What if your symptoms were dismissed as anxiety… when you knew something was terribly wrong?

What if test results came back “normal,” but your body was falling apart?

And what would you do if the healthcare system left you feeling invisible and alone?

Lyme disease affects millions — yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and controversial illnesses in modern medicine.

This month is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This episode aims to spread awareness of an illness that affects nearly 500,000 new people in the U.S. annually.

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli sits down with Maria Malaguti, Founder and Executive Director of the Lyme Disease Resource Center, to discuss the long and often isolating road of tick-borne illness — and how advocacy can change everything.

Maria’s journey began after what she believed was a simple spider bite while backpacking. What followed was a steady health decline, unexplained neurological symptoms, and a terrifying ER visit where her concerns were dismissed and she was handed a prescription for Prozac — without a thorough evaluation.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Lyme disease is still frequently misunderstood

• The emotional toll of being dismissed in medical settings

• How chronic tick-borne illness impacts work, identity, and mental health

• The difference between physical treatment and whole-person healing

• What self-advocacy truly looks like after a diagnosis

• Why no patient should have to navigate disability or healthcare bureaucracy alone

• The power of community in moving from victimhood to empowerment

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395.

Connect with Maria Malaguti:

https://www.lymedrc.org/

https://www.facebook.com/ldrcnoho

https://www.instagram.com/lymedrcincnorthampton/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/lyme-disease-resource-center-inc-/

https://www.youtube.com/@LymeDRCIncNorthampton/videos

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered if the answers you’re looking for might exist somewhere beyond your local healthcare system?

Have you seen multiple providers but still feel like your care has stalled?

Or ask yourself whether seeking care in another state — or even another country — could open the door to better options?

In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine explore an important and often emotional question many patients quietly face: When should you consider looking farther away for medical care?

Most healthcare journeys begin close to home. Local providers are convenient, familiar, and often the first place patients turn for answers. But sometimes, despite following every recommendation, completing extensive testing, and consulting multiple specialists, patients may still feel like they’re not moving forward.

In this thoughtful discussion, Dr. Borrelli explains:

• The key signs that it may be time to explore care beyond your local healthcare system

• Why certain conditions require highly specialized programs or multidisciplinary teams

• When traveling for care may make a meaningful difference in outcomes

• The powerful role that second and third medical opinions can play in complex cases

• What patients should carefully consider before traveling for medical care, including logistics, finances, and follow-up planning

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395

Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence.

✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s.

👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ to get started.

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is holding the caregiver together?

Who checks in on the person managing the medications, the appointments, the fear — and the family?

And when was the last time a caregiver was told they don’t have to earn their rest?

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the spotlight — rightfully — focuses on the patient. But behind nearly every patient is someone quietly carrying the weight of it all.

In this heartfelt episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli turns the focus to the often invisible role of the caregiver with special guest Charlotte Bayala — speaker, yoga and meditation teacher, caregiver advocate, and host of The Cancer Caregiver Podcast.

Charlotte shares her lived experience caring for her husband through cancer and unpacks what caregiving really looks like behind the scenes.

Because caregiving isn’t one role.

It’s dozens.

Together, Dr. Borrelli and Charlotte explore:

• Why caregiver burnout often goes unrecognized — even by the caregiver

• The slow creep of exhaustion, irritability, and “normalizing” survival mode

• The emotional tension of feeling grateful and resentful at the same time

• Why caregivers don’t need permission to rest

• How caregiving reshapes identity, partnership, and personal strength

• The power of learning to “take up space” in medical settings

• A simple breathing tool anyone can use to regulate the nervous system in moments of overwhelm

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity.

For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395.

Connect with Charlotte Bayala:

https://www.charlottebayala.com/

https://www.instagram.com/cancercaregiverpodcast

https://www.facebook.com/charlottebayalayoga

Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli:

Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates

Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates

Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates

Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates

LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates

pathwaypa.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.