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Seeking Help for Lyme Disease

Patients shouldn’t take a “wait and see” approach when seeking help for Lyme disease

Patients shouldn’t take a “wait and see” approach when seeking help for Lyme diseaseLyme disease is so misunderstood and misdiagnosed that many people take a “wait and see” approach to seeking help for Lyme disease. The Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee encourage patients not to put off diagnosis and treatment. When ticks bite people, it’s best to get a medical opinion from a Lyme disease expert like Debra Muth ND, NP or Greg Brown MD and their team.

Begin seeking help for Lyme disease by searching for a Lyme literate practitioner

Seeking help for Lyme disease can be tricky for patients. When they pursue help from conventional medicine providers, their symptoms may be dismissed, ignored or misdiagnosed. On the other hand, a patient who sees a Lyme literate practitioner, like our functional medicine experts, is listened to attentively. Patient information is as important as testing when diagnosing Lyme disease.

Conventional medicine primarily relies on one or two tests to diagnose Lyme disease, and these tests do not always identify the disease in its earliest and most-treatable stages. Patients seeking help for Lyme disease from our providers discover that our staff does not rely on standard tests alone. Instead, our providers employ various testing methods and diagnostic tools to find the answers people need. In addition, our Lyme literate practitioners have the experience, knowledge and training to recognize the often hidden and hard to diagnose symptoms of Lyme disease.

Left untreated, Lyme disease causes more severe problems

When patients have suffered for months or years with the symptoms of Lyme disease because they were misdiagnosed, they are often hesitant about seeking help for Lyme disease. Procrastinating is a mistake because acute Lyme disease can become chronic, leading to more complicated problems, including neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiac, pulmonary and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Patients should never put off seeking help for Lyme disease. The compassionate and knowledgeable Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee are here to help. Contact us for an appointment.

Genetics and Lyme Disease

Genetics & Lyme Disease

Conventional medicine practitioners rarely talk about the link between genetics and Lyme disease, but a Lyme literate practitioner at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee understands the relationship. Genetics can affect the way the body detoxifies when Lyme disease attacks. Our knowledgeable providers offer genetic testing to help develop the most complete treatment program for patients.

Pursuing the link between genetics and Lyme disease leads to better outcomes

Our experienced Lyme disease providers stay on top of the latest research and developments, including advances in genetics and Lyme disease. There are certain genes that help the body with detoxification, including the MTHFR and GSTM1 genetic mutations. Research shows that MTHFR genetic mutations, in particular, can affect patients with Lyme disease. People with the MTHFR genetic mutation have difficulty converting B vitamins and Folic Acid into their active forms, GSTM1 lower levels of glutathione in their bodies. Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps the body detoxify. A person with Lyme disease needs this substance in the proper amounts to help rid the body of toxins, parasites, coinfections, viruses and mold brought on by Lyme disease.

The relationship between detoxification and enzymes

In order to understand the relationship between genetics and Lyme disease, it’s important to comprehend how enzymes affect detoxification. During detoxification, one of the most important enzymes that affects patients with Lyme disease is Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). If there is a nutritional deficiency in any of the trace elements, such as copper, iron, zinc or manganese, that SOD enzymes usually contain, the body’s ability to detoxify is impaired. There are also SOD1 and SOD2 enzymes that play a role.

Testing for nutritional deficiencies helps our providers assess a patient’s needs

Genetic testing allows the experts at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee to discover the link between genetics and Lyme disease in each patient. Once our team has determined whether there are any genetic mutations, testing for nutritional deficiencies may follow.

Knowing which nutrients or trace elements are missing helps our staff devise a treatment plan that will help strengthen and support a patient’s enzyme system.

Our team provides special treatments for Lyme disease patients

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, patients can receive helpful treatments not available in the conventional medicine community. These treatments are based on the science of genetics and Lyme disease.

  • Types of IV nutritional therapy provide missing nutrients, minerals and vitamins to patients who suffer from chronic Lyme disease.
  • Lyme disease detox helps patients with genetic mutations and nutritional deficiencies rid their body of toxins and infections caused by Lyme disease.

Our Lyme disease team takes a comprehensive, multi-functional approach to treating and diagnosing Lyme disease.

Patients who believe they are suffering from Lyme disease should contact us for an appointment.

Provider Experience with Lyme Disease

Learn the importance of provider experience with Lyme disease

Learn the importance of provider experience with Lyme diseaseMany patients do not understand the importance of provider experience with Lyme disease, but choosing an inexperienced practitioner can lead to misdiagnosis and years of bad health and frustration. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, our Lyme literate practitioners have diagnosed and treated thousands of cases of Lyme disease. A Lyme literate practitioner is someone who possesses extensive knowledge, experience and skill with Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Our practitioners explain the importance of provider experience with Lyme disease

Provider experience with Lyme disease matters for many reasons. The Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee explain three of the reasons.

