Episode 607: Lyme Disease, Medical Gaslighting & Finding Hope – Anne Desjardins | LIVE from ILADS

For seven years, Anne Desjardins struggled with unexplained symptoms, medical dismissal, depression, and thoughts of suicide before finally receiving a Lyme disease diagnosis. Today, she's helping others find the hope she once desperately needed.

In this LIVE from ILADS interview, Tick Boot Camp co-host Rich sits down with Anne Desjardins, a Pennsylvania Lyme disease advocate, Ayurvedic practitioner, support group leader, and host of The Silver Lyming podcast.

Recorded at the 2025 International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Conference in San Antonio, Texas, their conversation explores delayed Lyme disease diagnosis, neurological symptoms, medical gaslighting, mental health, integrative healing, financial hardship, and the power of sharing patient recovery stories.

Anne opens up about losing her independence, struggling to remember people's names, and reaching a point where she no longer wanted to live. She also shares how her diagnosis, treatment, lifestyle changes, and supportive community helped her rebuild her life and discover a new purpose.

Her story is a reminder that a difficult chapter doesn't have to be the final chapter—and that hearing someone else's recovery story can help make hope feel possible again.

Seven Years of Symptoms Before a Lyme Disease Diagnosis

Anne believes she contracted Lyme disease in Pennsylvania, one of the states most heavily affected by tick-borne illness.

She began noticing symptoms around age 30, but her initial attempts to find medical answers were unsuccessful.

Healthcare professionals repeatedly attributed her symptoms to stress, depression, or being overly emotional.

Anne remembers trying to explain that she was becoming depressed because she felt physically ill every day—not the other way around.

Over time, her symptoms became increasingly disruptive:

• Hearing loss in her left ear
• Heart palpitations and episodes of fluttering
• Severe dizziness, particularly when turning her head
• Memory loss, confusion, and difficulty concentrating
• Speech problems, including stuttering
• Overwhelming fatigue and reduced ability to perform daily activities
• Depression, social withdrawal, and suicidal thoughts

She eventually became concerned that she might have a brain tumor.

After years of unsuccessful medical appointments, a physician finally suspected Lyme disease and ordered testing.

When the result came back positive, Anne felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

She finally had a diagnosis that could help guide her next steps.

Medical Gaslighting, Depression, and the Mental Health Impact of Chronic Illness

Anne describes how repeated dismissal affected her confidence, relationships, and emotional well-being.

When doctors told her nothing was wrong, she began questioning herself.

She became embarrassed by her cognitive symptoms and increasingly avoided social situations.

At one event, she introduced herself to the same person twice within minutes because she couldn't remember their first interaction.

Daily activities such as showering, doing laundry, cleaning, or visiting friends became difficult.

Anne also discusses using alcohol to cope with years of physical and emotional suffering.

Eventually, she experienced suicidal thoughts and wondered whether she would ever regain her life.

Rich asks whether those thoughts were driven by the illness itself, the prolonged diagnostic journey, or the hopelessness that developed along the way.

Anne believes multiple factors contributed. She describes feeling disconnected from herself and eventually learning to recognize that distressing thoughts did not define her identity.

Her experience highlights why mental health support and compassionate medical care are important for people living with disabling chronic symptoms.

If you're struggling with thoughts of suicide, you deserve immediate support. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

For additional conversations about the psychological impact of Lyme disease, explore Tick Boot Camp's mental health and Lyme disease interview with therapist Christina Kantzavelos.

Lyme Disease Treatment and Anne's Personal Healing Journey

After receiving her diagnosis, Anne began antibiotic treatment through her family physician.

She initially experienced significant improvement, describing the experience as finally feeling human again.

However, some neurological and cognitive symptoms returned during treatment.

She received additional antibiotics and eventually began working with a clinician experienced in treating Lyme disease.

Anne describes approximately two and a half additional years of antibiotic treatment, alongside herbal supplements and other supportive approaches.

One influential resource was Unlocking Lyme by Dr. Bill Rawls, MD.

Unable to comfortably read at the time because of her cognitive symptoms, Anne listened to the audiobook and found encouragement in Dr. Rawls' recovery story.

She gradually incorporated additional changes into her daily routine, including:

• Dietary adjustments and avoiding foods she personally felt worsened her symptoms
• Eliminating alcohol and caffeine
• Herbal approaches discussed with her healthcare provider
• Hot yoga and regular movement
• Mindfulness, spirituality, and self-reflection
• Exploring Ayurveda and holistic wellness practices

Anne credits these combined changes with helping her regain function and improve her quality of life.

She emphasizes that her transformation happened gradually over several years.

Her experiences reflect an individualized recovery journey rather than a treatment protocol proven to work for everyone. In particular, hot yoga, restrictive diets, and herbal products have not been established as cures for Lyme disease, and prolonged heat exposure can pose risks for some patients.

Discovering Ayurveda and a New Perspective on Health

As Anne's health improved, she became increasingly interested in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine originating in India.

She was drawn to its emphasis on daily routines, seasonal changes, nutrition, and the relationship between physical and emotional well-being.

Anne eventually pursued formal education to become an Ayurvedic practitioner.

She describes this experience as part of a broader personal transformation.

