome injury and antibiotic resistance
  • Gut and detox support as foundations for energy, sleep, and resilience
  • A stepwise entry to treatment that reduces flares and anxiety
  • Key herbs with evidence for tick-borne infections and immune modulation
  • Community and education as levers for consistency and long-term success
  • How AI tools can accelerate research, writing, and practical guidance

Key topics and takeaways

  • Four phases of recovery: prehab, assist, rehab, maintenance
  • Antibiotics in chronic Lyme: may disrupt the gut before meaningfully impacting slow-growing pathogens
  • Herbal strategy: sustained pressure over time with immune support
  • Gradual on-ramp: calm the nervous system first, then gut and detox, then stronger antimicrobials
  • Team sport: combine self-care, educated use of providers, and moderated community support

Herbs and supports mentioned

  • Antimicrobial herbs: Japanese knotweed, Chinese skullcap, Cryptolepis, cat’s claw, garlic
  • Immune-modulating adaptogens: reishi, cordyceps
  • Supportive nutrients: B vitamins, minerals, NAC, glutathione
  • Formats: capsules and tinctures were discussed, including products like Advanced Biotic and Biome Boost within larger protocols

Patient-friendly pacing

  • Months 1–2: calm sympathetic overdrive, improve sleep, stabilize
  • Months 3–4: protect gut, support detox, keep gentle antimicrobial pressure
  • Months 5–6: advance to stronger combinations when the body is ready
  • Ongoing: measure progress, maintain gain, prevent backsliding

Notable quotes

  • “The immune system always wins the game. Your job is to assist it.”
  • “Stealth microbes grow slowly and hide in tissues. The strategy has to match the biology.”
  • “Education and a supportive community reduce fear and make consistency possible.”

Resources and links

Episode 539: Geoff Dow on Babesiosis: Malaria Parallels, Tafenoquine (Arakoda), and New Clinical Trials for Chronic Tick-Borne Disease

Dr. Geoff Dow, CEO of 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals and former malaria drug developer at Walter Reed, joins the Tick Boot Camp Podcast to unpack the science and strategy behind treating babesiosis.

Drawing parallels to malaria, Dow explains why tafenoquine (brand: Arakoda), FDA-approved for malaria prevention, is being studied for Babesia, how coinfections (Borrelia, Bartonella) complicate care, and why chronic illness needs a different clinical approach.

He previews an upcoming Mount Sinai trial for chronic babesiosis focused on fatigue outcomes and discusses real-world diagnostics using FDA-approved blood donor screening plus PCRs from Galaxy Diagnostics and Mayo Clinic.

The conversation also touches on prophylaxis concepts, immune dysregulation, and building a clearer path from anecdote to evidence for the tick-borne disease community.

Guest

Geoff Dow, BSc, MBA, PhD CEO & Board Member, 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals Background: Biotechnology (Perth, Australia), PhD in malaria drug discovery, decade at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, MBA in the U.S. Leads clinical programs exploring tafenoquine for babesiosis.

Key Topics & Takeaways

  • Malaria ↔ Babesiosis Parallels: Both are red-blood-cell parasites; acute symptoms driven by red cell destruction. Similar drug targets justify testing some anti-malarials against Babesia.
  • Why Tafenoquine (Arakoda): An 8-aminoquinoline that induces oxidative stress in RBCs; distinct mechanism from atovaquone + azithromycin combo (current standard for acute babesiosis), potentially useful for resistance management.
  • Chronic vs. Acute Disease: Acute babesiosis in immunocompetent patients often responds to standard care; chronic illness remains under-defined and underserved.
  • Coinfections Are Common: Many chronically ill patients present with Borrelia, Bartonella, and Babesia together; diagnostics and treatment need to acknowledge polymicrobial reality.
  • Upcoming Clinical Trial (Mount Sinai):
  • Population: Chronic babesiosis with disabling fatigue, plus Babesia symptoms (e.g., air hunger, anemia) and lab evidence in the last 12 months.
  • Regimen: 4-day loading dose then 200 mg weekly of tafenoquine for 3 months.
  • Outcomes: Patient-reported fatigue (quality-of-life) + monthly molecular testing (FDA blood donor test, Galaxy Diagnostics PCR, Mayo Clinic PCR) during treatment and 3 months post-therapy.
  • Goals: Demonstrate symptom improvement, assess eradication signals, and validate accessible diagnostics against an FDA-accepted assay.
  • Prophylaxis & Post-Exposure Ideas: Animal data suggest short-course tafenoquine can eradicate early Babesia; human prophylaxis trials face feasibility and regulatory hurdles.
  • Diagnostics Gap: Need for standardized, sensitive tools to define chronic babesiosis and track response. This trial also serves as a real-world diagnostic comparison.
  • Immune Dysregulation & IACI: Overlap among long COVID, ME/CFS, post-treatment Lyme—shared theme of immune dysregulation with possible persistent antigen stimulation.
  • Safety Notes: G6PD deficiency is relevant to 8-aminoquinolines; established safety database exists for malaria prevention dosing—critical as studies expand to babesiosis.

