Lyme Disease Care Near Rochester Hills, MI
Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed illnesses today. Many people believe it’s just a short-term infection that can be easily treated, but in reality, Lyme disease is a stealth pathogen that can persist in the body, disrupt the immune system, and lead to chronic, debilitating symptoms if not properly diagnosed and treated.
Symptoms of Lyme disease can mimic autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even psychiatric disorders, making it difficult for patients to receive an accurate diagnosis. Many individuals suffer for years without answers, cycling through various treatments that fail to address the root cause of their illness.
Why Early and Comprehensive Treatment Is Crucial
When Lyme disease is caught early, prompt treatment can often prevent long-term complications. However, because many cases go undiagnosed—due to unreliable testing and a lack of awareness—patients often develop persistent Lyme disease, which affects multiple systems in the body. If Lyme progresses, it can lead to:
✔ Severe fatigue and cognitive dysfunction ("brain fog")
✔ Chronic joint and muscle pain, often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia
✔ Neurological issues, including numbness, tingling, and dizziness
✔ Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression
✔ Cardiac symptoms like palpitations and irregular heart rhythms
Meet Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal: A Trusted Lyme Disease Specialist
Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal is one of Michigan’s leading Lyme disease specialists, offering personalized, root-cause-based treatment for patients suffering from chronic infections and immune dysfunction. At Restorative Medicine Center, she goes beyond conventional Lyme protocols, using advanced diagnostic testing and integrative therapies to identify and treat not just Lyme disease, but also co-infections and environmental factors that contribute to chronic illness.
Her approach to Lyme disease treatment includes:
✔ Comprehensive Testing – Going beyond standard Lyme tests to detect hidden infections and immune dysfunction.
✔ Personalized Treatment Plans – A blend of herbal and pharmaceutical antimicrobials, immune support, and detoxification strategies.
✔ Whole-Body Healing – Focusing on nervous system regulation, reducing inflammation, and restoring immune balance for long-term recovery.
Why Lyme Disease Is Often Misdiagnosed
A Stealth Infection That Mimics Other Chronic Conditions
Lyme disease is often referred to as “The Great Imitator” because its symptoms closely resemble those of many other chronic conditions. Patients suffering from persistent fatigue, joint pain, neurological symptoms, or mood disorders are frequently misdiagnosed with:
✅ Autoimmune Diseases (Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis) – Lyme can trigger chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction, leading to symptoms that mimic these conditions.
✅ Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – The widespread pain, brain fog, and exhaustion caused by Lyme are often mistaken for fibromyalgia or CFS, leading to symptom-based treatments that fail to address the root cause.
✅ Neurological & Psychiatric Disorders (Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, OCD, Dementia-like Symptoms) – Lyme bacteria can invade the nervous system, causing cognitive dysfunction, personality changes, and mood disturbances, leading to misdiagnoses of psychiatric disorders.
Standard Lyme Disease Testing: Why It Fails So Many Patients
Many conventional doctors rely on the ELISA and Western Blot tests to diagnose Lyme disease. However, these tests are notoriously unreliable, with false-negative rates as high as 50%, meaning that many Lyme patients test negative despite having an active infection.
🚫 They Only Detect Antibodies – If your immune system is suppressed (which Lyme bacteria can do), you may not produce enough antibodies to trigger a positive result.
🚫 False Negatives Are Common – Many patients with Lyme disease receive negative test results even when they have a clinically significant infection because Lyme bacteria evade detection by suppressing the immune response and hiding within tissues.
🚫 Limited Strain Detection – Standard tests only screen for a few strains of Borrelia (the Lyme bacteria), but many patients are infected with multiple strains or co-infections that go undetected.
The Importance of Advanced Diagnostic Testing
At Restorative Medicine Center, we go beyond traditional, unreliable Lyme tests by using advanced diagnostic methods to accurately identify Lyme disease and its co-infections, including:
✔ Expanded Lyme Disease Panels – Detects Borrelia and multiple co-infections with better accuracy.
✔ Immune & Inflammatory Biomarkers – Identifies chronic inflammation, immune suppression, and nervous system dysfunction (VEGF, MMP-9, C4a, TGFB1).
✔ Co-Infection Testing – Screening for Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma, and other stealth pathogens that worsen Lyme symptoms.
✔ Biotoxin & Heavy Metal Testing – Evaluating mold exposure, chemical sensitivities, and heavy metal toxicity, which can worsen Lyme-related immune dysfunction.
Our Approach to Lyme Disease Treatment
At Restorative Medicine Center, we take a root-cause-focused approach to Lyme disease, moving beyond symptom management to identify and resolve the underlying factors contributing to chronic illness. Lyme disease is not just an infection—it is a stealth pathogen that disrupts immune function, burdens the body with toxins, and triggers systemic inflammation. That’s why we utilize the Root Cause Triad, a comprehensive framework designed to support deep, lasting healing.
