Comprehensive Guide to Treating Chronic Lyme Disease and Co-infections in Minnesota: Evidence-Based Herbal Protocols

Dr. Kyle Warren, Functional Medicine
When Headaches Aren't Just Headaches: A Minnesota man's Journey with Lyme Disease
What happens when an avid outdoorsman suddenly can't leave his couch? Tim's story shows how a mysterious illness (Lyme) turned his life upside down - causing daily headaches, double vision, and making two beers feel like fifteen. After 18 months of dead ends with multiple doctors, one unexpected suggestion changed everything. Watch how Tim went from barely functioning to coaching baseball and playing with his kids again. His story offers practical insights for others experiencing persistent health issues, especially in tick-prevalent regions like Minnesota and Wisconsin. Hear how proper diagnosis and treatment helped him return to the active lifestyle he loves.

Conversation between Tim and Dr. Warren on Lyme.
 Tim's personal story in his own words:

Tim: My symptoms really started in 2017, right around August time of year. I love being outside. I'm an avid hunter, just like being outside. 

I didn't notice anything at first. I felt good. I was getting ready for deer hunting and everything was normal.

Shortly towards the end of the year, I just started feeling really lazy. I got tired real easy. I started getting headaches every single day.

I would wake up with a headache. My balance was off. It was just kind of a mess.

Motion sickness was terrible. I'd have two beers. I felt like I had 15.

It was just really off. So, I started going to chiropractors. They were kind of thinking that maybe tension headache related.

So, I was getting adjusted two, maybe sometimes three times a week just to try to get it. Nothing helped and nothing helped. I ended up going to a kind of a specialist who was adjusting my atlas bone at the base of the skull.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Okay, so we go to the second doctor then who's adjusting more of her cervical.

Tim: After, I did that for probably two, three months. It may have improved a little bit but nothing that was dramatic.

Dr. Kyle Warren: So, are we getting to kind of spring summer by now or the next year?

Tim: Yeah, yep. So, then kind of in between there, I was also doing some medical doctors. I went to a medical doctor.

First thing they did put me on some muscle relaxers, some actual nerve pills that are supposed to do something with the nerve. Well, they made me feel so lousy and crummy. So, I took them for maybe a month and I stopped taking that.

I went back in. I saw the same doctor and he ordered a CT scan and MRI. So, I did all that.

They came back. They found slight arthritis in my neck.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Okay.

Tim: So, that's what they found and obviously, a five-year-old probably has slight arthritis.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Yeah, nothing that we would think would cause the severity of your symptoms, right?

Tim: Right, right. So, from there, he recommended doing a neck injection to try to pinpoint some of the nerve pain or whatever was going on. So, I had that lasted maybe two weeks and then in the meantime, I just started noticing that my eyes were just really goofy.

It's like they weren't working together. One would just kind of start floating off and I'd start seeing double and just all kinds of stuff. So, I went to an eye doctor, had an exam.

Dr. Kyle Warren: So, we're on to like doctor four or five by now. Yeah. Yeah.

Tim: And I'm probably missing one someplace.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Yeah.

Tim: So, she gave me a referral to see a vision therapist, McDonald's Eye Care. I did the therapy for probably close to six months. Every week I was up there, I'd make little gains to where they thought I was making progress but again, I was still having the headaches.

My eyes are still all goofy. Motion sickness was still terrible. So, I had a progress check up there after like four or five months or whatever it was and the doctor said, you know, you've made some progress but not really where we want to see you.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Yeah, yeah.

Tim: And she said, have you ever thought about Lyme's disease? I don't know. I've been to all these doctors, all these specialists and...

Dr. Kyle Warren: That was the first time. That was the first time and you're probably a year and a half later by that point?

Tim: Yeah, roughly. Yep. Okay.

So, no one has ever done any blood work. No one has ever mentioned any of that. So, after that, I was kind of at a low.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who to talk to. Nothing was helping.

So, it was probably about a month, two months after that is when I called you guys because they referred me to you guys and we did it.

Dr. Kyle Warren: We did it. Yeah. So, thanks for sharing some of the story there and that's pretty common in that it's not the first thing people think of but when I think of mysterious pain, mysterious nerve problems, you know, in Minnesota and Wisconsin, you know, any kind of tick infested part, I think it needs to come to people's mind sooner and obviously, you know, you being a hunter certainly have some exposure, right?

It's not, you know, a lot of people, it's not that out of the blue there. They like being outdoors.

