When most people think of Lyme disease, they imagine a single bacterial infection that can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. But for many patients, Lyme disease is far more complex. In reality, Lyme is often just the beginning.
At Functional Healing with Dr. Tara, we regularly work with patients who continue to struggle with symptoms long after a Lyme diagnosis, or who have never fully improved despite treatment. One of the most overlooked reasons for this is Lyme co-infections.
Understanding co-infections is a critical step in healing, especially for those dealing with chronic or persistent symptoms.
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. Early symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, headaches, fever, and sometimes a bullseye rash. When caught early, treatment can be straightforward.
However, ticks rarely transmit just one pathogen.
What Are Lyme Co-Infections?
Co-infections are additional bacteria, parasites, or viruses that are transmitted at the same time as Lyme disease. A single tick bite can expose the body to multiple pathogens, each affecting different systems in the body.
This is why Lyme disease can look so different from person to person, and why standard treatment doesn’t always lead to full recovery.
Common Lyme Co-Infections
Some of the most common co-infections we see include:
- Babesia – A parasite that infects red blood cells and can cause air hunger, night sweats, dizziness, and severe fatigue
- Bartonella – Often linked to neurological symptoms, anxiety, nerve pain, stretch-mark-like rashes, and foot pain
- Ehrlichia and Anaplasma – Bacterial infections that may cause fever, muscle aches, headaches, and immune suppression
- Mycoplasma – Can contribute to chronic inflammation, joint pain, and respiratory issues
Each co-infection has its own behavior, preferred tissues, and impact on the immune system.
Why Co-Infections Are Often Missed
Many conventional Lyme tests focus solely on Borrelia. Co-infections are frequently under-tested or missed entirely due to:
- Limited testing sensitivity
- Symptoms that mimic anxiety, autoimmune disease, or chronic fatigue
- A “one-size-fits-all” treatment approach
- Lack of awareness about tick-borne illness complexity
When co-infections go untreated, patients may feel stuck in a cycle of flare-ups, temporary relief, and relapse.
Symptoms That May Point to Co-Infections
While symptoms overlap, certain patterns can suggest the presence of co-infections, including:
- Severe or persistent fatigue
- Shortness of breath or air hunger
- Night sweats or temperature dysregulation
- Neurological symptoms such as anxiety, brain fog, tingling, or mood changes
- Joint and muscle pain that migrates
- Poor response to standard Lyme treatment
If you’ve been treated for Lyme but don’t feel like yourself again, co-infections may be a missing piece of the puzzle.
Why Co-Infections Make Lyme Harder to Heal
Co-infections place an additional burden on the immune system. They can:
- Suppress immune function
- Increase inflammation throughout the body
- Disrupt detoxification pathways
- Interfere with mitochondrial energy production
- Make Borrelia harder to eradicate
This is why addressing Lyme alone often isn’t enough.
Healing requires a broader, more personalized approach.
A Functional Medicine Approach to Lyme and Co-Infections
At Functional Healing with Dr. Tara, we don’t just chase symptoms, we look at the entire picture.
A functional approach to Lyme and co-infections may include:
Comprehensive Testing
We use advanced testing to look beyond Lyme alone and identify hidden infections, immune markers, inflammation, and detox capacity.
Personalized Treatment Plans
No two patients are alike. Treatment may involve targeted antimicrobials (herbal or pharmaceutical), immune support, nervous system regulation, and gut healing.
Detox and Drainage Support
When pathogens die off, toxins are released. Supporting detox pathways helps reduce flare-ups and improves tolerance to treatment.
Nervous System and Adrenal Support
Many Lyme patients are stuck in fight-or-flight. Addressing stress physiology is essential for long-term healing.
Whole-Body Healing
We address sleep, nutrition, hormones, gut health, and emotional stressors — all of which influence recovery.
Why Addressing Co-Infections Changes Everything
When co-infections are properly identified and treated:
- Inflammation decreases
- Energy improves
- Brain fog clears
- Pain becomes more manageable
- The immune system regains balance
Many patients finally begin to feel forward momentum after years of frustration.
You’re Not “Crazy” … You’re Missing Information
If you’ve been told your symptoms are “just anxiety,” “all in your head,” or that you should be better by now, please know this: persistent symptoms deserve deeper investigation.
Lyme disease isn’t just one infection, and healing often requires looking beyond the obvious.
Take the Next Step Toward Healing
If you suspect Lyme co-infections or feel like your healing has stalled, functional medicine offers a path forward rooted in understanding, compassion, and personalized care.
At Functional Healing with Dr. Tara, we specialize in uncovering the root causes of chronic illness so you can move toward true, lasting healing, not just symptom management.