  • Inexperienced providers often misdiagnose Lyme disease. Traditional medical doctors and other clinics rely on the Western blog test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to diagnose Lyme disease. These tests miss about half of the cases, leading to misdiagnosis, a primary reason why provider experience with Lyme disease matters. Often, patients with Lyme disease are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or other autoimmune diseases, especially if they do not display the characteristic Lyme disease rash. Only 20-30% of patients develop the rash, so practitioners should not rely on finding this symptom.
  • Many practitioners totally rely on antibiotics for treatment. A study at Columbia University with mice found that antibiotics alone often cannot cure Lyme disease, yet many providers still rely on these medications to treat the disease. In this case, provider experience with Lyme disease matters because knowledgeable practitioners, like the ones at our functional medicine clinic in Milwaukee, understand that Lyme disease needs to be treated with a comprehensive treatment plan that is based on an individual’s needs and goes above and beyond antibiotics alone.
  • Ignoring the effects of Lyme disease on the immune system often leads to more health problems. Finally, provider experience matters with Lyme disease because many traditional doctors and other providers do not understand how Lyme disease affects the immune system. The disease lowers a patient’s immunity, making them vulnerable to coinfections and other health problems. It is vital to address the patient’s issues with immunity if he or she is to return to optimal health.

Our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee offers a comprehensive Lyme disease program

It’s safe to say that provider experience with Lyme disease matters. Our Lyme literate practitioners are ready to help. Contact us.

Treating Lyme Disease

Treating Lyme Disease

Treating Lyme disease with antibiotics alone is not enough for many patients. Unlike most traditional physicians, the Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee have the experience and training to understand the complexities of this often-misunderstood disease.

The ambiguous symptoms of Lyme disease, along with inaccurate tests, lead to misdiagnoses like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Even when patients receive an accurate diagnosis, treating Lyme disease is often limited to an antibiotic regimen that is typically only effective for patients in the early stages of Lyme disease. Sometimes, even early-stage patients will continue to have problems after antibiotic treatment.

Our practitioners believe in treating Lyme disease with a multi-functional approach

When treating Lyme disease, it is crucial to address the patient’s immune system. Borrelia, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, may be embedded deep within cells, brain tissue and cartilage, making it resistant to antibiotics. In addition, the bacteria can have a devastating effect on a patient’s immune system, leading to other health issues over time.

Practitioners who are treating Lyme disease also need to understand a substance called biofilm and its relationship to coinfections. Bacteria forms a substance called biofilm that attaches itself to cells and spreads throughout the body. When left untreated, biofilm can affect patients who already have a compromised immune system. Lack of immunity allows biofilm to spread more readily and contribute to coinfections such as gastrointestinal problems and skin conditions associated with Lyme disease.

Our treatment methods address the whole patient, not just the Lyme disease symptoms.

In addition to prescribing antibiotics, if appropriate, our practitioners employ a multi-step program when treating Lyme disease.

  • Address the patient’s immune system. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we understand that a patient with Lyme disease cannot thrive with a compromised immune system. We employ several therapies to help boost a patient’s immunity so that the body can fight the borrelia bacteria.
  • Reduce inflammation. The human body develops inflammation in response to infections such as Lyme disease. Inflammation can cause chronic pain and weaken the immune system. When treating Lyme disease, we employ Ondamed therapy, Thermography, LET (Lymph Enhancement Therapy) and Ultrasound Therapy to reduce problematic inflammation.
  • Treat related health problems and coinfections. Many traditional physicians do not understand that patients with Lyme disease often develop coinfections that contribute to their chronic pain and ill health. At our functional medicine clinic, we consider the patient’s overall health and actively look for issues such as gastrointestinal and skin issues. We also test for and treat tick-borne coinfections and other illnesses.
  • Our providers are highly trained Lyme disease practitioners, treating Lyme disease with every tool in our arsenal.

Contact our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee for an appointment.

Diagnosing Lyme Disease

Diagnosing Lyme Disease

The Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee have years of experience diagnosing Lyme disease. We’ve helped many patients who have been struggling with debilitating health issues that were never properly diagnosed or treated. Our approach to diagnosing Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections is much more comprehensive than the methods that traditional medicine and many integrative medicine clinics use.