The Root Cause Triad: Addressing Lyme Disease at Its Core
✅ Microbes (Infections & Co-Infections)
Lyme disease rarely exists in isolation. Many patients also suffer from co-infections, which complicate treatment and worsen symptoms, including:
- Bartonella – Causes neurological symptoms, anxiety, and vascular inflammation.
- Babesia – A malaria-like parasite that leads to extreme fatigue, night sweats, and breathing difficulties.
- Mycoplasma & Chlamydia pneumoniae – Persistent infections that trigger chronic inflammation and autoimmune-like symptoms.
These stealth pathogens evade detection, weaken the immune system, and prolong chronic illness.
✅ Toxins (Biotoxins & Environmental Burdens)
- Lyme bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) and its co-infections release biotoxins, which can lead to:
- Brain fog & cognitive dysfunction
- Chronic inflammation & immune suppression
- Detoxification impairments & chemical sensitivities
- Many patients also experience mold exposure, heavy metals, or other toxic burdens, which further disrupt immune function and slow recovery.
✅ Stress Response (Nervous System Dysfunction)
Chronic infections and toxin overload activate the body's fight-or-flight response, leading to:
- Adrenal exhaustion and hormonal imbalances
- Sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression
- Poor gut function and nutrient absorption
Advanced Testing Methods for Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is frequently misdiagnosed because standard tests fail to detect chronic infections. At Restorative Medicine Center, we use specialized diagnostic tools to accurately identify Lyme disease and its co-infections, including:
✔ Expanded Lyme Disease Panels – Detects Borrelia and co-infections with greater sensitivity.
✔ Immune & Inflammatory Biomarkers – Measures chronic inflammation, immune suppression, and nervous system dysfunction (VEGF, MMP-9, C4a, TGFB1).
✔ Co-Infection Testing – Screens for Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma, and other stealth pathogens.
✔ Biotoxin & Heavy Metal Testing – Evaluates mold exposure, chemical sensitivities, and heavy metal toxicity.
Comprehensive Lyme Disease Treatment Plans
✔ Herbal & Pharmaceutical Antimicrobials
We create individualized protocols using:
- Herbal antimicrobials (Japanese Knotweed, Cryptolepis, Artemisinin) for targeted bacterial and parasitic support.
- Pharmaceutical antibiotics (if appropriate), strategically used to prevent resistance.
- Antiparasitic & antifungal protocols to eliminate secondary infections.
✔ Immune System Modulation
Lyme disease disrupts immune function, so we restore balance through:
- Immune-modulating therapies (Low-Dose Immunotherapy, Transfer Factors).
- Nutrient optimization (Vitamin D, zinc, glutathione, mitochondrial support).
- Reducing chronic inflammation to restore immune resilience.
✔ Detoxification & Mold/Mycotoxin Evaluation
Since toxins contribute to chronic illness, we integrate:
- Far infrared sauna therapy for deep detox support.
- Liver detox protocols (glutathione, NAC, binders) to eliminate Lyme biotoxins.
- Mold and mycotoxin testing to remove hidden environmental triggers.
✔ Nervous System Regulation for Long-Term Healing
Lyme overactivates the nervous system, keeping the body in a state of chronic inflammation. Our strategies include:
- Vagus nerve stimulation & breathwork exercises to reset the nervous system.
- Red light & near-infrared therapy for pain relief and mitochondrial support.
- Adrenal support protocols to restore sleep, energy, and hormonal balance.
How to Get Started with Lyme Disease Treatment
If you’ve been struggling with chronic symptoms, unresolved health issues, or a Lyme disease diagnosis that hasn’t been properly addressed, now is the time to take control of your health. Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal and the team at Restorative Medicine Center are here to guide you with comprehensive, root-cause-focused care to help you heal.
📅 Steps to Book an Appointment
✅ Step 1: Contact Our Office
📞 Call us at 248-289-6349 or visit Restorative Medicine Center to schedule your consultation.
✅ Step 2: Complete New Patient Forms
Once your appointment is scheduled, you’ll receive intake forms to provide details about your symptoms, medical history, and previous treatments.
✅ Step 3: Prepare for Your Appointment
- Keep a symptom timeline to track changes and patterns in your health.
- Gather past lab results and any previous Lyme-related testing.
- Write down your questions and concerns to ensure a productive visit with Dr. Birkmeier-Fredal.
✅ Step 4: Choose Telemedicine or In-Person Care
We offer both in-office visits in Rochester Hills, MI and telemedicine consultations for patients who prefer remote care.
💡 Take Control of Your Health Today
Lyme disease is a complex, often misdiagnosed condition, but with the right diagnostic approach and targeted treatment, you can reclaim your health. At Restorative Medicine Center, we go beyond conventional medicine to find and treat the root causes of illness, ensuring a personalized path to recovery.
📢 Contact Restorative Medicine Center Today to Start Your Healing Journey!
📞 Call 248-289-6349 or visit our website to schedule your consultation with Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal today. You deserve real answers, real solutions, and lasting recovery.