276: Lyme Disease: How Doctors Get It Wrong with Nicole Bell

In this episode, Dr. Jill and Lyme expert Nicole Bell delve into the intricate world of tick-borne illnesses and their impact on neurological conditions. Our guest shares personal experiences and insights into the challenges of diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the importance of understanding root causes and the role of pathogens.

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🔑 KEY DISCUSSIONS:
① Understanding Tick-Borne Illnesses:
👉  The episode begins with a discussion on the prevalence of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, Babesia, and Bartonella. These conditions often present with mood disorders, psychiatric diagnoses, and cognitive decline.

② Diagnostic Challenges:
👉 The complexities of diagnostic testing for tick-borne diseases are explored. Traditional tests often lack sensitivity, making accurate diagnosis difficult.

③ Root Cause Medicine:
👉 The conversation emphasizes the importance of identifying root causes of neurological conditions, such as pathogens, metabolic issues, and other factors, rather than just labeling diseases.

④ Personal Journey and Insights:
👉  The guest shares a personal journey dealing with a loved one's battle with a tick-borne illness, highlighting the emotional and physical toll it takes on families.

⑤ Innovative Approaches to Treatment:
👉 Discussion on the use of integrative and naturopathic medicine, including herbal therapies, as alternatives to traditional antibiotic treatments.

⑥ Mission to Improve Care:
👉 The episode concludes with a call to action for improving the standard of care and making advanced diagnostic technologies widely available.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
📌 Tick-borne illnesses can significantly impact mental health and cognitive function.
📌 Accurate diagnosis is crucial but challenging due to the stealth nature of these pathogens.
📌 Understanding and addressing root causes can lead to better treatment outcomes.
📌 Personal stories highlight the need for compassion and innovation in healthcare.
📌 There is a strong push towards improving diagnostic standards and treatment accessibility.

👨‍⚕️ Nicole Bell
Nicole Bell is an author, entrepreneur, and advocate for tick-borne and neurodegenerative diseases. Her memoir, What Lurks in the Woods, details her husband's harrowing experience with misdiagnosed tick-borne illness and seeks to help others navigate chronic conditions. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Nicole earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and a Master’s of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. Nicole is currently the CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics, where she combines her professional experience with her passion to change the tick-borne disease landscape. Galaxy’s mission is to create a new diagnostic standard of care for tick-borne diseases and save millions of people from descending into chronic illness.

🔗 What Lurks in the Woods: https://a.co/d/hB2X4mf  (the journey of Nicole's family with tick-borne illness)
🔗 Testing for Tick Borne Diseases - Galaxy Diagnostics: https://www.galaxydx.com/  
🔗 https://www.instagram.com/galaxydiagnostics/ 
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/galaxydx/ 
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/galaxy-diagnostics-inc-/