Understanding Lyme and Tick-Borne Illnesses

If you've ever returned from a hike with a tick bite or wondered why you’ve been experiencing strange symptoms like brain fog, joint pain, or unexplained fatigue—this post is for you. Tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, Bartonella, and Babesia can linger quietly, often misdiagnosed or dismissed. At Longevity Health Clinic, we take a comprehensive, root-cause approach to identifying and treating these stealthy infections.

Let’s break down how we evaluate and support patients with suspected Lyme and related infections—based on the latest science, advanced testing, and years of clinical experience.

The Usual Suspects: Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia

Tick-borne infections are more complex than most people think. It’s not just Lyme (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi)—many patients are also dealing with co-infections like:

• Bartonella: Linked to neurological symptoms, anxiety, and vascular skin changes
• Babesia: A malaria-like parasite that causes fatigue, air hunger, and night sweats
  
  

These pathogens can disrupt your health for months—or even years—if not properly diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms & Timing: When to Suspect a Tick-Borne Illness

Early (Days to Weeks)

• Erythema migrans (bullseye rash)
• Fever, chills, body aches
• Headache, fatigue
  
  

Intermediate (Weeks to Months)

• Nerve pain or numbness
• Facial palsy (Bell’s palsy)
• Migrating joint pain
• Heart palpitations
  
  

Chronic (Months to Years)

• Brain fog, memory issues
• Depression or anxiety
• Persistent joint or muscle pain

Autoimmune-like symptoms

Why Conventional Testing Often Falls Short

Standard Lyme testing (like the ELISA or Western blot) often misses early and chronic cases. That’s why we use advanced diagnostics from Galaxy Diagnostics, which detect actual DNA fragments or antigens from the pathogens—offering more clarity when symptoms are murky.

Our Clinical Pathway at Longevity Health Clinic

We tailor our testing and treatment based on how long you’ve had symptoms:

If You’re Newly Symptomatic (<30 Days)

We recommend:

• BBB Direct Detect 1-Day Panel
  Uses PCR to directly detect Borrelia, Bartonella, and Babesia DNA in your blood.
  
  

If You’ve Had Symptoms for 1–6 Months

We use a combination of:

• Bartonella IgG Serology (IFA) – Measures immune response
• Lyme Nanotrap® Urine Test – Direct detection of Borrelia antigens
  
  

If Your Case Is Complex or Chronic (>6 Months)

You’ll benefit from:

• Comprehensive 3-Day Direct Detect Panel
  This high-sensitivity test captures DNA from all three pathogens via multiple draws. It's our go-to for deep, nuanced cases.
  
  

Treatment, Naturally Informed

At Longevity Health Clinic, we combine evidence-based medicine with functional strategies to help your body truly heal.

Lyme (Borrelia)

• Doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime
• IV therapy in neurologic or cardiac cases
• Lifestyle support for immune resilience
  
  

Bartonella

• Combination antibiotic therapy (e.g., doxycycline + rifampin)
• Nervous system support and detox pathways
  
  

Babesia

• Antiparasitic meds (like atovaquone + azithromycin)
• Mitochondrial and red blood cell support
  
  

What About "Chronic Lyme" or PTLDS?

Some patients feel terrible even after treatment. This may be:

• Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) — lingering inflammation or neuroimmune dysfunction
• Undiagnosed co-infections or immune system imbalance
  
  

We don’t dismiss these cases—we dive deeper. Using data-driven tools, we personalize your plan to restore energy, brain clarity, and gut-immune balance.

You Deserve a Thoughtful, Science-Backed Evaluation

Whether you're early in your symptoms or you've been to every specialist with no answers, we're here to help.

Our philosophy is simple: start with lifestyle, use advanced testing, and treat the root cause.