The Gold Standard in Lyme Disease Testing

Interview Series: Jennifer Crystal, Author, Educator, and Writing Coach

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] 0:00-12:11      Introduction and the importance of patients being listened to and believed 12:11-20:17    Jennifer reads a passage from One Tick Stopped the Clock 21:30-24:09    How to find a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) 24:11-33:39    Family dynamics and chronic illness 33:40-40:31    Friendship and writing to heal 40:32-46:04    How illness impacts identity 46:05-48:30    Wrap-up Jennifer’s Website: www.jennifercrystal.com [http://www.jennifercrystal.com] Jennifer’s New Substack, Writing Your Life:  https://jennifercrystalwriter.substack.com/ [https://jennifercrystalwriter.substack.com/] Follow Jennifer on Substack: https://substack.com/@jennifercrystalwritingyourlife [https://substack.com/@jennifercrystalwritingyourlife] Purchase One Tick Stopped the Clock here: https://amzn.to/4w3Z68L [https://amzn.to/4w3Z68L] About Jennifer’s Other Published Works: https://www.jennifercrystal.com/publishedworks [https://www.jennifercrystal.com/publishedworks] Global Lyme Alliance Patient Support Provider Search Directory:   https://www.globallymealliance.org/lymedoc [https://www.globallymealliance.org/lymedoc] Health Story Collaborative, Writing for Expression and Connection Meetups: https://www.healthstorycollaborative.org/writing-info [https://www.healthstorycollaborative.org/writing-info] International Lyme and Associated Disease Society Provider Search: https://www.ilads.org/patient-care/provider-search/ [https://www.ilads.org/patient-care/provider-search/] Jennifer’s upcoming Writing to Heal classes at Grub Street Creative Writing Center: · The next Writing to Heal Workshop [https://substack.com/redirect/70201d9c-020c-4bd0-a667-8cf4aa64d61f?j=eyJ1IjoiaGVhbXgifQ.z1w-3NaGt6HzSOWQciwGxJ-4rMAQfBsmGEIdJJYtBXM] runs for six weeks starting Thursday, June 11th from 6:00-9:00PM ET. The class is currently full, but feel free to add your name to the waitlist, as spots do sometimes open up. · Looking to learn about the Writing to Heal Immersive Program? Join Jen for a remote Open House [https://substack.com/redirect/fa22cc88-662d-4e20-837f-2a3cccd0c934?j=eyJ1IjoiaGVhbXgifQ.z1w-3NaGt6HzSOWQciwGxJ-4rMAQfBsmGEIdJJYtBXM] on Thursday, May 21st at 6:30PM ET. · Ready to apply for the 2026-27 program? Applications [https://substack.com/redirect/81319037-8009-4fd2-bd9e-1e83a62960b9?j=eyJ1IjoiaGVhbXgifQ.z1w-3NaGt6HzSOWQciwGxJ-4rMAQfBsmGEIdJJYtBXM] are now open! They are due by June 30th.   Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I am a Champion! A WomenHeart Champion!

“It’s really a testament to who you are as a person, who you are as a community member, and who you are as somebody who wants to help others. I mean, that is truly, I would say, the hallmark of what it is to be a WomenHeart Champion, and now you are all part of this sisterhood, so congratulations to you.” -Celina Gorre, CEO of WomenHeart, thanking the graduates of the 2026 Virtual Science & Leadership Symposium for sharing our stories Throughout most of the month of April, I participated in the WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium. Now, as a proud graduate of their 2026 Virtual Class and a newly-minted WomenHeart Champion, I want to take you behind the scenes of my experience. Here are some of the highlights of what I’ve learned so far about being a Champion for other women living with or at risk of heart disease, as well as how I can make an impact for you and your community..... This week’s questions: How can I help you raise awareness about heart disease in women in your community or workplace? What support can WomenHeart provide for you? Let me know! Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/how-it-feels-for-someone-else-to?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/how-it-feels-for-someone-else-to?r=heamx] Links/References: https://womenheart.org/ [https://womenheart.org/] WomenHeart Support Network Map [https://www.womenheart.org/support-network-map/] join the SisterMatch program [https://www.womenheart.org/sistermatch/] become a WomenHeart Champion [https://www.womenheart.org/about-us/become-a-womenheart-champion/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Gold Standard in Lyme Disease Testing

