Maybe you were told you have Lyme, did everything you were asked to do, and still don't feel like yourself. Or maybe Lyme never showed up on a test, but the night sweats, the joint pain that moves around, and the exhaustion keep coming back. In either case, one question deserves a closer look: is something else riding along?
Ticks can carry more than one organism. When more than one is involved, we call those co-infections. They're one of the most common reasons a Lyme picture doesn't add up, and one of the most commonly overlooked.
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Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia bacteria. A co-infection is another organism picked up at the same time, from the same bite or from a separate exposure, that adds its own layer of symptoms. The ones people ask me about most often:
A tiny parasite that lives in red blood cells, carried by the same kind of tick that carries Lyme. People often describe fevers and chills, drenching night sweats, fatigue, and a feeling of "air hunger," like they can't get a full breath.
Two related bacteria that affect white blood cells. They tend to show up as fever, headache, muscle aches, and feeling wiped out. In Texas, the lone star tick is a common carrier of Ehrlichia.
Other organisms, such as Bartonella and spotted fever rickettsia, can enter the picture too, and viral factors like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can add to the load. These are general descriptions, not a checklist. Symptoms overlap heavily, which is the whole point of testing.
Co-infection symptoms blend into Lyme symptoms, so the pattern matters more than any single complaint. Things that make me think beyond Lyme alone:
If you'd like a broader list, I've written about commonly overlooked Lyme symptoms.
"I have heard for years, “you are fine”, “we don’t see anything”, “your labs look good”. After feeling isolated, alone, and several instances that this is all in my head, I was at the point where I didn’t think I could work. Dr. Wards has been extremely patient, understanding, and listens to what I have to say."
B.M., from our patient success stories
Each co-infection calls for a different kind of support. If we only look at Lyme, we can miss the piece that's driving how you feel. Testing gives us a map: what's present, what isn't, and what else (like gut health, mold exposure, or hormones) may be adding to the load. It also keeps us from guessing, which saves you time, money, and frustration.
In my experience, standard Lyme blood tests can miss a lot. They look for a narrow set of Lyme markers and don't check for co-infections at all. That's why I prefer the Vibrant America Tickborne 1.0 and 2.0 panels, which look for many more organisms and markers from a single blood draw.
Vibrant America can combine panels, so co-infection testing can be paired with other panels, such as mold or mycotoxin testing, on the same blood draw. For more background, see understanding tick-borne disease testing and tick-borne tests you may want to ask for.
A standard-looking blood panel, read with functional ranges, can show patterns worth following, such as changes in red or white blood cells, liver markers, or inflammation. Blood draws are generally done at LabCorp, so most people can find a location near home.
Lyme rarely travels alone in the body's story. If digestion is a big part of your picture, I may also suggest a GI-MAP stool test. See my SIBO stool testing guide and gut health and Lyme.
I choose between Tickborne 1.0 and 2.0, and decide what to add, based on your symptoms, your timeline, where you live and travel, your outdoor time, and what's already been tested. Then we decide together.
We talk through what's going on and whether working together makes sense. No pressure.
Visits run about an hour. I take a long history: symptoms, timeline, possible exposures, past labs, and what you've already tried. Visits happen by telehealth for patients nationwide, and phone-only visits are fine. If you'd rather come in, in-person visits are only at our Waxahachie clinic, 304 N College St, Waxahachie TX 75165. I see children as well as adults.
At that first visit, we decide which tests you need. Tick-borne panels are done by blood draw, generally at LabCorp.
We go through your results together, in plain language, and connect them to how you actually feel. Tick-borne panel results usually come back in 5 to 7 business days.
"Dr Wards is a wealth of knowledge, and is extremely well-versed in Lyme and EBV, as well as mold toxicities."
Autumn, from our patient success stories
No two co-infection pictures look alike, so no two plans do either. Your results help me decide what to support first and how fast to move. My approach usually happens in two phases:
Before we address the bugs, we get your body ready. That means supporting the immune system, gut, detox pathways, nutrition, and energy, along with co-factors like mold exposure, EBV, and hormones. A stronger foundation helps your body handle the next phase.
Once you're ready, we use antimicrobial and antibacterial herbs chosen to match what your testing shows, along with binders to help your body clear what's released. We move at the pace your body tolerates, with regular check-ins so we can adjust as you respond.
I also work alongside your other doctors. If something in your results calls for urgent medical care, I'll tell you.
In Texas, ticks are most active in the warmer months, from spring through fall, but mild winters mean they don't fully disappear. Hiking trails, lake areas, tall grass, and even backyards with deer or pets can all bring you into contact with them. A few simple habits help:
Spend a lot of time near Joe Pool Lake or Cedar Hill State Park? See Lyme support for Cedar Hill. Patients in the Metroplex can also read about Lyme support in Dallas, and Central Texas patients about Lyme support in Austin. For the bigger picture, start with our Lyme disease overview or meet our Lyme team.
The ones people ask about most are Babesia, Bartonella, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia. Each is a different organism with its own pattern of symptoms, and each needs its own test.
Yes, it's possible. A standard Lyme test only looks for Lyme. That's one reason Dr. Wards uses Vibrant America tick-borne panels, which check for co-infections as well as Lyme.
With a blood draw, generally at LabCorp. Dr. Wards uses the Vibrant America Tickborne 1.0 or 2.0 panel, which looks for Lyme and co-infections such as Babesia, Bartonella, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia. Other panels, such as mold or mycotoxin testing, can be combined on the same draw. Results usually take 5 to 7 business days.
Yes. Texas has several tick species that bite people, and they're most active from spring through fall. In Dr. Wards' practice, Lyme and co-infections show up far more often in Central Texas than official numbers suggest.
No. Dr. Wards sees patients nationwide by telehealth, and phone-only visits are fine. In-person visits are only at the Waxahachie clinic, 304 N College St, Waxahachie TX 75165. Blood draws are generally done at a LabCorp near you.
If your symptoms have never fully made sense, let's take a closer look together. Start with a free conversation.
Book your free 15-minute Health Strategy Call → · Call 512.328.0505