When a close friend began suffering from long-COVID symptoms in 2022, I started asking questions. Knowing his history of Lyme disease, Raynaud’s, scleroderma, and tick exposure, I wondered if something deeper was missed — what if this wasn’t long-COVID at all?
My research led me into the complex world of tickborne diseases — and what I found shocked me. I discovered that:
- Tickborne diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and even parasitic worms.
- These illnesses mimic symptoms seen in long-COVID — brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, neurological issues.
- COVID may actually inflame or reactivate dormant tickborne infections.
- Testing is often outdated or ineffective, and there are few specialists who understand these diseases well.
- Many people suffer for years, misdiagnosed and untreated.
Dozens of illnesses, poor diagnostics, few specialists, and overlapping symptoms with COVID. I realized this wasn’t just his story — it was something many people are silently living through. As I started talking about this with friends and acquaintances, what shocked me most was how many people I knew who had a similar story — or knew someone who did.
As I tried to organize this information into a simple chart, I realized just how hard it is to connect the dots from a patient perspective. That’s why I created BadTick.com — to put action-oriented, easy-to-understand information in one place.
I’m an instructional designer by training, with a passion for research and a need for location freedom in my next chapter. If this resonates with you — or if you see a way to collaborate — please complete the survey and let’s connect.