Forest enthusiast and trail runner Manfred Wenzl discusses his encounter with a tick: How their shared love leads to his torment.
In the picturesque town of Schwandorf, a resident named Manfred Wenzl is waging a personal battle against Lyme disease. The battle began a few weeks after a fateful encounter with a tick, which he discovered on his pillow.
Wenzl's symptoms, including numbness and muscle pain in his left body half, difficulty concentrating for long periods, and persistent fatigue, persist to this day. He finds the standard Borrelia tests unhelpful due to their inconsistency, often yielding false negatives, especially in early stages of infection.
Standard tests, such as the CDC-recommended two-tiered testing (STTT) and western blot antibody tests, rely on detecting antibodies, which may take weeks to develop. Moreover, antibody tests can yield false positives due to cross-reactivity with other infections or autoimmune diseases, and antibodies may persist long after the infection is cleared, complicating interpretation.
Newer diagnostic methods, such as phage-based tests that identify specific Borrelia strains, offer improved specificity and sensitivity. These advanced tests could potentially enable more effective tailored treatments, as a 2025 review found that many patients actually harbor Borrelia species beyond the classic Borrelia burgdorferi—like Borrelia miyamotoi and strains associated with relapsing fever—that traditional tests do not detect.
Persistent symptoms after antibiotic treatment are a recognized challenge, with no universally accepted alternative tests or therapies. Although standard care involves antibiotic courses of 10-28 days for early Lyme, resistance mechanisms by Borrelia contribute to persistent infection or symptom relapse. Some integrative protocols include combinations of antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals; however, no definitive cure exists for chronic or persistent Lyme disease, and treatments remain controversial.
Despite the challenges, Wenzl remains hopeful and advocates for progress in areas such as education, research for a Lyme disease vaccine, reliable tests, and effective treatment. He avoids meadows due to his experiences with ticks and incurs high costs for alternative treatments not covered by his health insurance.
Meanwhile, in other news, a four-year-old boy from Heidenheim, Baden-Württemberg, was severely injured when a tractor overturned. The details of the accident are unknown.
In sports news, Uli Hoeneß, the long-time Bayern boss, was admitted to a hospital during a charity event, but there is no information about his current condition.
Elsewhere, a councilor from Mannheim is organizing an FKK-Swinger trip to France, joined by 44-year-old Mimi from Rhineland-Palatinate.
In the world of literature, author Jussi Adler-Olsen, who has had much success on the German book market, turns 75 and has faced setbacks but continues to write.
Rocker Stevie Nicks is facing a setback as she has to postpone concerts due to a broken shoulder at the age of 70.
Lastly, events at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, under Ministerial Director Cem Özdemir, are set to change as they will now serve meat.
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- Manfred Wenzl, despite facing unhelpful standard tests and persistent Lyme disease symptoms, remains hopeful and advocates for advancements in Lyme disease research, particularly for reliable tests, effective treatments, and a potential Lyme disease vaccine.
- The world of science, intertwined with medical-conditions such as Lyme disease, chronically evolves, with newer diagnostic methods like phage-based tests offering enhanced specificity and sensitivity, potentially enabling more targeted treatments for overlooked Borrelia species.
- Apart from the personal struggle of battling Lyme disease, the realm of health-and-wellness also encompasses mental-health aspects, as many people deal with the challenges of chronic diseases and the uncertainties they bring, affecting their quality of life and overall well-being.
