Callie always knew she wanted to be a nurse. She was a natural nurturer—one of those rare people who truly care about the wellbeing of everyone around them. But somewhere along the way, her dream got derailed.
In her late teens, Callie faced a series of challenges: asthma, a car accident, and then a traumatic event. Still, she pushed forward—doing well in school, focused on her goal, determined to become a nurse. But then her body began to break down.
It started with daily headaches, then widespread pain. And then, something no one expected: her first grand mal seizure.
At the time, she was under immense stress—studying for a major exam, moving apartments, and recovering from a viral illness. She was rushed to the emergency room and started on seizure medications. But the seizures didn’t stop.
Multiple hospital visits and neurology consultations followed. Her tests—including EEGs—were normal. Eventually, she was diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES): episodes that mimic seizures but stem from unresolved distress in the nervous system—not from abnormal brain waves. The diagnosis came with a heavy dose of stigma. At one point, someone even told her she was “making them up.”
Nothing could’ve been further from the truth.
Callie hated the seizures. They lasted anywhere from minutes to hours. They were unpredictable, physically exhausting, and emotionally devastating. Tearfully, she told me: “I wish my brain waves were abnormal—at least then I could take a pill and it would stop.”
By the time she came to our office, her parents were emotionally spent. “She’s in therapy, she’s on medications, we’re doing everything we can,” they said. “But this isn’t just in her head.”
Callie echoed their concern: “If my EEG is normal, maybe everyone’s right. Maybe I am crazy.”
But she also said something more important: “I just want to understand what’s happening inside my body. I want my life back.”
Asking the right questions
This isn’t just a story about seizures. It’s a story about what happens when we stop asking “What’s wrong with you?” and start asking “What happened to you?” That’s when we introduced Callie to the Kaplan Method™.
Our approach begins by recognizing that immune system dysfunction often lies at the root of chronic illness. We look beyond symptoms to understand how early life experiences, family stressors, environmental triggers, and nervous system imbalances shape the body’s ability to heal. Our team—including acupuncturists, psychotherapists, physical therapists, and nutritionists—works together to build individualized plans focused on resilience and recovery.
For Callie, it was the first time someone told her that her seizures weren’t imagined—and they weren’t her fault. I wish I could say there was a magic cure. But we started the process together.
And four months later, Callie came to her visit smiling.
Her seizures haven’t completely resolved—but they’re far less frequent. She’s sleeping better. Her energy is returning. She’s even back to working out. Her parents are hopeful again. And most exciting of all?
This fall, Callie is enrolling in her nursing master’s program. Her dream is back within reach. This is what can happen when we believe someone—and treat the whole person. And Callie’s story is just beginning.
I look forward to the day I’ll work alongside her—not just as a patient, but as one of my future colleagues.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Nidhi Reva, is a Physician Assistant and Director of the Kaplan Center’s Long COVID Clinic and recipient of the Arlington, VA 2021 COVID-19 Hero award.
While avoiding contact with ticks is the only way to prevent contracting a tick-borne disease it is not a reason to avoid outdoor activities. Taking steps to protect yourself from being attractive to ticks is one of the first lines of defense.
Wear light-colored long pants, tucked into socks when outside. This makes seeing the ticks easier and prevents them from crawling up your legs.
Stay on clear paths when in the woods.
Change your clothes immediately when you get home and put the clothes you were wearing in the dryer for 30 minutes.
Most importantly, perform daily tick checks!
While ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas, they can breed and thrive around your home landscape as well. Being vigilant about the practices above will make a difference.
What should you do if you find a tick on you?
Save it!! Testing can be done on ticks to see if they are carriers of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses (co-infections). If you’re not sure exactly how to remove it, this video shows very clearly how to remove a tick the right way.
Once you pull off the tick, place it inside a sealed zip-lock type plastic bag with a damp (not wet) paper towel. Do not soak in bleach, alcohol or preservative. The tick can be even months old and still be appropriate for testing.
Find a tick lab
There are a number of different labs that will perform tick testing. You can send the tick to a lab directly and do not need a doctor’s order. We use TickReport.com. You can place the order on their site by clicking the “Test A Tick” button. Complete the requested information, choose a test package (we recommend the comprehensive package), provide payment, and then send the tick as instructed. The prices range from $50 to $200.00 depending on the number of tests that you would like done. The results from this lab are received within 3 business days via secure email. Once you receive the results, you can share the information with your physician to guide your treatment.
If you have a known tick bite, do not wait for the results to contact your doctor; the sooner you are treated the better. Adjustments in treatment protocols can be changed if needed once you get the results back.
She’s 23. Bright, motivated, kind and always eager to smile. She came to our office after years of searching for answers to her fatigue, body aches, temperature swings, and lightheadedness that started without warning.
Testing eventually revealed she was dealing with Babesia, one of the lesser-known but highly impactful tick-borne co-infections. We started a targeted treatment plan that included antimicrobials, detox support, acupuncture and mitochondrial nutrients. In the first few weeks, she felt hopeful, after having an occipital nerve block done, her headaches were less frequent, she had less body pain and her energy had started to return.
But then something changed.
When she was weeks into her protocol, her mom called the office one Monday morning, worried. Her daughter had become withdrawn, anxious and couldn’t sleep.. She said she felt “like I’m going crazy”. Her heart raced at night. She had dark, intrusive thoughts that made no sense to her. And worst of all, she had stopped her medication without checking in because she felt like she just couldn’t swallow anymore pills—afraid that the treatment was making her worse.
It’s a story I hear often.
What Was Happening?
The medications to kill the parasitic Babesia caused an overall inflammatory response of the brain.
She wasn’t losing her mind. The process of die-off reaction can trigger a wave of inflammation and neurotoxicity—especially in sensitive patients or when infections like Babesia are involved.
Babesia in particular is a red blood cell parasite that releases pro-inflammatory molecules, affects oxygen delivery, and can trigger severe mood and neurologic symptoms. Inflammatory cytokines can cross the blood-brain barrier, activating microglia (the brain’s immune cells) and producing symptoms like:
Panic and paranoia
Intrusive or obsessive thoughts
Nightmares and air hunger
Brain fog, rage, or emotional volatility
These are not just mental health concerns—they’re signs of neuroinflammation. And they are treatable—with the right tools and support.
What Helped Her?
Luckily, her family saw changes and brought her back in. She cried when we explained what was happening—but this time, with relief. She wasn’t broken. Her brain was inflamed, and her nervous system was overwhelmed by the die-off. We sat down together and made a plan:
Paused medications for a few days to let the inflammation calm down
Restarted treatment at a lower dose, with pulsing to avoid overload
Burbur and pinella drops in water to help detox
Continuing her glutathione and binders to support detox
Encouraged her to take her magnesium, L-theanine, and omega-3s to support her brain
Encouraged gentle movement, hydration with electrolyte drinks, acupuncture, salt baths and infrared sauna
But most importantly—we agreed that she would not stop treatment without calling us first. Because when you’re navigating a complex illness, especially one that hides in the nervous system, staying connected to your care team is as important as any prescription.
The Takeaway
Communication is the key to successful treatment…. Don’t assume it means you’re regressing—or broken. It may be a signal that your body is fighting hard—and just needs help navigating the process. Pause. Reach out. Let’s reassess and adjust the plan.
Tick-borne illnesses can affect every part of us—the body, the brain, the mood, and the spirit. But with the right support, healing is possible. And more often than not, you are far stronger and more resilient than you realize.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
“Not All in Her Head”: Callie’s Story of Seizures, Strength, and Starting Over
/in Conditions/by Nidhi RevaCallie always knew she wanted to be a nurse. She was a natural nurturer—one of those rare people who truly care about the wellbeing of everyone around them. But somewhere along the way, her dream got derailed.
In her late teens, Callie faced a series of challenges: asthma, a car accident, and then a traumatic event. Still, she pushed forward—doing well in school, focused on her goal, determined to become a nurse. But then her body began to break down.
It started with daily headaches, then widespread pain. And then, something no one expected: her first grand mal seizure.
At the time, she was under immense stress—studying for a major exam, moving apartments, and recovering from a viral illness. She was rushed to the emergency room and started on seizure medications. But the seizures didn’t stop.
Multiple hospital visits and neurology consultations followed. Her tests—including EEGs—were normal. Eventually, she was diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES): episodes that mimic seizures but stem from unresolved distress in the nervous system—not from abnormal brain waves. The diagnosis came with a heavy dose of stigma. At one point, someone even told her she was “making them up.”
Nothing could’ve been further from the truth.
Callie hated the seizures. They lasted anywhere from minutes to hours. They were unpredictable, physically exhausting, and emotionally devastating. Tearfully, she told me: “I wish my brain waves were abnormal—at least then I could take a pill and it would stop.”
By the time she came to our office, her parents were emotionally spent. “She’s in therapy, she’s on medications, we’re doing everything we can,” they said. “But this isn’t just in her head.”
Callie echoed their concern: “If my EEG is normal, maybe everyone’s right. Maybe I am crazy.”
But she also said something more important: “I just want to understand what’s happening inside my body. I want my life back.”
Asking the right questions
This isn’t just a story about seizures. It’s a story about what happens when we stop asking “What’s wrong with you?” and start asking “What happened to you?” That’s when we introduced Callie to the Kaplan Method™.
Our approach begins by recognizing that immune system dysfunction often lies at the root of chronic illness. We look beyond symptoms to understand how early life experiences, family stressors, environmental triggers, and nervous system imbalances shape the body’s ability to heal. Our team—including acupuncturists, psychotherapists, physical therapists, and nutritionists—works together to build individualized plans focused on resilience and recovery.
For Callie, it was the first time someone told her that her seizures weren’t imagined—and they weren’t her fault. I wish I could say there was a magic cure. But we started the process together.
And four months later, Callie came to her visit smiling.
Her seizures haven’t completely resolved—but they’re far less frequent. She’s sleeping better. Her energy is returning. She’s even back to working out. Her parents are hopeful again. And most exciting of all?
This fall, Callie is enrolling in her nursing master’s program. Her dream is back within reach. This is what can happen when we believe someone—and treat the whole person. And Callie’s story is just beginning.
I look forward to the day I’ll work alongside her—not just as a patient, but as one of my future colleagues.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Nidhi Reva, is a Physician Assistant and Director of the Kaplan Center’s Long COVID Clinic and recipient of the Arlington, VA 2021 COVID-19 Hero award.
An Important Reminder From Nurse Nan: Save Your Tick
/in Wellness/by Nan Kinder, RNWhile avoiding contact with ticks is the only way to prevent contracting a tick-borne disease it is not a reason to avoid outdoor activities. Taking steps to protect yourself from being attractive to ticks is one of the first lines of defense.
While ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas, they can breed and thrive around your home landscape as well. Being vigilant about the practices above will make a difference.
What should you do if you find a tick on you?
Save it!! Testing can be done on ticks to see if they are carriers of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses (co-infections). If you’re not sure exactly how to remove it, this video shows very clearly how to remove a tick the right way.
Once you pull off the tick, place it inside a sealed zip-lock type plastic bag with a damp (not wet) paper towel. Do not soak in bleach, alcohol or preservative. The tick can be even months old and still be appropriate for testing.
Find a tick lab
There are a number of different labs that will perform tick testing. You can send the tick to a lab directly and do not need a doctor’s order. We use TickReport.com. You can place the order on their site by clicking the “Test A Tick” button. Complete the requested information, choose a test package (we recommend the comprehensive package), provide payment, and then send the tick as instructed. The prices range from $50 to $200.00 depending on the number of tests that you would like done. The results from this lab are received within 3 business days via secure email. Once you receive the results, you can share the information with your physician to guide your treatment.
If you have a known tick bite, do not wait for the results to contact your doctor; the sooner you are treated the better. Adjustments in treatment protocols can be changed if needed once you get the results back.
The importance of testing the tick
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
“I Think I’m Losing My Mind”: When Treating Tick-Borne Illness Feels Worse Before It Gets Better
/in Conditions, Mental Health, Toxicity/by Nidhi RevaShe’s 23. Bright, motivated, kind and always eager to smile. She came to our office after years of searching for answers to her fatigue, body aches, temperature swings, and lightheadedness that started without warning.
Testing eventually revealed she was dealing with Babesia, one of the lesser-known but highly impactful tick-borne co-infections. We started a targeted treatment plan that included antimicrobials, detox support, acupuncture and mitochondrial nutrients. In the first few weeks, she felt hopeful, after having an occipital nerve block done, her headaches were less frequent, she had less body pain and her energy had started to return.
But then something changed.
When she was weeks into her protocol, her mom called the office one Monday morning, worried. Her daughter had become withdrawn, anxious and couldn’t sleep.. She said she felt “like I’m going crazy”. Her heart raced at night. She had dark, intrusive thoughts that made no sense to her. And worst of all, she had stopped her medication without checking in because she felt like she just couldn’t swallow anymore pills—afraid that the treatment was making her worse.
It’s a story I hear often.
What Was Happening?
The medications to kill the parasitic Babesia caused an overall inflammatory response of the brain.
She wasn’t losing her mind. The process of die-off reaction can trigger a wave of inflammation and neurotoxicity—especially in sensitive patients or when infections like Babesia are involved.
Babesia in particular is a red blood cell parasite that releases pro-inflammatory molecules, affects oxygen delivery, and can trigger severe mood and neurologic symptoms. Inflammatory cytokines can cross the blood-brain barrier, activating microglia (the brain’s immune cells) and producing symptoms like:
These are not just mental health concerns—they’re signs of neuroinflammation. And they are treatable—with the right tools and support.
What Helped Her?
Luckily, her family saw changes and brought her back in. She cried when we explained what was happening—but this time, with relief. She wasn’t broken. Her brain was inflamed, and her nervous system was overwhelmed by the die-off. We sat down together and made a plan:
But most importantly—we agreed that she would not stop treatment without calling us first. Because when you’re navigating a complex illness, especially one that hides in the nervous system, staying connected to your care team is as important as any prescription.
The Takeaway
Communication is the key to successful treatment…. Don’t assume it means you’re regressing—or broken. It may be a signal that your body is fighting hard—and just needs help navigating the process. Pause. Reach out. Let’s reassess and adjust the plan.
Tick-borne illnesses can affect every part of us—the body, the brain, the mood, and the spirit. But with the right support, healing is possible. And more often than not, you are far stronger and more resilient than you realize.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2