Lyme Co-Infection Treatment Birmingham, MI

Lyme Co-Infection Treatment Birmingham, MI

If you’ve been treated for Lyme disease but still don’t feel better—or if you’re struggling with unexplained fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, or chronic pain after a tick bite—you’re not alone. Many patients who come to us have a gut feeling that something deeper is still going on, even when their labs say “everything looks fine.”

What you may be dealing with is a Lyme co-infection—a group of additional infections that are commonly transmitted through the same tick that carries Lyme disease. These pathogens, including Babesia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, and Ehrlichia, can profoundly affect the immune system, nervous system, and inflammatory response. They often lead to confusing, overlapping symptoms that don’t respond to standard Lyme treatment alone.

And unfortunately, most conventional providers aren’t trained to identify, test for, or treat these co-infections properly. Standard lab panels miss them. Many symptoms are misdiagnosed as psychiatric or autoimmune. And patients are left with lingering, debilitating symptoms—without answers.

At Restorative Medicine Center in Rochester Hills, I specialize in helping patients from Birmingham, MI and surrounding communities uncover and address these hidden infections. My approach combines integrative Functional Medicine with advanced microbial diagnostics, layered antimicrobial protocols, detox support, and nervous system repair.

We don’t chase symptoms. We find the root cause—and build a treatment strategy your body can actually tolerate and respond to.

What Are Lyme Co-Infections?

Lyme disease rarely travels alone. When a tick bites, it doesn’t just transmit Borrelia burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease)—it often carries and spreads other infectious organisms at the same time. These are known as co-infections, and they’re a major reason why so many patients continue to struggle even after receiving standard treatment for Lyme.

Each of these co-infections comes with its own unique set of symptoms and treatment challenges. And without proper identification and a targeted approach, they can prolong illness, trigger autoimmunity, and prevent full recovery.

Common Lyme Co-Infections We See in Patients from Birmingham, MI:

Bartonella

Often called the “Lyme imitator,” Bartonella can affect:

• The nervous system (causing neuropathy, brain fog, irritability)
• Blood vessels (resulting in stretch marks, shin pain, or burning feet)
• Mental health, often presenting as anxiety, panic, OCD, or rage episodes
• Skin, eyes, and lymph nodes

Babesia

A malaria-like parasite that infects red blood cells, Babesia often presents with:

• Profound fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
• Shortness of breath or a feeling of “air hunger”
• Night sweats, chills, and temperature instability
• Dizziness, nausea, and postural changes (similar to POTS)

Mycoplasma

This bacterial infection affects both respiratory and neurological systems. Symptoms may include:

• Chronic cough or throat clearing
• Migrating joint pain
• Cognitive changes like confusion or memory loss
• Mood instability or increased sensory sensitivity

Ehrlichia & Anaplasma

These intracellular bacteria are often overlooked, yet they can significantly impact:

• White blood cell function and immunity
• Cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, body aches
• Trigger digestive issues and elevated liver enzymes
• Worsen fatigue, dizziness, and muscle pain

Why Co-Infections Are Often Missed in Conventional Testing

One of the biggest challenges in treating Lyme and its co-infections is that many of these infections are never properly identified in the first place.

Even if you've been tested for Lyme disease, chances are you haven’t been tested for the full spectrum of tick-borne co-infections—and even if testing was done, the tools used in most conventional settings are limited, outdated, or misinterpreted.

Limitations of Standard Lyme Testing

Most traditional providers rely on the ELISA and Western Blot tests, which:

• Only look for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (not co-infections like Babesia or Bartonella)
• Are not sensitive enough in early or chronic infections
• Rely on your immune system to mount a strong antibody response—which many chronically ill patients simply can’t do

Co-Infections Are Rarely Tested—Or Even Considered

In conventional medicine:

• Babesia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, and Ehrlichia are not part of routine screening panels
• There’s little to no awareness of how these pathogens interact and suppress immune function
• Providers are not trained to recognize symptom patterns that point to stealth co-infections

Instead, patients are often referred to specialists for each symptom:

• Neurologist for brain fog or neuropathy
• Psychiatrist for anxiety or panic
• Rheumatologist for joint pain or autoimmune markers
• GI for digestive issues

Functional Medicine Approach to Diagnosing Lyme and Co-Infections

When it comes to complex chronic illness, testing alone isn’t enough—especially in the case of Lyme and its co-infections. That’s why at Restorative Medicine Center, we don’t just run labs—we dig into the story behind the symptoms using a root-cause Functional Medicine framework.

Our diagnostic process begins with listening—then layering in precision testing, timeline tracking, and clinical pattern recognition to identify not just what is going on, but why it’s happening in your body right now.