Tim: I love being outside. I still, I love being outside and when all this started, it's like I just didn't even want to leave the couch and I'm like, what is going on here? You know, no one had any ideas.

Yeah, it was frustrated for a long time.

Dr. Kyle Warren: A long time. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, and you didn't, we didn't remember taking a specific tick off. It wasn't like you pulled off a big engorged tick and...

Tim: No. I, you know, typically, you hear about the bullseye. Yeah.

But I had nothing.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Yeah. About half the people we see have no bullseye and have no record. They didn't, you know, it's not like you pulled off a tick.

Some people can tell me on this date, I pulled off a tick and I, you know, but a lot of people can't. A lot of people go, I don't ever remember the specific, you know, bite and that was for you and maybe that's why it took a little longer. But so if I, you know, if I kind of then fast forward, so we, you started seeing us and we ran some testing.

We found a couple tick-borne things, right? How many did we originally find in you?

Tim: I thought it was three. I had just about everything.

Dr. Kyle Warren: We had three of them.

Tim: Yeah.

Dr. Kyle Warren: How long did it take to feel better and how are you doing? You know, how are you doing now?

Tim: Yeah, I feel really good right now. I feel like I'm prior to 2017. There's a few things that I'm noticing yet that still aren't quite a hundred percent yet.

But the fact that I'm helping my kids coach baseball, I'm playing in the backyard with the kids. I'm living my life.

Dr. Kyle Warren: We're back to being dad. We're back to working. We're back to doing all these things.

Tim: Yep. Yep. So from really the first time we tested to when I, when I got the, I'm clear it was about 18 months and I was a longer one from what you were saying.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Yeah. We tell most people that 12 to 18 month range is pretty common and you were a little on the slow side, not dramatically slow, but a little bit on the slow side. Yeah.

But you know, how long ago was that now?

Tim: It was like July of 19 or something like that.

Dr. Kyle Warren: You've been pretty functional now for, and we've just kind of kept in touch, you know, occasionally here trying to keep working on being healthy, but, but you've really been living, you know, pretty healthy life for, you know, a couple of years now after Lyme. And that's one of the messages I want, I wanted to have you on is because some people, you know, think, well, I can never get better. I can never be healthy again.

You're kind of a living testament to you can absolutely.

Tim: And I mean, yes, there's, there's a lot of testing, but like you always said, if you don't do the testing, you don't know what you're fighting.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Yeah. And we didn't, you know, you had three things. We, it wasn't like we killed all three in one swoop.
We had to make adjustments along the way.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Is there anything else you want to share just in closing to anyone who might be, who might be sick and just wondering if they can be better?

Tim: If you are in any doubt, call. If they can't help you, they know somebody that can help you. They, I would not hesitate one bit to come back here again with any sort of problems.

Nothing was put in my body that is not good for it. I'll say that. But I thank you for everything that you guys did.

You really saved my life from who knows what it could have been. I started tearing up last night when I was doing some of this stuff because it was a long journey for me and I was lost for quite a long time. But yeah, these guys are great at restorative.

I would recommend anybody.

Dr. Kyle Warren: Well, thank you. Thank you so much, Tim. And we're, I'm happy for you and for your family and just that you're part of it, you know, in a way you weren't for, for a period of time because your health really stopped you from being what you wanted to do.

But I'm, I'm, it's so fun to, you know, talk to you now and just hear about all the things you're doing. So thanks for taking the time to, you know, talk with me today.

Tim: Yeah, you bet.

Key takeaways from Tim's battle with Lyme:

1. Early Symptoms Can Be Nonspecific and Gradual

Early Lyme symptoms aren't always obvious and can often leave doctors confused.
- Unusual fatigue and "laziness"
- Daily headaches
- Balance problems
- Motion sickness
- Vision problems (eyes not working together, double vision)
-  For Tim these symptoms that made normal activities difficult or impossible

2. Important Points About Diagnosis

- Tim never noticed a tick bite or the classic "bullseye" rash
- Dr. Warren notes that about half of his patients never recall a specific tick bite
- It took approximately 1.5 years and multiple healthcare providers (chiropractors, medical doctors, vision therapists) before Lyme disease was even suggested for Tim
- No one ordered blood work on Tim initially
- Tim didn't just have Lyme. He actually had three different tick-borne infections

3. The journey to diagnosis was long for Tim

- It took approximately 1.5 years for Tim to get properly diagnosed
- During this time Tim visited multiple specialists (chiropractors, medical doctors, eye doctors)
- He underwent various treatments that provided minimal relief (muscle relaxers, nerve medication, neck injections, vision therapy)
- Initial medical tests (CT scan, MRI) only showed minor issues that didn't explain symptom severity
- No doctors initially ordered blood work for Lyme disease despite Tim being an avid hunter in a tick-prone area
Too many doctors fail to consider Lyme disease, which leads patients down a rabbit hole, navigating a maze of medical symptoms while searching for answers, one symptom at a time.