Diagnosing Lyme disease with a detective’s eye and medical expertise

Diagnosing Lyme disease can be a challenge, but our medical detective team is on the case. The practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee leave no stone unturned when searching for tick-borne diseases. Our years of experience tell us that every person fighting Lyme disease is unique, and the only way to improve their quality of life is to look at the whole person and examine several aspects of their health.

We employ several diagnostic tools in our search for answers

For traditional medicine providers, diagnosing Lyme disease usually begins with two tests, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and the IFA test. According to LymeDisease.org, these tests fail to diagnose Lyme disease 56% of the time.1 Our experience tells the team at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee that an accurate diagnosis is only possible when we employ a variety of tests and methods.

  • IGeneX testing with the Western blot test, immunoblot and I-testing. These tests are more accurate than the tests conventional medicine uses for diagnosing Lyme disease. These assays are sensitive enough to detect early and late stage Lyme disease, even though antibodies are often low during these stages of the condition.
  • Ondamed is one of the alternative therapies we use to help our Lyme literate practitioners identify coinfections and parasitic diseases. This unique, non-invasive technology scans the patient’s body in conjunction with biofeedback to help identify inflammation and infections.
  • Thermography is another non-invasive alternative therapy that we use for diagnosing Lyme disease. Thermographic imaging employs digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) to map differences in the body’s skin temperature. Subtle temperature changes indicate potential areas of inflammation and injury.

Our practitioners also use Ondamed and thermography for treating Lyme disease.

Our Lyme literate practitioners understand the complexities of Lyme disease

Lyme disease is known as the great imitator because the symptoms of Lyme disease often mimic other diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and depression. Our practitioners go above and beyond when diagnosing Lyme disease to ensure that patients receive an accurate diagnosis.

Provider experience matters with Lyme disease, and our practitioners not only have years of experience, but they have also trained with nationally recognized experts. Debra Muth ND received her training from Richard I. Horowitz MD who is renowned for his knowledge about Lyme disease. Daniel Cameron MD, a nationally acclaimed leader in the field, trained our physician, Greg Brown MD. Amy Hoffman, NP. Sharon O’Neill, NP.

Contact us for an appointment at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee.

1 https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/diagnosis/

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

The symptoms of Lyme disease fool many patients and doctors, but not the Lyme literate practitioners at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee. Debra Muth ND and her team are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of this evasive condition. They work with a team of skilled professionals to implement individualized treatment programs that help patients get their lives back.

Many patients dismiss early symptoms of Lyme disease

The early symptoms of Lyme disease that occur within the first 30 days after a tick bite are vague and flu-like. Patients often disregard the way they feel, assuming it’s due to a virus, allergies or some other problem that will go away on its own. In addition, the deer ticks, or black-legged ticks on the West Coast of the U.S., that transmit the bacterium that causes Lyme disease are very tiny, and a person may not realize that he or she has a tick bite.

Here are early symptoms of Lyme disease that patients should be aware of.

One of the most discussed symptoms of Lyme disease is the erythema migrans (EM) rash. It often looks like a bull’s eye. It may also appear as a solid, red rash. The rash may feel warm, but it doesn’t typically feel itchy or painful. About 20-30% of patients develop this rash any time from three to 30 days after receiving a bite.

Untreated Lyme disease causes more severe symptoms

The patients we see at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee often seek our help after months or even years of suffering from the symptoms of Lyme disease. Many people are told they have multiple sclerosis, psychiatric issues, fibromyalgia or other illnesses. Here are the symptoms that may appear in various body systems when the disease is left untreated.

  • Neurological symptoms, including balance problems, dizziness, tremors, foggy thinking, short-term memory issues, blurry or double vision, numbness, burning sensations, severe headaches and Bell’s Palsy, which causes the face to droop or lose muscle tone.
  • Musculoskeletal symptoms, including stiff neck, severe pain or swelling in the joints, and muscle pain.
  • Cardiac symptoms are rare, but can include Lyme carditis, an irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations, a heart block or murmur, and heart valve prolapse.
  • Pulmonary symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest pain and soreness in the ribs.
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, bladder problems and gastritis.
  • Neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression, sleep problems and panic attacks.

Patients should consult our Lyme literate practitioners even if they feel like their symptoms of Lyme disease are diminishing. Untreated, this condition remains in the body and can cause serious problems over time.

Our Lyme literate practitioners recognize the symptoms of Lyme disease

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, our staff examines many patients with Lyme disease. Experience and training make us more effective than the average practice at recognizing the symptoms of Lyme disease. Don’t take chances with your health by ignoring potential problems.

Contact us for an appointment.