Rather than viewing recovery solely as the absence of symptoms, she began exploring how her experience had changed her priorities, relationships, and understanding of herself.

Anne acknowledges that she would never have chosen the suffering she experienced, but she now values the perspective and sense of purpose that emerged from it.

Turning Pain Into Purpose Through Pennsylvania Lyme Advocacy

As Anne regained her health, she became determined to help others avoid the isolation and confusion she had experienced.

She began leading a support group through the PA Lyme Resource Network, a volunteer-driven nonprofit focused on tick-borne disease education, prevention, patient support, and advocacy.

Anne is associated with the organization's Berks County region and has participated in community outreach and prevention education.

She also discusses becoming involved in Pennsylvania's public education efforts connected to Act 83, the state's Lyme and Related Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance, Education, Prevention and Treatment Act.

Her advocacy focuses on helping people recognize potential tick-borne disease symptoms, understand prevention strategies, and find supportive resources.

The Financial Burden of Lyme Disease

Anne speaks candidly about the financial challenges many patients face.

Her own treatment journey was expensive, and she describes hearing from people who struggle to afford testing, appointments, treatment, housing, or basic necessities.

She also raises concerns about insurance coverage and access to knowledgeable healthcare professionals.

Rich and Anne agree that patients should not have to face financial devastation while searching for answers.

For Pennsylvania residents seeking community support or practitioner referrals, the PA Lyme Resource Network's patient resources provide a starting point.

The Silver Lyming: A Podcast Dedicated to Hope and Healing

Anne eventually transformed her advocacy into a podcast called The Silver Lyming.

The title reflects her belief that meaningful growth, connection, and purpose can sometimes emerge from extremely difficult experiences.

At the time of this interview, Anne had recently released her 75th episode.

Her podcast features people who share their experiences with Lyme disease, tick-borne infections, chronic illness, and recovery.

Rather than focusing exclusively on symptoms and suffering, Anne seeks out stories that demonstrate different paths toward improved health and renewed purpose.

She believes hearing from people who have made progress can help listeners feel less isolated and more hopeful about their own futures.

Anne also discovered that podcasting benefits the guests themselves.

Several have told her that sharing their experiences publicly helped them process what they had endured.

For Anne, the podcast has become a place where people can speak openly, feel heard, and connect with others who understand.

Listen to The Silver Lyming with Anne Desjardins on Apple Podcasts.

Why Positive Lyme Disease Communities Matter

Rich and Anne discuss the importance of finding supportive spaces during chronic illness.

Both recognize that patients need opportunities to express frustration, grief, anger, and disappointment.

However, Anne explains that when she was seriously ill, she actively searched for stories of people who had improved.

She found those stories encouraging at a time when her future felt uncertain.

Rich emphasizes the value of multiple patient-led podcasts and advocacy platforms.

Different hosts bring different perspectives, ask different questions, and connect with different audiences.

He explains that Tick Boot Camp wants people to discover whatever resources best meet their needs, even when those resources come from another podcast.

Their conversation reinforces an important principle: Community should make people feel seen, supported, and empowered—not pressured to follow someone else's healing journey.

Being surrounded by illness-related discussions does not cause someone to remain sick, but choosing supportive communities can improve emotional well-being.

Finding Purpose After Chronic Illness

Near the end of the interview, Anne and Rich reflect on the relationship between suffering, identity, and purpose.

Anne explains that Lyme disease changed nearly every aspect of her life.

She lost years to debilitating symptoms, but she also developed new relationships, pursued education, became an advocate, and created a platform to support others.

One of her favorite questions to ask podcast guests is what positive change, if any, emerged from their experience with Lyme disease.

The answers vary.

Some people would never choose to experience the illness again. Others recognize meaningful personal growth alongside the suffering.

Anne believes both perspectives deserve space.

Her story demonstrates that finding purpose after illness does not require being grateful for the illness itself.

People can acknowledge profound losses while still discovering new possibilities for their future.

Key Takeaways

• Delayed Lyme disease diagnosis can have far-reaching consequences. Anne experienced years of neurological, cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms before receiving answers.
• Medical dismissal can deepen isolation. Being told symptoms are caused by stress or depression may leave patients feeling unheard.
• Mental health deserves attention. Anne openly discusses suicidal thoughts, depression, and the emotional toll of prolonged illness.
• Recovery experiences vary. Her journey involved medical treatment, lifestyle changes, integrative practices, and community support.
• Financial barriers remain a major concern. Testing, treatment, and lost income can create serious hardship for patients and families.
• Patient advocacy creates connection. Anne's work with PA Lyme Resource Network helps people access education and support.
• Stories of improvement can inspire hope. Through The Silver Lyming, Anne helps others see that progress and meaningful life changes are possible.

About This LIVE from ILADS Interview

Recorded at the 2025 International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society Conference in San Antonio, Texas, this conversation introduces Anne Desjardins to the Tick Boot Camp community.

Rich and Anne discuss her seven-year diagnostic journey, Lyme disease treatment experiences, mental health struggles, Pennsylvania advocacy work, and the creation of The Silver Lyming podcast.

They also discuss collaborating on future long-form interviews to explore Anne's healing journey in greater depth.

Discover more patient, physician, researcher, and advocate conversations through Tick Boot Camp's LIVE from ILADS podcast series.