the only person i've heard that were affected by lyme also were living in Poland, in the woods.. They were badly taken care of for years until they couldn't even move from their bed.
There was this guy that was locally known gangsta-like alcoholic - this whole thing taking place in small town, gangsters life style were scaled down to the size of the town. He lived in apartment in residential estates near one of my best friends (hence I know the story). One day, after some big party, he got so drunk that while getting home by foot, he fell asleep in some gutter (or rather trench full of grass).
Next day, after regaining consciousness, he found more than 30 ticks stuck all over his body. Being gangsta and all around tough he just removed those and failed to go to doctor in time.
Only after some serious symptoms started to appear he managed to get to hospital but it was to late - the damage was done. He lived about few months after this and died because his nervous system was so devastated that there was no way to for doctors to help him.
Seems like poland really is a danger zone..