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Q&A with Dr. Sean Beckmann about Lyme Disease and other Tick-Borne Illnesses

Many people have been infected with Lyme Disease and are completely unaware and go undiagnosed for years. In fact, some people may even believe they have Lyme Disease but are unable to convince their doctor to test them. We wanted to know more about this mysterious disease, so we invited an expert, Dr. Sean Beckmann to join us on A Healthy Bite to give hopefully answer some of our most pressing questions.

For those who have been part of the TOM Tribe for years, you may know that I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and shared the protocol I used to recover here. Later, I ended up taking Doxycycline and I explain why here. Also, I mention Hopelively,  a support group for women you can join here.

The episode with Dr. Beckmann about the Coronavirus is here.

Questions Dr. Beckmann addresses in this episode:

Where do people get Lyme Disease? Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever? Can you be infected no matter where you live or is it just in some locations?

What about cases where people test positive for Lyme Disease but have never been in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent?

How can the disease be transmitted?

Some say Lyme Disease is a virus, and many others say it's a bacteria, which is it?

A lot of families (everyone in the family) have tick-borne diseases, and we are wondering if it's possible to be transmitted via human saliva.

Can the disease lie dormant and then come back later?

What all can it cause? Can it lead to other types of diseases, such as cancer, gut health, etc?

What are the most effective treatments for people who get infected with Lyme Disease and other tick diseases? Doxycycline – can it hurt you more than it helps you, long term?

Why does Rocky Mountain show up if you have Lyme Disease?

Is it a disease that once you have it you always have it and it can flare up later?

Why would doctors be so hesitant to test people for tick-borne illnesses?

Do they suggest someone who is diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

More Questions from Listeners:

If they treat spirochetes with penicillin when you have syphilis, why isn't penicillin an option for Lyme spirochetes?

While on doxycycline can one do a liver cleanse, blood cleanse and parasite cleanse? If not all three at the same time, can any of them be done individually while on doxy?

We know at least 5 couples here in our small town that each the husband and wife both are positive, could it be sexually transmitted?

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Meet Dr. Sean Beckmann, Assistant Professor of Biology

I am passionate about engaging and educating students both in and out of the classroom. Whether in a lecture, laboratory, field site, or during a chat in my office I relish the opportunity to find a student’s passion and interests and help foster those. Not every student is going to become a research biologist, but everyone can utilize science in their own lives. By helping them understand biological concepts and apply them to their own real-world experiences I hope to help foster a love of biology and scientific curiosity in every student with whom I interact.

• Ph.D., Biology, University of Miami
• B.S., Biology, Stetson University

Growing up Dr. Beckmann enjoyed science and nature and always wanted to be a veterinarian. While a student at Stetson University he had the opportunity to engage in projects and internships that introduced him to field biology and research. This changed his trajectory to pursue a career in research. While in graduate school at the University of Miami he had the opportunity to teach a number of classes and engage a number of undergraduates in his research on the phylogeography of small mammals. This experience drove him to pursue a career in undergraduate education and research. Prior to coming to Stetson University, he spent several years teaching and conducting research with undergraduates at another liberal arts university. His work with students has resulted in numerous conference presentations, posters, and publications with former students.

Sean Beckmann – Faculty Profiles – Stetson University.