When diagnosing Lyme disease, clinicians look for a bulls eye rash or a tick but in some cases, you won't find either. Marcie Fraser has one teenager’s difficult story of diagnosis and recovery.

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It all began two and a half years ago. The search for a diagnosis was a long road for Riley Nuss, and Lyme disease was considered.

"She had two regular CDC blood tests for the Western Blot and both came back negative for Lyme. She didn't have a bulls eye rash," said Bridget Nuss, Riley's mother.

She got so much worse that she had to quit school, so what was it?

With things getting worse, they sought out a doctor to help manage Riley's pain, but they got more than they expected.

"She had her tested in an independent lab and that test came back with enough strands to say Lyme positive," explained Nuss.

Lab results from tests like the Elisa and the Western Blot can vary depending on how long the person has been infected.

“Unfortunately if someone is very, very sick and has been sick for a long time and they don't raise antibodies accurately they can have negative testing even though they are symptomatic,” said integrated medical expert Dr. Ron Stram.

Riley's road to recovery has not been an easy one. She's developed a resistance to the drugs. If it wasn't for perseverance and support, she wouldn't be where she is.

"She has her smile back. I see glimpses of Riley and her personality coming back," said Nuss.

"I feel like I am a teenager again. I can do stuff and I can go to the gym, I can start school up again and be with my friends and be normal,” said Riley Nuss.