Notable Quotes

  • “You’ve got to put some lines in the sand—run the trial, collect data, and move the field forward.”
  • “The best we can do for chronic disease starts with defining it—and validating the diagnostics we use to track it.”
  • “8-aminoquinolines offer a different mechanism than current babesiosis standards—key for resistance and combinations.”

Resources Mentioned

  • Arakoda (tafenoquine): FDA-approved for malaria prevention; under study for babesiosis.
  • Diagnostics: FDA-approved Babesia blood donor screen; Galaxy Diagnostics PCR; Mayo Clinic PCR.
  • Organizations & Events: ILADS, Global Lyme Alliance, tick-borne disease conferences.
  • Research Partners: Mount Sinai (NYC), Tulane University (Bartonella/Borrelia collaboration).

Who Should Listen

  • Patients with chronic Lyme or chronic babesiosis symptoms (fatigue, air hunger, anemia)
  • Clinicians seeking updates on Babesia treatment research and diagnostics
  • Caregivers and advocates tracking IACI and immune dysregulation science
  • Researchers exploring antimalarial repurposing for tick-borne diseases

Call to Action

  • Subscribe to Tick Boot Camp and share this episode with someone navigating chronic tick-borne illness.

Episode 538: NYFW Project Lab Coat - Col. Nicole Malachowski on Lyme IACI and the National Academies Report on Chronic Lyme Disease

In this special Tick Boot Camp Podcast episode recorded live at Project Lab Coat during New York Fashion Week (NYFW), we sit down with Colonel Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.).

Col. Malachowski, the first female pilot of the USAF Thunderbirds and a Lyme patient advocate, walked the runway with us at Project Lab Coat and served as the sole patient representative on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that authored the landmark report on Lyme infection-associated chronic illness (Lyme IACI).

She shares her perspective on why this recognition is a historic milestone for the Lyme community.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • Why the term Lyme IACI (infection-associated chronic illness) matters and how it creates an inclusive umbrella for persistent symptoms after Lyme infection.
  • How the National Academies report represents the first time the U.S. government has officially recognized Lyme IACI.
  • What it was like for Col. Malachowski to serve as the sole patient representative on the committee alongside scientists and clinicians.
  • Why the report calls for running treatment trials in parallel with biomarker discovery so patients are not left waiting.
  • How collaboration with long COVID and ME/CFS communities can accelerate solutions and strengthen advocacy.
  • The role of AI and machine learning in analyzing patient data, biobanks, and surveys to identify new diagnostics and repurposed therapies.
  • Why visibility at NYFW Project Lab Coat signals growing mainstream recognition of Lyme disease.

About Col. Nicole Malachowski

Col. Malachowski is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, the first woman selected to fly with the USAF Thunderbirds, and a National Women’s Hall of Fame inductee. After contracting a tick-borne illness and being medically retired, she became a nationally recognized speaker and advocate for Lyme patients. She served as the sole patient voice on the National Academies committee that authored the landmark report on Lyme IACI, commissioned with support from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation.

About Project Lab Coat at New York Fashion Week

Project Lab Coat was a groundbreaking event held on September 13, 2025, during New York Fashion Week (NYFW). The show brought together prominent celebrities, researchers, doctors, and advocates who were invited to walk the runway to spotlight Lyme disease and raise funds for Lyme disease research.

For the first time, the global visibility of NYFW was used to highlight one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the world. Tick Boot Camp co-founders Matt Sabatello and Rich Johannesen, together with Dr. Tal, walked the runway at Project Lab Coat, joining leaders from medicine, science, entertainment, and advocacy. Project Lab Coat demonstrated the power of mainstream platforms to bring awareness, credibility, and resources to the fight against Lyme disease.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal recognition matters – Lyme IACI in a National Academies report marks a turning point in credibility and urgency.
  • Patients at the center – clinical trials must include patients from design through reporting.
  • Collaboration is key – linking Lyme, long COVID, ME/CFS, and other infection-associated conditions strengthens progress.
  • Do both now – pursue biomarkers and cures while also running treatment studies to help patients immediately.
  • Technology accelerates hope – AI and machine learning can unlock insights from existing patient data.

