title: Living with Lyme disease.
abstract: The occurrence of Lyme disease is rising steadily in the United States. The majority of health care providers are unfamiliar with this complex syndrome. Nurses lack accurate clinical information to provide comprehensive nursing care to these patients. The progression of Lyme disease is addressed through three stages. Untreated or poorly managed, Lyme disease may become a chronic, debilitating illness. The author's personal story is interwoven and serves to highlight the pathophysiology of the disease and the emotional and physical costs to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Medical/Surgical Department, University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Force
mesh_terms: D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology