Opinions expressed by contributors are their own. Jennifer Crystal is a writer and educator in Boston. Her work has appeared in local and national publications including Harvard Health Publishing and The Boston Globe. As a GLA columnist for over six years, her work on GLA.org has received mention in publications such as The New Yorker, weatherchannel.com, CQ Researcher, and ProHealth.com. Jennifer is a patient advocate who has dealt with chronic illness, including Lyme and other tick-borne infections. Her memoir, One Tick Stopped the Clock, is forthcoming from Legacy Book Press in September 2024. Ten percent of proceeds from the book will go to Global Lyme Alliance. Contact her via email below.
Email: lymewarriorjennifercrystal@gmail.com
Articles
You Know Your Body Best
July 7, 2020
We grow up thinking of doctors as all-knowing. That whatever "the doctor" said—be it the Primary Care Physician, the family doctor, or the ER doctor—was once deemed absolute. This doesn’t have to be t...
Managing Burning Extremities: Lyme Disease Burning Sensation
June 26, 2020
Dealing with unexplained symptoms? Don’t rule out Lyme & other tick-borne diseases. Last night I went to sleep about an hour past my usual bedtime. Revved up from a busy day which included teachin...
Keeping the Big Picture in Mind: Don’t Overlook Your Other Health Issues
March 31, 2020
by Jennifer Crystal
Dear Lyme Warrior…Help! Herxheimer Reactions and Colleges in High Tick Areas
March 6, 2020
By Jennifer Crystal
Stop the Itching! Lyme and Hives
February 13, 2020
Do you get unexplained hives? Could it be Lyme disease?
When Nothing’s Funny, Even Simulated Laughter Can Be Good Medicine
February 6, 2020
by Jennifer Crystal
Gratitude for the Long Game
November 27, 2019
Though we may spiral through difficult times, we must remember that we are still moving forward, if slowly. One is often reminded of Martin Luther King’s quote, a paraphrase of abolitionist minister T...
Dear Lyme Warrior…Help! Migratory Pain and Chronic Lyme Disease
November 21, 2019
Every few months, Jennifer Crystal devotes a column to answering your questions. Here she answers some questions she recently received. Do you have a question for Jennifer? If so, email her at lymewar...
The Difficulty—and Importance—of Asking for Help
October 22, 2019
Why is asking for help so hard? Sometimes it’s necessary, especially when you are chronically ill
How to Be an Advocate with Your Non-Lyme Doctor
August 16, 2019
Here are 10 tips to most effectively work with your non-Lyme doctor
Dear Lyme Warrior…Help! Memory Loss and How to Travel with Lyme Disease
July 24, 2019
by Jennifer Crystal
The Aches and Pains of Tick-Borne Illnesses
July 23, 2019
For those with Lyme disease, the physical pain can be incredibly uncomfortable and difficult to deal with. The first time I saw the award-winning Lyme documentary Under Our Skin, I was seated in the t...
Not All Lyme Rashes Are Created Equal
July 8, 2019
Lyme disease: that’s the illness you get when you find a bulls-eye rash, right?
REGAINING CONTROL …of your day, life… Why agency is important for Lyme warriors
June 28, 2019
by Jennifer Crystal
Stop the Music! How to X Out the Songs and Words That Keep Playing in Your Head
June 14, 2019
by Jennifer Crystal
Living with Lyme: Treating Instead of Denying Yourself
April 19, 2019
When you have Lyme disease, how else can you fill yourself up rather than deplete yourself? Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. Many people engage in some kind of spring cleaning, whether it is a...
What is Herxing? And What Does it Mean to Herx?
March 15, 2019
What does herx mean? Sometimes when I’m describing tick-borne illness, I feel like I’m speaking a foreign language. Most people have heard of Lyme disease—though too many mistakenly call it “Lyme’s” w...
I Just Got Diagnosed with Lyme Disease. What Should I Do?
February 15, 2019
Welcome to the school of Lyme. Here are six tips for those newly diagnosed with Lyme disease. Every day, I receive emails from people who have recently been diagnosed with Lyme disease. As most of us ...
Dear Lyme Warrior…Help! Lyme Diets and Working Full-Time with Lyme
February 8, 2019
by Jennifer Crystal
Hope For the Holidays
January 2, 2019
The holidays are supposed to be the happiest time of the year. But for many people with chronic illnesses—and others suffering in different ways—the holidays can be really difficult. If you’re bedridd...
What Can the Red Sox Teach Us About Surviving Tick-Borne Illnesses?
October 22, 2018
by Jennifer Crystal
Scheduling Life with Lyme Disease
September 25, 2018
Flexible vs. rigid? How keeping to a schedule can impact one’s life with Lyme disease. In 2007, I suffered a severe relapse of Lyme and two of its tick-borne co-infections Babesia and Ehrlichia. I had...
Having Hope When You Have Lyme
September 20, 2018
Struggling with the idea of hope when you have Lyme disease? Read on Hope is a tricky concept for patients with chronic illnesses. It is something everyone—healthy or sick—wants, but summoning hope is...
Enjoying the Summer While Living with Lyme
July 27, 2018
Learn how to participate in fun Summer activities, while battling Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. When I first moved to Boston, I took a Duck Boat tour of the city. As the amphibious vehicle cruis...
Managing Fear of Ticks During the Summer
June 29, 2018
How to enjoy being outside throughout the summer months while worrying about Lyme disease. I’m that friend.
Dear Lyme Warrior…Help! MRIs, SPECT Scans, and Herxheimer Reactions
April 13, 2018
by Jennifer Crystal
Seasons of Lyme
March 30, 2018
The change in seasons is usually an exciting time for most, but the jump from season to season can be especially trying for Lyme patients.
What is Air Hunger, Anyway?
March 22, 2018
Chronic Lyme disease & its co-infections, like Babesia, can produce unique symptoms. One of them is referred to as air hunger.
Ticks Are a Year Round Threat: Don’t Let Lyme disease Become Your Holiday Surprise
December 19, 2017
By Jennifer Crystal
Fear of Lyme Reinfection
May 19, 2017
Hoping you don’t get another tick bite and Lyme reinfection this spring.
HOT, HOT, HOT: What a Heat Wave Means for Lyme Patients
August 2, 2016
Learn how extreme temperatures can worsen Lyme symptoms and discover essential tips to stay cool and manage the effects of heat waves on Lyme patients in this insightful blog post by Jennifer Crystal....