Resources and Links

Episode 537: NYFW Project Lab Coat - MIT Immunologist Dr. Michal Caspi Tal on Chronic Lyme, Immune Responses, and Hope for Patients

In this special Tick Boot Camp Podcast episode recorded live at Project Lab Coat during New York Fashion Week (NYFW), we sit down with Dr. Michal “Mikki” Caspi Tal, Principal Scientist in the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT and Associate Scientific Director of the MIT Center for Gynepathology Research.

Dr. Tal is an immunologist and immunoengineer whose groundbreaking research focuses on the connections between infections and chronic diseases, including Lyme disease and long COVID. At her Tal Research Group lab, she studies why some people recover quickly after infection while others develop chronic illness, with a focus on the immune system’s different responses in men and women.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • How Dr. Tal’s lab uses mouse models of chronic Lyme and a large clinical study to take a deeper look at Lyme disease.
  • Why some patients make a protective immune response while others develop catastrophic responses like dysautonomia, MCAS, gynecological issues, or clotting disorders.
  • How her team is moving beyond “yes/no” antibody tests to create new biomarker diagnostics that can guide treatments.
  • Why sex differences matter in chronic illness and why women are more likely to experience long-term symptoms after infection.
  • How her research could lead to more personalized treatment approaches for Lyme disease patients by grouping individuals based on immune response patterns.
  • What samples (blood, saliva, sweat, tissue) her team is collecting at MIT to uncover new insights into chronic Lyme disease.
  • Why this research brings hope to Lyme patients who feel unseen and unheard.

About Dr. Michal Caspi Tal

  • Principal Scientist, MIT Department of Biological Engineering
  • Associate Scientific Director, MIT Center for Gynepathology Research
  • Focus areas: Lyme disease, long COVID, chronic inflammatory diseases, sex differences in immune response, predictive diagnostics
  • Background: PhD in Immunobiology from Yale (mentored by Dr. Akiko Iwasaki), postdoctoral training at Stanford (Irving Weissman lab), infectious disease research leader at Stanford’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.
  • Awards: NIH NIAID F31 and F32 Fellowships, Bay Area Lyme Foundation Emerging Leader Award

About Project Lab Coat at New York Fashion Week

Project Lab Coat was a groundbreaking event held on September 13, 2025, during New York Fashion Week (NYFW). The show brought together prominent celebrities, researchers, doctors, and advocates who were invited to walk the runway to spotlight Lyme disease and raise funds for Lyme disease research.

For the first time, the global visibility of NYFW was used to highlight one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the world. Tick Boot Camp co-founders Matt Sabatello and Rich Johannesen, together with Dr. Tal, walked the runway at Project Lab Coat, joining leaders from medicine, science, entertainment, and advocacy. Project Lab Coat demonstrated the power of mainstream platforms to bring awareness, credibility, and resources to the fight against Lyme disease.

Why This Episode Matters

For too long, chronic Lyme patients have been told their symptoms are “all in their head.” Dr. Tal’s work at MIT proves otherwise by measuring the real biological differences in immune system responses. This research not only validates patients’ experiences but also charts a course toward better diagnostics, clinical trials, and personalized treatments.

Episode 536: AI-Powered Breakthrough in Lyme Disease Diagnosis – with András Pal Bozsik

In this episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we sit down with András Pal Bozsik, co-founder of Lyme Diagnostics Ltd and coordinator of the EU-funded DualDur® project, to discuss a disruptive new diagnostic technology that promises earlier, more accurate detection of Lyme disease.

For decades, Lyme testing has relied on indirect serological methods that often miss early infection and fail chronic patients. András shares how his father’s pioneering work on Borrelia detection inspired the development of DualDur®, an AI-driven, direct detection system capable of finding Borrelia burgdorferi in blood samples at all stages of infection.

