Lyme disease is far more than a simple tick-borne infection—it is a multi-system illness that can disrupt the immune, neurological, and endocrine systems all at once. While it begins with the bite of a tick carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, the ripple effects throughout the body can be profound and long-lasting.
In Michigan and across the Midwest, Lyme disease is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, leaving patients trapped in cycles of fatigue, pain, and confusion. Many are told that their symptoms are “in their head,” or are misclassified as autoimmune, fibromyalgia, or psychiatric disorders. By the time patients reach Restorative Medicine Center, they’ve often seen multiple specialists—each treating a single piece of the puzzle, but not the whole picture.
Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal, MD, approaches Lyme disease through her Root Cause Triad framework, which looks beyond symptoms to identify and treat the interconnected systems driving illness. This model focuses on three fundamental areas that determine whether the body can heal or remains stuck in chronic inflammation:
- Microbes – Persistent infections and co-infections that evade detection and treatment.
- Toxins – Biotoxins and environmental exposures that overwhelm the body’s detox pathways.
- Stress Response – Chronic nervous system activation that perpetuates inflammation and immune imbalance.
By addressing these three areas simultaneously, Dr. Birkmeier’s approach restores equilibrium to the body rather than simply suppressing symptoms. Her goal is not to “manage” Lyme disease, but to help patients regain vitality, clarity, and long-term immune stability.
Each patient’s healing journey is guided by compassion, evidence-informed science, and partnership. No two cases of Lyme are alike—and at Restorative Medicine Center, care is as individualized as each person’s story.
What Makes Lyme Disease So Complex?
At its core, Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted primarily through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. However, the infection is rarely this simple. Most patients with chronic Lyme are also affected by co-infections—other microbes transmitted by the same tick bite, such as Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, and Mycoplasma. These pathogens work together to weaken the immune system, disrupt energy production, and inflame the nervous system.
Acute vs. Chronic Lyme Disease
- Acute Lyme disease occurs shortly after infection, often presenting with fever, rash, and flu-like symptoms. When treated promptly with antibiotics, recovery is usually straightforward.
- Chronic or persistent Lyme disease, however, can develop when the initial infection goes unrecognized or inadequately treated. In this form, Borrelia and its co-infections can embed deep within tissues, evading both the immune system and standard antibiotic therapy.
Dr. Teresa often refers to these chronic infections as “Stealth Pathogen Illnesses.” These microbes are adept at hiding from immune detection, forming protective biofilms, and triggering inflammation long after the original exposure. Because of this, patients may test negative on conventional Lyme tests even while actively battling infection.
Why Symptoms Persist and Vary So Widely
Lyme disease affects far more than the joints—it’s a systemic condition that touches nearly every organ system. The symptoms vary depending on which body systems are most affected:
- Neurological:
Brain fog, dizziness, headaches, cognitive decline, numbness, tingling, or difficulty concentrating. - Musculoskeletal:
Migratory joint pain, chronic fatigue, muscle stiffness, and body aches that fluctuate in intensity. - Psychological:
Anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, irritability, and depression that seem to appear “out of nowhere.” - Cardiac and Systemic:
Heart palpitations, temperature dysregulation, low blood pressure, and hormonal imbalance, often mimicking thyroid or adrenal issues.
These symptoms often wax and wane, creating a confusing clinical picture. Because they mimic so many other conditions, Lyme disease is frequently misdiagnosed as autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or even psychiatric illness.
At Restorative Medicine Center, Dr. Birkmeier helps patients and families make sense of this complexity. Through careful history-taking, advanced diagnostic testing, and her Root Cause Triad approach, she identifies what’s truly keeping the immune system overactivated—and then guides patients toward recovery that lasts.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Approach
Healing from chronic Lyme disease begins with uncovering the full picture—not just identifying the infection itself, but understanding why the body has remained stuck in a state of inflammation and dysfunction. At Restorative Medicine Center, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal uses a comprehensive and individualized diagnostic approach that evaluates each patient’s immune, hormonal, microbial, and metabolic systems as an interconnected whole.
No two cases of Lyme disease are alike, and the path to healing must be guided by data that reflect the patient’s unique biological landscape. This is where functional and precision testing make all the difference.
Functional Immune Panels and CIRS Biomarkers
These tests evaluate the degree of immune activation, inflammation, and toxicity in the body. Using markers like VEGF, MMP-9, C4a, TGF-β1, and the Vitamin D ratio, Dr. Birkmeier can measure how well the immune system is functioning and whether chronic inflammation or toxin overload is contributing to symptoms.
Comprehensive Co-Infection Panels
Because Lyme disease is rarely an isolated infection, Dr. Birkmeier utilizes advanced panels to detect co-infections such as Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, and Mycoplasma—pathogens that can complicate recovery and mimic autoimmune or psychiatric disorders. Identifying these infections ensures that treatment is both targeted and effective.
