Conquering Your Fibromyalgia Podcast Ep.61 Lyme disease. Part 1. Medical training, history of Lyme disease, and Acute Lyme.
Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions
In this episode, I interview Dr. Zac Telfer to discuss medical training, the history of Lyme disease, and how and who discovered it. We then discuss acute Lyme disease.
Lyme disease, in many aspects, is very straightforward, but in others, it can be confusing and even controversial. Living in Wisconsin, I have seen many with acute Lyme disease and helped them get better. However, there is a chronic Lyme disease and a separate post-Lyme treatment disorder, shrouded in a cloud of mystery and confusion. These include diagnosis, testing, and treatments. Many of the symptoms overlap with fibromyalgia. Research is ongoing, and many who have been diagnosed have been through ongoing struggles. Many have felt abandoned by traditional medical providers. In that vacuum, alternative medicine has attempted to find meaningful answers and solutions. We will unpack these using an evidence-based medical approach to offer helpful and meaningful insights.
The topic of Lyme disease is relevant to fibromyalgia because many people have been diagnosed with Chronic Lyme disease or post-Lyme treatment syndrome. Many have been diagnosed through methods not approved by the FDA or CDC. Their symptoms overlap with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. That begs the question, are these the same entities? We will discuss this in more detail in subsequent episodes. I hope you have enjoyed the podcast. If you think you have Lyme disease, make sure you discuss this with your doctor.
Dr. Lenz is an internist, pediatrician, lifestyle medicine physician, and clinical lipidologist interested in helping those with fibromyalgia and related problems go beyond just learning to live with it and even reverse fibromyalgia. He is also the author of the book "Conquering Your Fibromyalgia: Real Answers and Real
Fibromyalgia 101. A list of fibromyalgia podcast episodes that are great if you are new and don't know where to start.
When I started this podcast—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. You’re not alone. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 28+ years as an MD.
Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace personal medical advice.*