Lyme Disease Rash

Even if you don’t have the Lyme disease rash, you may still have Lyme disease

Even if you don’t have the Lyme disease rash, you may still have Lyme diseaseThe Lyme disease rash is a telltale sign of the illness. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we emphasize the fact that 20-30% of people with Lyme disease develop the Lyme disease rash. It’s important that you understand this fact so that you can look for other signs and symptoms that may indicate that you have Lyme disease.

What is the Lyme disease rash?

The characteristic Lyme disease rash occurs in 20-30% of people with the disease. Typically, the rash appears about a week after a tick bites you, but it may appear anywhere from three to 30 days after the bite occurs. The rash begins at the site of the bite and gradually expands. You may notice a warm sensation, but won’t feel pain or itching. If you are one of the people who does not have a Lyme disease rash, you need to learn about the other symptoms.

Early signs and symptoms occur in the first 30 days after the tick bite

During the first three to 30 days after a tick bites you, you may not develop a rash, but you may experience the following symptoms of Lyme disease.

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Aching muscles and joints
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Later signs and symptoms can occur months after a tick bite

The early signs of Lyme disease mimic so many other conditions that you may dismiss the symptoms, especially if you haven’t developed a Lyme disease rash. If you aren’t diagnosed and treated in the first month after a bite, your symptoms may change and become more severe.

  • Stiff neck
  • Severe headaches
  • Severe swelling and arthritic joint pain, particularly in large joints like the knees
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Heart palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Drooping or loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of your face
  • Tingling, numbness or shooting pains in the hands and feet
  • Short-term memory issues

Our practitioners are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease

Even if you don’t have a Lyme disease rash, you need to seek help from an experienced Lyme literate practitioner as soon as you are able if you notice signs and symptoms. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we understand the complexities of Lyme disease. Contact us for an appointment.

Lyme disease in Kenosha

Debra Muth, ND, is a Lyme Literate Practitioner treating Lyme disease in Kenosha

Dr. Debra Muth’sLyme disease in Kenosha is a growing problem. The things we love about our state—the forests, farmlands and parks—provide a perfect environment for the infected tick population that transmits Lyme disease to people of all ages. People with Lyme disease in Wisconsin may also have to deal with co-infections such as: Babesiosis; Anaplasmosis; Tularemia; Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Powassan virus. Dr. Muth was recently interviewed in the Kenosha News to discuss her expertise and knowledge about Lyme disease in Kenosha.

Treating Lyme disease in Kenosha

People who think that they or their family member may be dealing with Lyme disease in Kenosha should give serious consideration to a practitioner’s level of expertise. Choosing a Lyme Literate Practitioner is a smart decision because Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed by conventional M.D.s who don’t see the disease very often. Debra Muth has undergone training with ILADs, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating Lyme disease awareness and educating health professionals.

Acute Lyme disease vs. chronic Lyme disease

Patients who suspect they have contracted Lyme disease in Kenosha need to understand the difference between acute and chronic Lyme disease. “Acute Lyme disease means a patient has been diagnosed and treated in six months or less after contracting the disease,” according to Dr. Muth. “Chronic Lyme disease means that a person hasn’t been diagnosed or treated within the first six months after they contracted the disease.” Many people don’t receive a diagnosis for months or years, and that can lead to many complications for patients with Lyme disease in Kenosha.

How we treat Lyme disease at our functional medicine clinic near Kenosha

Our approach to Lyme disease is multi-disciplinary, and treatment plans are individualized. Dr. Muth says, “We use a combination of antibiotics and herbal treatments at the same time. We find that it’s more effective this way. We also use biofeedback and detox to treat Lyme disease in Kenosha.”

Patients who are looking for a completely non-traditional approach that doesn’t include conventional medications may choose our Lyme Free program that employs many alternative therapies.

We know that Lyme disease in Kenosha is and will continue to be a problem, and we’re nearby to provide help. Contact us.

Lyme Disease – A Mother’s Story

Getting help with Lyme disease – A mother’s story

Lyme Disease - A Mother’s Story

Talking with Shelly Bourdo about her son’s experience with Lyme disease, it’s easy to hear the pain she felt when she was dealing with her very sick child for many years. She said he had been lethargic, very tired, and never felt like doing anything. When her son began having symptoms at age five, conventional M.D.s diagnosed him with asthma. She said he would get sick for a day and get better repeatedly, but he never fully recovered from his symptoms, and no one ever suspected Lyme disease.

Due to his continual sickness, she became disenchanted with conventional medicine. She said, “Doctors kept trying to put my son on medication, but I felt like that wasn’t the solution, so I kind of backed off. I was trying to medicate him with herbal supplements based on what I thought his symptoms were.”