In-Depth Intake and MSIDS-Style Symptom Timeline

We use a comprehensive intake system based on the MSIDS model (Multi-Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome), which helps us track:

• Infection history (tick bites, flu-like illnesses, relapses)
• Environmental exposures (mold, stress, trauma)
• Symptom progression across body systems—neurological, immune, endocrine, digestive, and more
• Past treatment attempts and how your body responded

Advanced Testing Options Used in Our Clinic:

Tick-Borne Disease Panels

We use specialty labs like IGeneX, Vibrant Wellness, and Galaxy Diagnostics that offer high-sensitivity panels for:

• Borrelia (Lyme)
• Babesia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma
• Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Rickettsia
• Co-infection IgM and IgG levels, DNA PCR, and FISH testing where appropriate

These tests are far more accurate than standard labs and help identify active, reactivated, or chronic infections.

Inflammatory Markers (CIRS Panel)

These help us assess immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation, including:

• C4a – linked to chronic immune activation, especially mold and Lyme
• MMP-9 – a marker of blood-brain barrier permeability and inflammation
• TGFB1 – elevated in autoimmunity and tissue fibrosis
• VEGF – helps assess oxygenation and vascular inflammation

Immune Panels

We assess immune function and autoimmunity through:

• Immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM) to evaluate strength and pattern of immune response
• ANA and autoantibody panels to screen for autoimmune overlap
• ECP, eosinophils, and hsCRP when allergic inflammation is suspected

Mycotoxin Testing

Many patients with chronic Lyme also have mold-related illness, which worsens immune dysfunction and makes detox harder. We may order:

• Urine mycotoxin tests for Ochratoxin, Aflatoxin, Gliotoxin, and more
• Correlated environmental history to evaluate your home, workplace, or school for mold exposure

Dr. Teresa’s Root-Cause Treatment Strategy for Lyme Co-Infections

Lyme co-infections are complex, multi-layered, and deeply personal. That’s why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach at Restorative Medicine Center. Each patient’s plan is carefully tailored based on symptom patterns, immune function, microbial mix, and what their body can tolerate at any given phase.

We’re not here to push protocols. We’re here to help your system stabilize, detoxify, and recover—step by step.

Stabilize

Before we address the infections, we focus on getting your system out of crisis mode. This includes:

• Reducing inflammation and calming immune overactivation
• Supporting drainage and detox pathways to avoid toxin buildup
• Improving sleep, energy, and blood sugar regulation
• Addressing nervous system dysregulation (fight-or-flight, anxiety, emotional swings)

Target Pathogens

Once you’re stabilized, we begin addressing the microbial burden with layered antimicrobials, which may include:

• Botanical medicine protocols (Byron White, Cowden, Buhner, etc.)
• Pharmaceutical antimicrobials for Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma, etc. (when appropriate)
• Biofilm disruptors to help unmask hidden infections
• Anti-parasitic therapies if indicated

Support Detox Pathways

As infections are treated, toxins are released—and they must be cleared properly to prevent flares.

We support detox with:

• Binders (charcoal, bentonite, cholestyramine, modified citrus pectin)
• Glutathione, NAC, and sulfur compounds to aid liver and cellular detox
• Hydration protocols and lymphatic support (dry brushing, gentle movement)
• Far infrared sauna and red light therapy (when tolerated)

Rebuild and Restore

Once microbial and toxic burden is reduced, we begin the rebuilding phase:

• Gut repair with probiotics, prebiotics, and mucosal healing nutrients
• Mitochondrial support to restore energy and cellular function
• Nutrient repletion (magnesium, zinc, B vitamins, CoQ10, vitamin D)
• Hormone balancing, often needed after long-term stress and inflammation

Nervous System Regulation Woven Throughout

Every phase of care includes tools to calm and rewire the nervous system, which plays a major role in symptom expression and immune modulation.

We incorporate:

• Breathwork and vagus nerve exercises
• Neuroplasticity tools and limbic retraining
• Trauma-aware care, including EMDR or somatic referrals as needed
• Rhythm restoration—sleep, movement, nourishment, rest

Get Help with Lyme Co-Infection Treatment Near Birmingham, MI

If you’ve been treated for Lyme but still feel like something’s missing—or if you’re dealing with complex symptoms that no one has been able to explain—it may be time to look deeper.

At Restorative Medicine Center, we specialize in helping patients across Birmingham, MI and Oakland County identify and treat hidden tick-borne co-infections like Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma, and more. Using advanced testing, personalized treatment plans, and a functional medicine lens, we uncover what others miss—and support your body’s healing at the pace it can handle.

You don’t need to figure this out alone. And you don’t need to keep suffering without answers.

Schedule a New Patient Consultation Today

Restorative Medicine Center
📍 705 Barclay Cir, Suite 115
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
📞 Phone: 248.289.6349
📠 Fax: 248.289.6923
🕘 Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9AM–5PM | Friday: Closed
🌐 Website: www.restorativemedcenter.com