Food Allergy Panels and Lyme Disease: Testing for Triggers

Living in Austin’s warm, outdoor-friendly environment comes with its perks, but it can also expose people to health risks like Lyme disease. Many folks brush off early symptoms like body aches, fatigue, or brain fog as stress or overwork, especially in such a fast-paced city. When those symptoms linger for weeks or get worse, it may be a signal of something deeper going on. Lyme disease, when left untreated or misdiagnosed, can wear down the body in ways that don’t always seem connected at first.

That’s where an approach like functional medicine comes in. For those frustrated by a lack of clear answers, this type of care takes a broader view. It looks into what's causing symptoms instead of only trying to suppress them. Functional medicine gives a clearer picture of what’s happening beneath the surface, especially for active people in Austin who can't afford to waste time with trial-and-error treatments. This method digs into how different body systems interact, searching for why symptoms stick around. Since no two cases of Lyme look exactly the same, personalized care becomes a key part of getting real results.

Understanding Lyme Disease: Challenges And Symptoms

Lyme disease is triggered by the bite of a tick carrying the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The early symptoms can feel a lot like the flu or even include a rash, but things can snowball quickly if the disease isn’t addressed early. Many living in areas like Austin don’t recall ever getting bitten, which makes it easy to overlook. Months or even years can pass before someone puts the pieces together behind issues like persistent fatigue, joint discomfort, disturbed sleep, or unusual neurological symptoms.

One of the biggest challenges with Lyme is how unpredictable it is. It doesn’t always follow a clear pattern, which leads to frequent misdiagnosis. A person might get basic testing, receive unclear results, and be told nothing is wrong. With symptoms mounting, it’s easy to feel stuck or dismissed. Some people are misdiagnosed with conditions like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or told their symptoms are just stress-related. But when Lyme lies beneath it all, those band-aid answers don’t lead to real healing.

Standard testing often doesn't go deep enough to see where the problem is truly rooted. Functional medicine providers use additional labs that traditional settings may overlook. One important tool is the CD57 test, which can show when immune function is suppressed and possibly indicate chronic Lyme. EBV, or Epstein-Barr Virus, is another marker that may surface in these patients, adding to symptoms like fatigue, swollen glands, confusion, or brain fog.

A proper Lyme workup looks more like a big-picture map. Key labs might include:

- CD57 to check immune cell activity

- EBV markers to explore possible viral loads

- Full blood chemistry to explore over 50 markers related to inflammation, immune function, digestion, nutrient levels, and organ performance

- Tick 1.0 and Tick 2.0 testing to detect Lyme and other tick-related infections

If you’ve been told your labs are “normal” but you still don’t feel normal, this kind of testing can fill in the gaps. Getting a complete view offers more than one isolated clue. Instead, it builds a timeline of your symptoms with hard data that paints the entire picture.

How Functional Medicine Can Help

Functional medicine isn’t about chasing symptoms. It’s about asking deeper questions to find out what sparked the condition in the first place. With cases like Lyme, this matters a lot. People may be dealing with layers of underlying infections, nutrient deficiencies, toxic exposures, and weakened immune function—often all at the same time.

This approach is especially helpful for late-stage Lyme or for those who’ve had treatments with little improvement. Where conventional medicine might focus on prescribing pain meds for a specific symptom, functional medicine looks at everything from gut health to inflammation and past infections. It recognizes that symptoms like joint pain, brain fog, and low energy might all come from the same root cause.

Here's how it usually works:

- Full-body history: Practitioners ask questions about everything from past illnesses to lifestyle factors that could've set the stage for Lyme to thrive.

- Deeper testing: Beyond basic blood work, functional medicine providers often test for hormone levels, viral loads, toxic buildup, and nutrient status.

- Personalized plans: Treatment isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Plans adjust based on your symptoms, test results, environment, and how your body responds.

- Long-term healing: Care isn’t just about reducing symptoms but improving the way your entire system functions—physically and mentally.

Healing can take time and patience, especially if you've been unwell for years. But once the core factors are identified, your body has a better chance to respond to treatments that support full recovery. Functional medicine builds the foundation by targeting inflammation, supporting detox efforts, and restoring key functions you rely on daily.

Key Components of Functional Medicine for Lyme Disease

Addressing Lyme means creating a support system for your entire body. Functional medicine includes practical, day-to-day steps focused on healing through nutrition, detox, and strengthening the immune system.

Food is one of the biggest tools here. A good anti-inflammatory diet replaces processed foods and sugar with nutrient-rich options that support healing. Think lots of colorful vegetables, quality proteins, healthy fats, and hydration. Paired with supplements like probiotics or omega-3s, these changes can help reduce stress on the body and improve gut health, which plays a huge role in immune function.

Toxins are another factor that can worsen Lyme symptoms. From air pollutants to chemicals in household items, the body deals with more burden than we realize. Detox practices aren’t about extreme cleanses but working small habits into your routine. Drinking clean water, breaking a sweat, or using foods that help flush toxins are simple ways to stay ahead of inflammation.

The immune system also needs strong support if you're healing from Lyme. Gentle but consistent physical activity, stress releases like daily movement or mindfulness, and quality sleep all keep your immune defense operating well. These aren’t just “wellness trends”—they’re key parts of building long-term health that functional medicine providers often prioritize early in a care plan.

Finding Functional Medicine Practitioners in Austin

Choosing the right practitioner makes a big difference. If you're looking for functional medicine care in Austin, here are a few things to consider:

- Listen for connection: A good provider listens carefully and asks thoughtful questions.

- Look into training and experience: Someone experienced with chronic illness and holistic care is often more equipped to explore tough cases like Lyme.

- Check community feedback: Local wellness groups or forums can be useful when looking for trusted recommendations or narrowing down possible providers.

- Think long-term: Your connection to any provider should feel like an ongoing partnership, not a one-time consult.

The Austin area has a growing number of functional medicine professionals, offering both in-person and telehealth visits. Whether you're looking for full assessments, targeted care plans, or someone to help manage symptoms while getting to the root of your health concerns, you have options. Taking time to find the right fit helps make sure you’re supported throughout your care journey.

A Healthier Future Is Closer Than You Think

Choosing a functional medicine path could be a turning point, especially if Lyme disease has been a long and frustrating part of your life. While overnight fixes are rare, small, steady steps often create powerful results. It might begin with something as easy as changing your breakfast or scheduling your sleep better—but progress adds up.

This type of care isn’t about forcing your body to feel okay for the day. It’s about helping every system work together in a way that supports your actual well-being. Getting better sleep, thinking clearer, having more energy, or feeling less anxiety are all markers that things are improving. It’s not just about removing Lyme symptoms. It’s also about building the kind of health that holds up over time.

If you’re in Austin and have been frustrated by lack of answers, know that there are local and virtual options available to give you control back over your health. Every effort matters—and you're not on this journey alone.

At Infinity Wellness, we specialize in holistic, root-cause care tailored to your unique health journey. Serving both local and nationwide patients through in-person and virtual services, we offer comprehensive programs to address conditions such as hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, and digestive issues. Our goal is to help you achieve long-term wellness and vitality. Ready to transform your health?

Learn how functional medicine in Austin can offer a fresh perspective for tackling health challenges like Lyme disease. With the right guidance from Infinity Wellness Telehealth, you can begin a personalized path toward better health and uncover the root causes of your symptoms. Strengthen your journey toward well-being by connecting with a trusted care team who understands your unique needs. 

Book an appointment here - Our Holistic Approach to Wellness - Infinity Wellness Center. It is important to find a functional medicine doctor who focuses on finding and fixing the core root cause of these symptoms to help you heal.