When she realized that this approach wasn’t working, she turned to Serenity Health Care Center.

The journey from extreme illness to successful treatment for Lyme disease

Shelly’s son began his journey with Dr. Greg Brown, Serenity’s board-certified internist. Dr. Brown conducted several blood tests, and his initial diagnosis surprised the family.

“The first result we got back surprisingly said that our son had walking pneumonia, which was shocking to all of us. He had had lung issues his entire life, which led us to believe that our son had had walking pneumonia since the age of five when he was misdiagnosed with asthma. Once we dealt with that issue with antibiotics, he suddenly didn’t have the breathing issues.”

Dr. Brown’s blood work discovered several other health issues, including thyroid problems. These issues and her son’s symptoms led Dr. Brown to believe that they might be dealing with Lyme disease, so he began treating her son as if he had Lyme disease, even before a definitive diagnosis.

Treatment began with antibiotic therapy, along with supplements and antimicrobials. Shelly said Serenity would change his antibiotics and/or the dosage every couple of months. After the antibiotics and supplements had done their work, Serenity performed IGeneX testing, and it determined that her son had Lyme disease.

After Shelly’s son began treatment, and she began to see results, she began to suspect that her daughter, too, might also have Lyme disease. She was dizzy and tired and had other symptoms. Testing showed that she did have Lyme disease.

Both of her children now take part in other therapies that help patients with Lyme disease, including Bio Terrain Therapy or bio-magnetic pairing, and Ondamed, a therapy that combines a specific pulsed electro-magnetic field in combination with biofeedback.

Serenity made the difference for Shelly’s children

Lyme Disease - A Mother’s Story

Shelly says the Bio Terrain Therapy and the Ondamed have really helped her children.

“My daughter can go in there [to Serenity] not wanting to talk, barely able to function and feeling horrible, and by the end of the session, she’s talking, laughing and feeling better, so I know this stuff works! Some people think, ‘Oh, it’s just magnets,’ but I can see the difference in my child.”

She also notes that her son had several issues caused by Lyme disease when he first went to Serenity. He had vision issues, neurological issues and Lyme rage. Shelly says, “It’s all gone. I attribute all of that to the care at Serenity.”

Shelly and her children feel like they are involved in treatment decisions.

“I feel like we’re part of the family at Serenity. We know each other; we communicate. I always feel like they listened to me – listened to my kids. They were always responsive to what we were trying to say.”

She is happy she turned to Serenity’s functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee for diagnosis and treatment.

“I’m so grateful we found Serenity because I don’t think we would have gotten this kind of treatment [for Lyme disease] anywhere else.”

Seek diagnosis and treatment for Lyme disease as soon as symptoms appear

Early diagnosis for Lyme disease makes treatment easier, but our experienced team can also diagnose and treat complex, chronic Lyme disease cases. Contact us today for an appointment.


Lyme Disease Awareness

Lyme disease awareness — 4 facts you should know

May is Lyme Disease Awareness month. The team at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee promotes Lyme disease awareness by providing the community with vital information about this potentially debilitating condition. The primary symptoms of Lyme disease feel much like the flu: fever, chills, fatigue, joint pain and muscle aches and nausea. While most people consider the bulls-eye shaped rash to be the distinguishing characteristic, not all patients develop this rash. Here are four more facts you should know.

Important information to help you develop Lyme disease awareness

  1. More than 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported every year in the U.S.¹

    While Lyme disease can be found throughout most of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 96% of cases occur in 14 states, and they have pinpointed the upper Midwest, including Wisconsin, as a prime area for infections¹.

  2. Not all testing for Lyme disease is created equal.

    Part of Lyme disease awareness involves understanding testing. Conventional medicine physicians use PCR testing, which is only accurate 20% to 30% of the time. At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we use the Western Blot and other new testing methods that are more accurate.

  3. Untreated Lyme disease can lead to serious health problems.

    Lyme disease awareness is so important because people need to seek early diagnosis if they suspect they have been bitten by a deer tick and are experiencing symptoms. Left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to short-term memory problems, nerve pain and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, among others.

  4. People with Lyme disease can have co-infections.

    A little-known fact, but an important one for Lyme disease awareness, is that a tick can also transmit other bacteria and viruses it has contracted when it bites a human. This can cause co-infections, including relapsing fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, along with Lyme disease.

Lyme disease awareness begins with knowledge. The team at our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee has the expertise and know-how to help people cope with this complicated condition. Contact us today for an evaluation for Lyme disease and begin your journey to wellness.

¹https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/9/15-0417_article