Lyme Disease Diagnosis

A Lyme disease diagnosis can be very difficult to make as the disease is known as the “great imitator” since it mimics the symptoms of other chronic conditions. A practitioner can usually make a Lyme disease diagnosis if the patient presents in the first few weeks of being bitten, and displays the classic bulls-eye rash with fever and chills. Further on in time, making an accurate Lyme disease diagnosis can be much harder to do.

Lyme disease has distinct stages and the easiest time to make a Lyme disease diagnosis is in the first stage. If a person has bitten by a tick or arthropod carrying the bacteria spirochetes Borrelia burgdorferi, they may well fall victim to Lyme disease. At this stage, a practitioner may order a Lyme disease test although the results may be negative in the first 4-6 weeks. This is because it can take up to two months after becoming infected before antibodies can be detected in a blood test. If they test positive, a Lyme disease diagnosis can be made and the patient can be treated with antibiotics.

Often early symptoms do not appear and so left untreated, the disease lies dormant. The infection spreads through the bloodstream and lymph nodes within days to weeks, involving the joints, nervous system, and possibly the heart resulting in severe headaches, neck stiffness, and sensitivity to light. In addition, some patients report altered mental status, shooting pains and abnormal skin sensations. Making a Lyme disease diagnosis at this stage becomes harder for a practitioner as the disease is already playing out in different ways.

The most difficult to make Lyme disease diagnosis is when the disease reaches the third stage, which may take months or even years. Symptoms become chronic and may affect many parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, eyes, joints, and heart. Symptoms mimic many well-known conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Alzheimer’s and Fibromyalgia if a correct Lyme disease diagnosis has not previously been made. In many instances, patients are incorrectly diagnosed with a different chronic condition and not are therefore do not receive the correct treatment. For this reason it is very important to find a practitioner who can perform tests and make an accurate Lyme disease diagnosis.

Making the Correct Lyme Disease Diagnosis

Lyme disease is now almost at epidemic proportions, although most patients have no idea they have the disease, they have no recollection of being bitten by a tick and have never seen a bulls-eye rash on their skin. At LifeWorks Wellness Center every patient who presents with a chronic condition is tested for Lyme disease and a surprisingly high number of test results lead to a Lyme disease diagnoses being made.

In the first instance, the LifeWorks practitioner will perform a detailed neurological bio-feedback test, known as autonomic reflex testing. Using this test for Lyme disease, we can screen the body for up to six Lyme organisms. If any of these test positive, the practitioner will order a blood test for Lyme disease using a specialty lab test to detect Lyme or Lyme-like organisms. Finally, the practitioner will take a detailed look at the patient’s blood under a microscope to see if any spirochetes are present. Following a Lyme disease diagnosis, effective treatment can begin.

Lyme Disease Testimonials

We have been successfully treating Lyme Disease for many many years and our treatment protocols and patient testimonials speak to our treatment efficacy.

Where to get an accurate Lyme Disease Diagnosis

LifeWorks Wellness Center is long recognized as one of the foremost natural health clinics in the US. At our Tampa Bay, Florida alternative medicine office we have made a correct Lyme Disease diagnosis on many patients. Patients fly in from all over the world because they simply can’t find clinics who can make a correct Lyme Disease diagnosis and which offer natural medicine for Lyme Disease where they live.

We have helped many patients regain their health and we would love to help you, too. To become a patient or for more information feel free to call the New Patient Scheduler at (727) 466-6789 or simply submit an online web inquiry with your request.