The Gold Standard in Lyme Disease Testing Issue #38 of “What’s Her Problem?”: When finances drive our medical decision-making, patients may miss out on receiving the best possible care. May is Lyme Awareness Month! There’s good news and there’s bad news. I usually give people the bad news first, but with you, I’m going to start with the good news, which is that 90% of this test has come back negative. The bad news is that you did test positive for long-term Lyme. My Functional Medicine physician [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/interview-series-dr-wendie-trubow?r=heamx] spoke those words to me in October 2022 during a telehealth appointment. Recognizing the pivotal nature of what she said, I documented the precise way she said it.... This week’s questions: Have you ever said no to a test that might have been diagnostically helpful due to the cost? Or been given a test that is known to be less accurate than another option? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/interview-series-dr-wendie-trubow?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/interview-series-dr-wendie-trubow?r=heamx] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/what-if-there-had-been-another-treatment?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/what-if-there-had-been-another-treatment?r=heamx] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/my-heart-disease-has-copycats?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/my-heart-disease-has-copycats?r=heamx] Links/References: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html [https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html] https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html [https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html] https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-biobank-study/ [https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-biobank-study/] https://www.lymedisease.org/mylymedata-clinician-lyme-survey-report/ [https://www.lymedisease.org/mylymedata-clinician-lyme-survey-report/] https://igenex.com/the-igenex-advantage/ [https://igenex.com/the-igenex-advantage/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Back in "The Pitt"

Spoiler Alert! This post contains spoilers for HBO Max’s “The Pitt,” Seasons 1 and 2. Feel free to bookmark this and save it for later if you were planning to watch and don’t want any spoilers. Last year, I wrote about Season 1 of “The Pitt,” [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/the-pitt-and-doctor-centered-media?r=heamx] which has since gone on to dominate awards shows like the Emmys, Golden Globes, and even the AARP Awards. Season 2, whose finale premiered last Thursday on HBO Max, continues in that tradition of excellence. The way the writers carry every thread and storyline from episode 1 through the to the season finale is an impressive feat. They have chosen to tackle challenges in the U.S. health care system ranging from ICE to palliative care, violence against healthcare workers to sexual assault, and supportive decision-making to alcoholism (and so much more). I want to highlight 4 of this season’s topics that stood out to me (AI in Healthcare, Physician Burnout, Health Care Finances, and Cardiac Resuscitation of Women), as well as some miscellany..... This week’s questions: Have you watched Season 2 of “The Pitt”? What issues or storylines stood out to you? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/the-pitt-and-doctor-centered-media?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/the-pitt-and-doctor-centered-media?r=heamx] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/penicillin-anaphylaxis-and-the-allergist?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/penicillin-anaphylaxis-and-the-allergist?r=heamx] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/penicillin-anaphylaxis-and-the-allergist-257?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/penicillin-anaphylaxis-and-the-allergist-257?r=heamx] Links/References: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital-health/more-80-physicians-use-ai-professionally-ama-survey#:~:text=The%20physicians%20surveyed%20were%20generally,interpret%20radiology%20or%20pathology%20results [https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital-health/more-80-physicians-use-ai-professionally-ama-survey#:~:text=The%20physicians%20surveyed%20were%20generally,interpret%20radiology%20or%20pathology%20results]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37972797/#&gid=article-figures&pid=figure-1-uid-0 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37972797/#&gid=article-figures&pid=figure-1-uid-0] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

My Heart Disease Has Copycats

My Heart Disease Has Copycats Issue #36 of “What’s Her Problem?”: When several heart conditions look the same, how does the patient get the right diagnosis? My ears perked up last fall at the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association’s Annual Patient Meeting [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/reflections-on-the-2025-hcma-annual?r=heamx]. Many doctors have told me there’s no known connection between two of my primary medical diagnoses: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and autoimmune sensory neuropathy. That I am probably just unlucky to have both. But one of the presenters mentioned a correlation between neuropathy and a heart disease called Cardiac Amyloidosis.... This week’s questions: Do you, or someone you know, have a disease that was difficult to diagnose because it closely resembled another disease or condition? What was your process of getting to the right diagnosis? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/reflections-on-the-2025-hcma-annual?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/reflections-on-the-2025-hcma-annual?r=heamx] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/weird-science?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/weird-science?r=heamx] Links/References: https://www.4hcm.org/amyloidosis [https://www.4hcm.org/amyloidosis] https://www.4hcm.org/amyloidosis [https://www.4hcm.org/amyloidosis] https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/attr-cm/managing-the-heart-and-nerves-together-tips-for-living-with-attr-cm-and-neuropathy/ [https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/attr-cm/managing-the-heart-and-nerves-together-tips-for-living-with-attr-cm-and-neuropathy/] https://www.4hcm.org/danon [https://www.4hcm.org/danon] https://www.4hcm.org/rasopathies [https://www.4hcm.org/rasopathies] https://www.4hcm.org/fabry [https://www.4hcm.org/fabry] https://www.4hcm.org/pompe [https://www.4hcm.org/pompe] https://www.4hcm.org/friedreich-s-ataxia [https://www.4hcm.org/friedreich-s-ataxia] https://www.4hcm.org/prkag2 [https://www.4hcm.org/prkag2] https://www.4hcm.org/how-is-hcm-diagnosed [https://www.4hcm.org/how-is-hcm-diagnosed] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/cardiac-pyp-scan [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/cardiac-pyp-scan] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/reflections-on-the-2025-hcma-annual?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/reflections-on-the-2025-hcma-annual?r=heamx] https://www.4hcm.org/bighearts [https://www.4hcm.org/bighearts] https://www.4hcm.org/center-of-excellence [https://www.4hcm.org/center-of-excellence] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]