Accurate Testing for Lyme Disease and Co-Infections

A Step Toward Effective Treatment

Testing for Lyme disease in Canada is not as accurate as you would hope as they often just test for 1-3 strains known to cause the disease. However, there are over 20 strains identified that have been shown to cause Lyme symptoms.

At The Nature Doctors, we utilize lab testing from Germany that specializes in the latest procedures.  While not inexpensive, it is important to get the right testing to rule out the disease. Costs for testing ranges from $700 to $2,500 depending on how many organisms you are tested for.

Lyme & Co-Infections Testing

In the complexity of tick-borne and opportunistic infections, Armin Labs is specialized in testing for several bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections. The best-known tick-borne infection is named Lyme disease, an infection after tick or insect bites. Diagnostic tests for co-infections play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients after tick-bites.

Symptoms of Lyme disease (from canlyme.com)

    • Unexplained hair loss

    • Headache, mild or severe, seizures

    • Pressure in head, white matter lesions in brain (MRI)

    • Twitching of facial or other muscles

    • Facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy, Horner’s syndrome)

    • Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue, cheek or facial flushing

    • Stiff or painful neck

    • Jaw pain or stiffness

    • Dental problems

    • Sore throat, clearing throat a lot, phlegm, hoarseness, runny nose

    • Double or blurry vision

    • Increased floating spots

    • Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes

    • Oversensitivity to light

    • Flashing lights, peripheral waves or phantom images in corner of eyes

    • Decreased hearing in one or both ears, plugged ears

    • Buzzing in ears

    • Pain in ears, oversensitivity to sounds

    • Ringing in one or both ears

    • Diarrhea

    • Constipation

    • Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping) or interstitial cystitis

    • Upset stomach (nausea or pain) or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

    • Bone pain, joint pain or swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome

    • Stiffness of joints, back, neck, tennis elbow

    • Muscle pain or cramps, Fibromyalgia

    • Shortness of breath, can’t get full/satisfying breath, cough

    • Chest pain or rib soreness

    • Night sweats or unexplained chills

    • Heart palpitations or extra beats

    • Endocarditis, heart blockage

    • Tremors or unexplained shaking

    • Burning or stabbing sensations in the body

    • Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, weakness, peripheral neuropathy or partial paralysis

    • Pressure in the head

    • Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks

    • Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking

    • Increased motion sickness

    • Light-headedness, wooziness

    • Mood swings, irritability, bi-polar disorder

    • Unusual depression

    • Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)

    • Feeling as if you are losing your mind

    • Over-emotional reactions, crying easily

    • Too much sleep, or insomnia

    • Difficulty falling or staying asleep

    • Narcolepsy, sleep apnea

    • Panic attacks, anxiety

    • Memory loss (short or long term)

    • Confusion, difficulty thinking

    • Difficulty with concentration or reading

    • Going to the wrong place

    • Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)

    • Difficulty finding commonly used words

    • Stammering speech

    • Forgetting how to perform simple tasks

    • Loss of sex drive

    • Sexual dysfunction

    • Unexplained menstrual pain, irregularity

    • Unexplained breast pain, discharge

    • Testicular or pelvic pain

    • Phantom smells

    • Unexplained weight gain or loss

    • Extreme fatigue

    • Swollen glands or lymph nodes

    • Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)

    • Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)

    • Symptoms seem to change, come and go

    • Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts

    • Early on, experienced a “flu-like” illness, after which you have not since felt well

    • Low body temperature

    • Allergies or chemical sensitivities

    • Increased effect from alcohol and possible worse hangover

 FAQs

  • Short answer is yes. The long answer is we don’t advise it. There are many testing options available, and many symptoms you may be experiencing could point to more than one test. Our naturopathic doctors are trained to dig to the root of the symptom to figure out the cause. To save you time, money and get you feeling better fast, we think it’s best to have an Initial Consult with one of our doctors first.

  • As always, it depends. Lots of insurance plans will allow you to claim tests under you Health Spending Account, others won’t. Please contact your insurance provider to get the right information.

  • Yes, you will require a follow-up appointment to review your test results.