We cover:

  • Why current Lyme serology tests miss up to 60% of early infections
  • How the DualDur® cell technology medium stabilizes and concentrates Borrelia for accurate identification
  • The role of AI-powered automated microscopy in eliminating human error and improving sensitivity
  • Scientific evidence of Borrelia’s genetic variation and shape-shifting every 2–3 weeks — explaining chronic infection and recurring IgM immune responses
  • How DualDur testing can monitor treatment efficacy and guide Lyme-literate practitioners
  • The debate over sexual transmission of Lyme and mother-to-child transmission risks
  • Insights from clinical trials with 400 patients across Europe proving DualDur’s higher accuracy compared to standard methods
  • The importance of combination antibiotic therapy, including overlooked options like ciprofloxacin, and why single antibiotics are rarely effective
  • Plans to expand DualDur testing across Europe and eventually into the United States with FDA trials

This groundbreaking conversation bridges science, technology, and patient care. It gives hope to millions of Lyme patients seeking a reliable test and effective treatment strategies.

🎧 Listen now to learn how DualDur could transform Lyme disease diagnostics and bring long-overdue answers to patients worldwide.

Episode 535: 100 Doctors Later - Ciara Gaglio’s Fight Against Chronic Lyme Disease

In this powerful episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we sit down with Ciara Gaglio, a 37-year-old from Woodside, Queens, New York, whose life was completely transformed by Lyme disease. Once a vibrant, social, and creative digital media professional, Ciara’s health began to unravel in her late 20s. What followed was nearly a decade of relentless symptoms, countless misdiagnoses, and visits to over 100 doctors before finally receiving a Lyme disease diagnosis at age 36.

Ciara opens up about her devastating symptoms, including unrelenting fatigue, neurological issues, full-body pain, kidney distress, and the emotional toll of isolation. She shares her treatment journey—beginning with antibiotics like doxycycline and Rocephin through a PICC line, and later expanding to supportive therapies like herbs, probiotics, yoga, ozone therapy, and more.

This candid conversation sheds light on the financial, emotional, and social impact of chronic Lyme disease, as well as the resilience required to keep advocating for yourself in a medical system that too often dismisses patients.

Listen to Ciara’s journey of courage, humor, and persistence in the face of chronic Lyme disease. Her message is clear: be kind to yourself, advocate fiercely, and never give up.

Episode 534: Lyme Disease in Canada - an interview with Janet Sperling, President of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation (CanLyme)

In this episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we sit down with Janet Sperling, PhD, President of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation (CanLyme) and an accomplished entomologist whose research focuses on the bacterial microbiome of ticks across Canada. Janet’s journey with Lyme disease began when her teenage son was bitten by a tick during a family trip to California. His symptoms, starting with sinusitis and progressing to more severe illness, led to a long and frustrating medical journey involving multiple doctors, misdiagnoses, and eventually a clinical Lyme diagnosis supported by IGeneX testing.

Janet shares her personal experience as a mother navigating the complexities of Lyme disease, as well as her professional expertise studying common tick species in Canada.

Her research investigates the bacterial communities within these ticks, the role of bird migration in tick population spread, and the limitations of current microbiome analysis techniques.

Key Discussion Points:

  • Janet’s son’s Lyme disease story and the challenges of getting a diagnosis
  • Differences in tick species and their bacterial microbiomes
  • How environmental factors like bird migration contribute to the spread of tick-borne diseases
  • The importance of prevention and early intervention in tick bite cases
  • Why understanding tick biology is essential for public health policy in Canada
  • How CanLyme is advancing Lyme disease research

Lyme Disease Prevention Tips from Janet Sperling:

  • Avoid tick bites by using protective clothing and repellents
  • Perform thorough tick checks after outdoor activities
  • Identify the tick species and feeding stage if bitten
  • Consider tick testing when appropriate

Whether you’re a Lyme patient, caregiver, or simply interested in the science behind ticks, this episode offers a unique blend of personal narrative and cutting-edge entomology research.

Episode 533: From Wheelchair to Warrior: A Lyme Disease Comeback Story | Renee Marsden

In this powerful episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, dancer, actress, model, and Lyme warrior Renee LeeAnn Marsden shares her extraordinary journey of surviving late-stage Lyme disease, multiple co-infections, and autoimmune encephalitis. Once bedridden, disassociating, and in a wheelchair, Renee fought her way back through a combination of stem cells, peptides, neurofeedback, and faith — and now she’s thriving as a mother and advocate.