4. Lyme Protocol and Recovery:

- For Tim the total protocol time was about 18 months (slightly longer than the typical 12-18 month range)
- Recovery was gradual and required treating multiple infections separately
- Tim required ongoing testing and adjustments to treatment
- Recovery was complete enough for Tim to return to normal activities like coaching baseball and playing with his kids and work normally.
Tim was happy to return to his pre-2017 level of health. While he notes some things aren't quite 100%, his quality of life has dramatically improved.

5. Advice for others:

- Don't hesitate to seek help if you suspect Lyme disease
- Proper testing is crucial to know what you're fighting
- Be patient with the recovery process
- Living in tick-prone areas (like Minnesota and Wisconsin) should make Lyme disease a consideration for mysterious symptoms
Recovery is possible even if you've been sick for an extended period

Message from Dr. Kyle Warren, DC, CFMP

"Diagnosing Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses is half the battle. Too many patients get the run around before even proper diagnosis. We often see cases like Tim's, where people go through multiple healthcare providers before getting the right diagnosis.

For those struggling with unexplained symptoms, especially in tick-prevalent regions like Minnesota and Wisconsin, don't rule out Lyme disease even if you never noticed a tick bite or the classic bullseye rash – about half of our patients never recall a specific bite. 

While the journey to wellness can be longer for some, taking 12-18 months of treatment in many cases, recovery is absolutely possible. The key is proper testing to identify exactly what we're fighting, as many patients have multiple tick-borne infections that need to be addressed sequentially.  But with proper identification and on the right protocol, patients can return to their lives – being active parents, working normally, and enjoying outdoor activities again. 

Don't lose hope if you've been sick for a while; with the right approach and patience, you can absolutely regain your health and vitality."

Wondering about Lyme, Bartonella or other tick-borne  co-infections?
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This is what clients have said about the Restorative Health Solutions Team
See our testimonials...
             Having been seeing Dr. Kyle since March, he has given me a life back after being diagnosed with Lymes in 2015. He's compassionate, a true wealth of knowledge and takes a multiple step process when working with his patients. I cannot say how much he has changed my life for the better!"

-Lori Paul
             Impressive, Smart, Top Notch. I have nothing but good things to say about my experience at RHS. From my initial appt to my follow up. Dr. Kyle and Dr. Paul were great to work with and both encouraged me to better health through testing, exercises and education. Also their support staff Katie and Randi are wonderful as well. Prompt, courteous, and always available for questions! I highly recommend RHS! Cheers to better health."

-Tara Schwagmeyer
             I have been seeing Dr Warren for a few years and he has improved my health and my life greatly. I have many health issues and had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue 8 years ago, after I had to leave my career. I tried almost every traditional medical specialist and even a few naturalpathic specialist without any continued improvement in health. Most told there was nothing wrong with me. Dr. Warren has taken the time and done a vast amount of research to help me with autoimmune, thyroid, chemical sensitivities, and even my gallbladder. He truly cares, takes the time to hear you and your health challenges, and is always willing to try additional routes. I am back working and able to have a fulfilled life again! I am so thankful to have the best doctor!" 

-Erin Harty
             I arrived at Restorative Health Solutions feeling extremely fatigued, had brain fog and not a high quality of life. I was just getting through the day. After being treated I now have energy and a sense of well-being. I feel like I am now being proactive on having a healthy life. I am grateful for having found Restorative Health Solutions." 

-T Lancello
             I have been seeing Dr. Kyle and Dr. Paul for about 10 months now for Lyme disease. Prior to this, I was searching high and low for answers and getting no where. I was feeling fatigued, brain fog, stomach issues, anxiety, light sensitivity, dizziness... just a multitude of symptoms that I couldn't piece together.
The team at Rhs has been instrumental in me reaching my goals. Lyme disease has been extremely challenging and Rhs has been there every step of the way.
Lyme disease doesn't go away on it's own and it is a marathon, but Restorative Health Solutions has a process that works, follow it, be open and communicate. This is a two way street, they can't read your mind, so come in with the mentality of a partnership.
I would recommend anyone go and see them if you need to find answers on your Lyme disease journey." 

-Aaron Lindholm
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