We have extensive experience with both Lyme testing and supporting Lyme Disease recovery for thousands of patients. Recovering from Lyme Disease is achievable, but the process requires dedication. Getting started with an accurate Lyme Disease diagnosis can be be almost impossible when working with conventional medical facilities. 

As you might read in her book, Dr. Tenesha Wards has experienced personal challenges with Lyme Disease. Her own journey in identifying and treating this chronic and debilitating disease has made her one of Texas’ premier experts on the topic. Read on to learn more about the prevalence of Lyme disease in Austin, Texas and the associated symptoms.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through the bite of infected Black-legged deer ticks. Due to the sheer number of white-tailed deer in parts of our area, it’s no wonder that the Texas Hill Country is likely to have more cases than other areas of the state with a lesser deer population.

While it’s true that most Lyme Disease cases in the US are contracted in the upper Midwest and Northeastern states, Texas sees dozens of cases every year.  Most of the Texas Lyme cases are within the region between Houston, Dallas and Austin. Moreover, the range of counties where infected deer ticks are being found is increasing all the time.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

If left untreated, Lyme Disease can present multi-systemic symptoms, which can make it hard to diagnose. It often presents mild, flu-like systems lasting longer than a week to 10 days with achy and swollen joints, accompanied by extreme fatigue. 50% or less of the cases will have a bull’s-eye rash is one of the first symptoms. Additional symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, facial numbness, abdominal pain, diarrhea and a range of other symptoms from night sweats to depression. Further complicating the diagnosis, symptoms can come and go, as well as worsen over time. There is, however, a specific type of test called an Elisa test. And it’s only about 80% accurate, sadly. Sometimes doctors will treat Lyme based on symptoms alone.

Do you have Brain Fog?

One of the most common — and earliest— symptoms is a mild cognitive impairment known as brain fog. In fact, studies show that approximately 20% of patients with early on set Lyme disease only complain of fatigue, unexplained muscle and joint pain, more frequent headaches, and brain fog.

Brain fog can take two forms in Lyme Disease patients: A general experience or feeling of cloudiness, fogginess or heaviness in the head. Other people experience more extreme symptoms, where the patient cannot readily form coherent thoughts or sentences, and has trouble with short-term memory, reasoning, and focus. What many people don’t realize is that this brain fog, along with most other symptoms associated with Lyme Disease, is actually the result of an overactive immune response that has caused a build up of cytokine inflammation and other brain infection chemicals – more on cytokines below. Existing symptoms can worsen and new symptoms emerge as a result of treatment. That’s why there must be a whole body approach to achieve wellness.

What are Cytokines?

Cytokines are proteins created by white bloods cells that initiate an immune response. In the right amounts, they help the white blood cells effectively halt viral and bacterial replication. With persistent infections in the body, a cytokine storm can begin, usually a side effect of treatment. When parts of the infection die off, whether from antibiotics or more holistic and natural therapies, toxins are released into the blood that the immune system can mistake for a new threat. More and more cytokines are released in response, overwhelming the immune system and resulting in the pain, fatigue, lowered immunity, and brain fog Lyme Disease patients often report.

Whole Body Approach: Treat the Infection and Decrease Cytokine Production

The good news is these effects can be fixed by treating cytokine-producing problems, alongside existing infections and co-infections like Bartonella, Babesia and Ehrlichia. Borrelia Burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease, routinely exists alongside viral and parasitic infections, yeast overgrowth in the intestinal tract, and mold toxins in the bloodstream. Therefore, for any Lyme Disease treatment to be effective and complete, ALL existing infections and conditions must be identified.

Lyme Disease and its co-infections generally respond well to antibiotics in acute systemic cases, while the toxicity and gut imbalances can be addressed through lifestyle changes, detoxification, and specific supplementation. Some of the adjustments we recommend are:

Anti-inflammatory diet: A low-sugar, low-carb diet that is high in lean proteins and clean, whole foods will help bring the gut flora back into balance. 

Addressing sleep issues: Lack of sleep encourages cytokine production, while quality sleep decreases it.

Supplementation: Specific supplementation can reduce oxidation, remove toxins, and block enzymes that encourage the production of cytokines. Glutathione, liposomal curcumin, resveratrol, and quercetin are just a few powerful tools in the treatment support toolbox for decreasing cytokine production. They are affective at removing toxins that decrease brain function and repairing nerve injury during treatment. These things are not a quick fix, but they can effectively relieve brain fog and other common symptoms associated with Lyme disease.

Schedule an appointment with our team if you may be suffering from Lyme Disease or your current treatment protocol is not showing results.

Using The Infinity Way^TM to Heal from Lyme Disease 

 Dr. Wards had the honor of interviewing one of our Lyme Disease patient success stories, Karly Baughn. Karly was previously tested for Lyme and was told she was negative. She didn’t have a bull’s eye rash or a known tick bite but had symptoms that almost led her to a psychiatrist’s office. We discuss what we did differently with testing and how we addressed her autoimmunity and hormone imbalances with her program. We treated Karly’s whole body using The Infinity Way^TM 3 step healing process. Watch the interview below to learn more about Karly’s healing journey! 

FUN FACT: Through her Lyme Disease healing journey, Karly discovered her passion for nutrition and now works as our Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, helping other patients recover from Lyme and other complex medical issues.

For more information, community, and resources about living with Lyme and recovering from Lyme Disease, we recommend the Texas Lyme Disease Association and the Treat Lyme page by Marty Ross MD.