Lyme Disease Treatment in Los Angeles, CA
Lyme disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, including rashes, fatigue, body aches, and digestive problems. At LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition in Century City, Farshid Sam Rahbar, MD, FACP, ABIHM, and our team diagnose Lyme disease and provide customized treatment that combines the best of Western and integrative medicine to clear infection, protect your gut, and restore your overall health.
Request an AppointmentWhat Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused in the United States primarily by Borrelia burgdorferi and, less commonly, Borrelia mayonii. It is a vector-borne illness, meaning it is spread by organisms such as ticks. In the U.S., most cases come from the bite of an infected blacklegged (deer) tick. Co-infections such as Babesia and Bartonella can cause overlapping symptoms and complicate recovery. Your risk is higher if you spend time in grassy or wooded areas without protective clothing or insect repellent.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
One of the hallmark signs of early Lyme disease is erythema migrans, an expanding rash that may have a bull’s-eye appearance and can reach up to 12 inches across. Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue and body aches
- Headaches and neck stiffness
- Fever and chills
- Swollen lymph nodes
If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread and cause joint pain and arthritis, neurological problems such as meningitis, Bell’s palsy, or numbness and weakness in the limbs, heart rhythm problems, and liver inflammation.
Lyme Disease and Your Digestive Health
Lyme disease and its treatment can affect the gut in several ways. The infection itself can cause nausea, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits, while prolonged antibiotic therapy can disrupt the gut microbiome and contribute to dysbiosis, yeast overgrowth, SIBO, and new food sensitivities. Supporting the digestive system is an important part of recovery and helps patients regain energy and resilience.
How Lyme Disease Is Diagnosed
Because Lyme symptoms resemble many other illnesses, Dr. Rahbar and our team use a careful history and laboratory testing to reach a diagnosis. Testing typically begins with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies to Lyme bacteria. If positive, a Western blot or similar confirmatory test checks for additional antibodies. Testing for co-infections may also be recommended based on your symptoms.
Integrative Lyme Disease Treatment
At LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Dr. Rahbar combines Western and integrative medicine to treat Lyme disease and its effects on the body. Antibiotics help your body clear the infection, while customized nutrition, probiotics, and targeted nutraceutical supplements help protect your digestive tract. Additional strategies to support detoxification, control inflammation, and reduce oxidative stress can improve energy levels and overall health during and after treatment. Our functional medicine approach is especially helpful for patients with lingering symptoms after standard treatment.
Lyme Disease FAQs
How do people get Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged (deer) tick. The longer a tick stays attached, the higher the risk of transmission.
What does a Lyme disease rash look like?
The classic rash, erythema migrans, is a red, expanding rash that may clear in the center to form a bull’s-eye pattern. Not everyone with Lyme disease develops a rash.
How is Lyme disease tested?
Testing usually starts with an ELISA blood test, followed by a confirmatory test such as a Western blot if the first result is positive or unclear.
Can Lyme disease affect digestion?
Yes. The infection and prolonged antibiotic use can cause nausea, abdominal pain, dysbiosis, and other gut issues. Supporting the microbiome is an important part of recovery.
Why do I still have symptoms after Lyme treatment?
Some patients have lingering fatigue, pain, or brain fog after treatment. An integrative evaluation can look for contributing factors such as inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, co-infections, and gut imbalances.
How can I prevent Lyme disease?
Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants in wooded or grassy areas, check yourself and pets for ticks, and remove any attached ticks promptly.
Get Integrative Lyme Disease Care in Los Angeles, CA
If you are concerned about Lyme disease or are living with chronic fatigue, body aches, and unexplained symptoms, call LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition at (310) 289-8000 to schedule a consultation.