Brain Fog, Fatigue, Pain… Is It Lyme Disease?
Understanding Lyme Disease
Symptoms, Co-Infections, and Better Testing and Treatment Options
Spring and summer in the mountains mean more time outdoors (yay!), but they also mark the peak of tick season (Eek!). With the increasing spread of Lyme disease, knowing the facts is more crucial than ever.
Lyme disease is more than just a rash and flu-like symptoms—it can be a complex, multi-system illness often misdiagnosed.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete (corkscrew-shaped) bacterium transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (also called deer ticks). These ticks are primarily found in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Pacific Northwest, but cases are also rising in Colorado and other areas worldwide.
Signs of Lyme Disease: Acute and Chronic
Lyme disease symptoms can range from mild to severe, and they don’t always appear immediately. Many people associate Lyme with the classic bullseye rash (erythema migrans), but this only appears in 30-70% of cases.
Acute Lyme Disease: Common Early Symptoms
Symptoms can appear days to weeks after a tick bite and may include:
Flu-like symptoms: Fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches
Fatigue: Extreme exhaustion, even after rest
Consistent or “wandering” Joint pain and stiffness
Neck stiffness and headaches
Swollen lymph nodes
Bullseye rash (if present, it’s a clear indicator of Lyme) but is not always present
However, Lyme is known as the great imitator because it can mimic many other diseases. Some people never recall a tick bite and don’t develop symptoms for months or years.
Chronic Lyme Disease & Less Common Symptoms
If Lyme disease goes undiagnosed or untreated, it can spread to the nervous system, heart, and joints, leading to long-term complications.
Neurological issues: Brain fog, memory loss, difficulty concentrating (often mistaken for early dementia or ADHD)
Mental health effects: Depression, anxiety, mood swings, panic attacks
Cardiac symptoms: Heart palpitations, chest pain, Lyme carditis
Autoimmune-like reactions: Joint pain that mimics rheumatoid arthritis
Severe fatigue and muscle weakness
Unexplained pain or numbness in extremities
These symptoms can come and go, making Lyme disease even more challenging to diagnose.
Lyme Co-Infections
Lyme disease is often accompanied by co-infections—other bacteria, viruses, or parasites transmitted by the same tick, such as Bartonella, Babesia, and Ehrlichia. These co-infections can complicate symptoms and make diagnosis and treatment more challenging.
Ticks don’t just carry Lyme; they often harbor multiple pathogens. Some of the most common co-infections include:
Babesia – A malaria-like parasite that affects red blood cells, leading to brain fog, fatigue, night sweats, chills, pain at costal margins (along your sternum), heart palpitations, headaches, dizziness, nausea, numbness or burning pains in extremities, anxiety, and shortness of breath.
Bartonella – Can cause fevers, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, eye pain, skin striae or unusual skin rashes, electric shock sensations, deep bone pains, day sweats, and psychiatric symptoms like anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.
Ehrlichia and Anaplasma – Bacterial infections that can trigger severe headaches, flu-like symptoms, fevers, muscle pain, and low white blood cell counts.
Mycoplasma – Often associated with severe muscle and or joint pain, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms.
Testing for Lyme Disease
Conventional Testing Falls Short
Most doctors rely on Western Blot and ELISA blood tests to diagnose Lyme because this is currently the standard of care. However, these tests miss up to 50% of cases!
Why?
1️⃣ They rely on the presence of antibodies, which may take weeks or months to develop—so early cases can be missed.
2️⃣ Lyme bacteria can evade the immune system by hiding in tissues, making it undetectable in blood tests.
3️⃣ Co-infections are rarely tested for, even though they often come with Lyme.
Better Functional Medicine Testing for Lyme
For a more accurate diagnosis, consider functional medicine labs that test for Lyme beyond standard antibody tests:
DNA/PCR Testing – Looks for the actual Lyme bacteria instead of relying on an immune response.
Elispot Testing – Detects active Lyme infections by measuring how immune cells react to Lyme bacteria.
Comprehensive Tickborne Panels – Tests for co-infections like Babesia, Bartonella, and Mycoplasma are often missed in conventional tests.
If You Get Bit By a Tick or Suspect You Have Lyme
1️⃣ If you find a tick on you, Remove it carefully with tweezers without twisting AND KEEP IT to send it for testing if necessary.
2️⃣ If you have symptoms despite known tick bite, Don’t wait for a bullseye rash! Seek testing and treatment early.
3️⃣ If you’ve had Lyme before or suspect it has been an ongoing issue for your health and still feel unwell, You may have chronic Lyme or a hidden co-infection. Testing and treatment opinions ARE AVAILABLE.
Acute and Chronic Lyme Disease is Treatable
Conventional treatment for Lyme usually involves a short course of antibiotics, but chronic cases often need a more comprehensive approach. In functional medicine, we address Lyme by treating the infection and supporting the symptoms during treatment.
✔ Longer-term herbal and antimicrobial protocols
✔ Immune and inflammation system support
✔ Detoxification protocols (Lyme bacteria release toxins that can make you feel worse before you get better)
✔ Co-infection treatment tailored to your specific case
If you suspect Lyme disease or have been struggling with unexplained symptoms, let’s get to the root cause and create a treatment plan that works for you.
Here to empower you with the knowledge of health,
Dr. Meg Holpuch
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content shared here is not meant to replace or supersede the guidance or recommendations of your personal healthcare provider. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine, supplement regimen, or overall health plan. Your health and well-being are unique, and decisions regarding your care should always be made in consultation with your trusted healthcare provider.