Toxin and Mycotoxin Testing
Environmental mold, mycotoxins, and chemical exposures can keep the immune system in overdrive and hinder detoxification. Testing for these toxins helps determine whether CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) is present, allowing for precise detox strategies that calm inflammation and restore cellular health.
Hormone, Nutrient, and Mitochondrial Function Analysis
Chronic infections and inflammation often disrupt hormonal balance and drain cellular energy. Dr. Birkmeier evaluates thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormone function, along with mitochondrial markers and nutrient panels, to identify deficiencies that may be slowing recovery.
Together, these diagnostic tools map each patient’s unique imbalance, ensuring that every treatment plan is personalized, precise, and data-driven—not based on trial and error.
Integrative Treatment Strategies at Restorative Medicine Center
At Restorative Medicine Center, Lyme disease treatment is not one-size-fits-all—it’s a multi-dimensional, integrative care model that supports the entire body’s healing process. Dr. Birkmeier combines modern medical science with functional and naturopathic principles to help patients rebuild health step by step.
Antimicrobial and Antiviral Therapy
Lyme disease and its co-infections require a balanced approach that targets pathogens while supporting immune function. Dr. Birkmeier carefully integrates herbal antimicrobials, natural immune modulators, and prescription medications when indicated, tailoring each combination to the patient’s tolerance and clinical response. Her goal is to reduce microbial load gently and sustainably—never overwhelming the body.
Detoxification and Drainage Support
Clearing toxins and biotoxins is crucial for reducing inflammation and preventing symptom flare-ups. Dr. Birkmeier’s detox strategies include:
- Far-infrared sauna therapy to promote safe toxin release through sweating.
- Hydration and mineral repletion to maintain cellular detox pathways.
- Clean air and water filtration to limit ongoing toxin exposure.
- Lymphatic and gentle drainage support through movement, supplementation, and breathwork.
These foundational steps create the conditions for healing—allowing the body to process and eliminate waste effectively.
Nutritional and Mitochondrial Support
Long-term infections can exhaust nutrient stores and impair cellular energy production. Dr. Birkmeier replenishes these deficits through customized nutrient protocols, including:
- Mitochondrial cofactors (CoQ10, L-carnitine, magnesium)
- Antioxidants to protect tissues from oxidative stress
- Adaptogens to enhance stamina and stress resilience
- Balanced nutrition plans emphasizing clean, anti-inflammatory foods
Rebuilding mitochondrial function restores energy, focus, and vitality—core elements of sustainable recovery.
Immune Modulation
Rather than simply stimulating or suppressing the immune system, Dr. Birkmeier focuses on retraining it. Through targeted botanicals, homeopathic support, and nutrient therapies, she helps shift the immune response from overactivation to regulation—calming inflammation while strengthening defense against persistent pathogens.
Lifestyle and Nervous System Regulation
Healing cannot occur in a body stuck in survival mode. Dr. Birkmeier guides patients in restoring nervous system balance through practical, daily tools:
- 4-7-8 breathing exercises to calm stress physiology
- Mindful gratitude practice to shift focus from fear to healing
- Sleep and circadian rhythm optimization to support hormonal balance
- Gentle movement and pacing strategies to prevent post-exertional crashes
These techniques promote resilience and help patients regain confidence in their bodies.
Collaborative Care and Patient Empowerment
At Restorative Medicine Center, patients are active partners in their care. Families are encouraged to track symptoms, interventions, and responses using treatment timelines or response journals. This empowers both patient and provider to fine-tune care based on real-world results, reducing unnecessary interventions and focusing on what truly helps.
Find Clarity and Healing from Chronic Lyme Disease
If you’ve been living with unexplained fatigue, pain, or neurological symptoms that seem to have no clear cause, it may be time to look deeper. At Restorative Medicine Center in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal, MD, helps patients uncover the root causes behind chronic illness and persistent Lyme disease—so true healing can begin.
Dr. Birkmeier’s integrative, science-informed approach combines advanced diagnostic testing with personalized, compassionate care. Using her Root Cause Triad framework—addressing microbes, toxins, and the stress response—she guides patients out of chronic inflammation and back toward balance.
Whether you’ve been newly diagnosed or struggling for years without answers, know that hope and clarity are possible. Your journey to healing starts with understanding what’s really driving your symptoms—and partnering with a physician who listens, educates, and empowers you every step of the way.
Contact Restorative Medicine Center Today
📍 705 Barclay Cir #115, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
📞 248-289-6349 | 📠 Fax: 248-289-6923
🌐 www.restorativemedcenter.com