From being misdiagnosed with MS and Parkinson’s to discovering mold illness, from devastating Herxheimer reactions to life-changing treatments at Amen Clinics, Renee’s story is a beacon of hope for anyone battling chronic Lyme or feeling hopeless in their healing journey.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • Renee’s Lyme origin story – how years of tick bites, concussions, and a mission trip to South Africa triggered a health collapse.
  • The neurological storm – how Lyme, autoimmune encephalitis, and brain inflammation caused terrifying disassociation, hallucinations, and hospitalizations.
  • Treatment milestones – including IV therapies, ozone, stem cells (Infusio, umbilical cord stem cells), peptides, and PK Protocol.
  • The Amen Clinics breakthrough – the brain scans, diagnoses, and therapies (SPM Active, neurofeedback, hyperbaric oxygen) that changed everything.
  • The hidden enemy of mold – how mold exposure stalled Renee’s recovery until she identified and removed it.
  • The power of mindset & faith – how saying “yes to life” even in crisis helped Renee keep pushing forward, from competing in Miss Tennessee in a wheelchair to inspiring others online.
  • Motherhood after Lyme – how Renee navigated pregnancy and new motherhood after years of chronic illness.

📌 Why You Should Listen: Renee’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, faith, and integrative healing. Whether you’re battling Lyme disease, caring for someone who is, or looking for hope when treatments fail, this episode delivers insights on:

  • Why prehab (building your body up) is critical before aggressive killing protocols.
  • How trauma, concussions, and infections combine to impact the brain.
  • Why you should never let Lyme become your identity.

🎙 About Renee: Renee LeeAnn Marsden – Actress, dancer, Lyme warrior, and founder of Bright Life Co., a faith-based wellness community for women.

✨ Key Quote from Renee: “You can’t wait until you feel better to live — you have to start saying yes to life where you are.”

Episode 532: Revival - My Journey with Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease, an interview with Kaitlyn Oleinik

Kaitlyn Oleinik is a chronic illness advocate and the author of Revival: My Journey with Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease. She was bitten by a tick at age six and spent much of her life fighting an invisible illness while being dismissed by the medical system. Diagnosed with Lyme disease and co-infections in her teens, Kaitlyn has endured everything from hallucinations and involuntary psych holds to IVIG and stem cell treatments. Her book and voice give a name to the unspoken pain of countless others living with Lyme.

📘 About the Book

Revival - My Journey with Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease is Kaitlyn’s searing memoir that chronicles her descent into neuropsychiatric Lyme, including psychosis, hospitalizations, Morgellons disease, immune collapse, and ultimately, healing and redemption. It’s a must-read for patients, caregivers, and practitioners seeking to understand the lived experience of chronic Lyme.

🔑 Episode Highlights:

  • Kaitlyn’s suspected tick bite at age 6 and onset of strange symptoms by age 10
  • Dismissed by dozens of doctors who claimed she was “too pretty to be sick”
  • The psychological toll of not being believed—and being told it was all in her head
  • Her first psychotic break, caused by inflammation and medication interactions
  • Misdiagnoses including delusional parasitosis and bipolar disorder
  • Treatments: IVIG, antibiotics, glutathione, intranasal stem cells, exosomes
  • 5150 hold and the trauma of being institutionalized without understanding
  • How residential treatment helped her begin to recover mentally and emotionally
  • Rebuilding her identity after gaining 100+ lbs from steroids and losing her hair
  • How she lost everything—then reclaimed her voice, purpose, and health
  • Writing Revival - My Journey with Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease as an act of truth-telling and healing

💬 Powerful Quotes:

  • “The trauma wasn’t just from Lyme—it was from not being believed.”
  • “They said it was all in my head. But it was in my blood, my brain, my cells.”
  • “Revival means coming back from the dead. That’s what this journey felt like.”

🧪 Medical Takeaways:

  • Lyme disease can manifest as psychiatric illness.
  • “Delusional parasitosis” and “antibiomania” are misunderstood and under-researched.
  • Proper treatment can be delayed for years by misdiagnosis and stigma.
  • Complex chronic illness often requires multi-systemic treatment and trauma-informed care.

🙌 Why You Should Listen:

Kaitlyn’s story is not just about Lyme - it’s about what happens when we stop believing women, ignore invisible illnesses, and turn away from complex suffering. Her story is a rallying cry for validation, medical reform, and hope.

The goal of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast is to help people liberate themselves and others from suffering caused by Lyme disease through validation, community building, belief that healing is possible, and modeling success. Listen to our Tick Boot Camp podcast using all major podcast streaming services such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Our podcast is also integrated with smart home devices, such as Amazon Alexa and Apple TV. Ask your device to "play the Tick Boot Camp Podcast!"