06/05/2025
Anyone who’s come to see me (Sarah Early, FNP) at PWIH, knows how important it is for me too assess for Lyme disease and it’s co-infections and this is why I ask about them during my appointments. These infections are no joke and prevention is always key but also so is identifying symptoms that could indicate a need for treatment. I’m glad that the CDC and scientists in the DMV are finally starting to acknowledge this is real and its needs to be screened for by your healthcare providers. It’s been around, and providers need to be more aware of the signs, symptoms, and treatment options.
I contracted it after moving to Mount Airy four years ago when I was outside, pulling weeds and I had all the classic symptoms and it actually put me in the hospital for a short period of time.  I  saw six different providers and had two hospital trips but was never tested for or identified  that I should be tested for it throughout the six months that I struggled. It was not until I started my journey with integrative and functional health training that I realized I needed to be tested and that’s when I found it. I am doing well now, but would love to have had this caught when I was acutely sick with it. I still have flares where the chronic Lyme and Babesia make me have joint pain,  swollen lymph nodes, breathlessness, back pain, and significant fatigue. I know now how to take care of myself to minimize those symptoms, but wish I had been able to get it identified early enough on to start the medication that would’ve helped when I was acutely ill  and reduce the potential for making it chronic
This post isn’t meant to be a soap box but rather a way to encourage you to be your own advocate. If you know there’s something off, do your due diligence and do the research necessary to find the right providers to help you get diagnosed and to get better. You don’t have to suffer because your care team might not have the information or knowledge you need. There are other healthcare providers who offer collaborative care that can help you along this journey. This post is not meant to be fear, mongering or instill fright for this co-infection that’s on a rise in our region but a way to help you see that your symptoms are real. Your symptoms are valid. You just need to be in front of a doctor, PA, NP, or other healthcare providers who hear you and who are willing to help you find answers .
Remember prevention is key. If you’re outside in your yard, in wooded areas, or anywhere with grass, make sure you’re checking for ticks on your body and your kids body. If you have animals do a quick check on them as well. It just takes a few minutes and preventing it is so much better than having to treat it.
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Babesiosis is a rare, tick-borne disease caused by a parasite that attacks the red blood cells and can lead to flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches and fatigue. Is the parasites range expanding into the mid-Atlantic? https://bit.ly/43q5Cun
📸: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
