One Bite, Two Diagnoses: My Experience With Lyme Disease and Babesiosis

Late spring through summer is peak tick season in the U.S. From May to August, blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) are highly active and so are people. It’s the perfect time of year for renewal and adventure through hiking, camping, gardening, and enjoying nature. 

It’s also the time of year when tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and babesiosis are at their highest.

What many people don’t realize is that a single tick bite can transmit more than one infection.

I learned that firsthand in May 2024, when a tiny red mark on my arm became a full medical journey.

When the Rash Doesn’t Match the Story

The red spot didn’t itch or swell like a mosquito bite (which I typically react to instantly). It was flat and about the size of a pencil eraser.

It slowly expanded over the next few days, forming a bullseye-shaped rash—a classic sign of erythema migrans. You can track my rash progression below. This is often the first visible indicator of Lyme disease.

When I showed the rash to a colleague on Day 4, I was told it was “probably cellulitis from a mosquito bite.”

I didn’t agree, but I didn’t argue. I just made an appointment with an infectious disease doctor.

“I Know My Body” (Yes, I Said It)

As a nurse, I’ve rolled my eyes more than once at the phrase “I know my body.” But in this case? I said it. I meant it. And I was right.

Your body is your first home. Listen to it.

I knew this wasn’t cellulitis or a typical insect bite. That certainty led me to push for answers—and thankfully, get them.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. According to the CDC, it’s the most common vector-borne disease in the United States.

Common early symptoms include:

• A bullseye or expanding rash
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Joint or muscle pain
• Fever and chills

When diagnosed early, Lyme is treated with antibiotics—usually doxycycline—over 2 to 4 weeks. Delayed treatment can result in long-term and more serious neurological, cardiac, or joint-related issues.

What Is Babesiosis?

I had never heard of babesiosis until my bloodwork came back positive. It is a parasitic infection caused by Babesia microti, also transmitted by blacklegged ticks. It infects red blood cells and shares features with malaria.

Common symptoms:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Fever and chills
• Sweating
• Headache
• Anemia or dark urine

Babesiosis requires a different treatment, usually atovaquone and azithromycin. It is not treated with doxycycline alone, which is why identifying it alongside Lyme is so important.

For more on tick-borne co-infections, visit the Global Lyme Alliance.

My Timeline: From Rash to Recovery

• Late May 2024: I noticed the red rash expanding on my arm. It grew to roughly 5.5 inches by 3.5 inches.
• A colleague told me it was cellulitis. 
• I saw two infectious disease doctors. The first agreed it was Lyme, but the entire visit felt dismissive. He ordered no labs. He offered no treatment.
• The second took me seriously, ordered tests, and started doxycycline while awaiting results.
• Bloodwork confirmed both Lyme disease and babesiosis.
• A couple of weeks into treatment, I developed severe headaches and hypertension, which led to an ER visit. A potential side effect of antimicrobial medications is a Herxheimer reaction. This is not what I experienced, but it is a serious reaction that patients should be aware of.
• I was prescribed babesiosis treatment and completed both courses.
• I was monitored by my infectious disease doctor and recovered fully with no lingering symptoms.

What I Learned (and You Should, Too)

Even with medical experience, I had to advocate for myself to be properly diagnosed and treated. Here’s what I want others to know:

1. Document everything. Take photos of rashes. Write down symptoms and onset dates. This makes a big difference if you need to change providers
2. Trust your instincts. If a diagnosis doesn’t feel right, keep asking questions.
3. Ask about co-infections. Co-infections like babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis are increasingly common.
4. Know the signs of a Herxheimer reaction. Sudden worsening after antibiotics? It could be a temporary inflammatory response, not a new infection.
5. Seek a second opinion. If you feel dismissed, find someone who listens. That decision made all the difference for me.

“Speak your mind—even if your voice shakes.” ~ Maggie Kuhn

Tick Prevention Measures

• Wear EPA-approved repellents.
• Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• Walk in the center of trails.
• Wear long-sleeved, light-colored clothing.
• Tuck your pant legs into your socks and your shirt into your pants.
• Check your clothing and gear for ticks and do a full-body tick check when coming back indoors. Pay special attention to under the arms, behind the knees, between the legs, in and around the ears, in the belly button, around the waist, and in the hair.
• Take a shower as soon as possible after spending time outdoors, which will wash off any unattached ticks.

Final Thoughts

Tick-borne illnesses are on the rise, and they don’t always show up with obvious symptoms. You don’t need to see a tick to be infected. I never did. You don’t need to have a fever to be taken seriously. And you don’t need to wait for your condition to worsen before speaking up.

I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me. ~ Maya Angelou

If you’ve been bitten by a tick—or even suspect you may have been—don’t ignore your instincts.

Trust your body. Ask for testing. Push for answers. And keep speaking up until someone hears you.

Self-advocacy isn’t just part of recovery. Sometimes, it’s the reason you recover at all.