Last December, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. At that time, I had been seeing doctors for almost 14 months. My children and husband have also had weird symptoms - all of which would fit with the lyme disease diagnosis.

However, I'm now beginning to notice other people (about 8-10 in total at work & church) who are having symptoms like the one I have/have had. The symptoms are somewhat gradual and may take a long time before I notice them. I will try to list the symptoms I notice in just about everyone. It seems to begin with severe allergies that last anywhere from 3-6 months(watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose), red and sometimes painful eyes, swollen lymph nodes, splotchy skin (i.e. white splotches on our cheeks, small dark spots are now appearing on my hands.)

Also, people seem to experience headaches, sometimes severe, diarrhea episodes, forgetfulness, off and on sore throat, fatigue, weight loss, and just mentioning that they don't feel well.

Lyme disease can explain all these symptoms, but I'm having a hard time accepting the idea that all these people suddenly came down with lyme disease within 6 months- 1 year after me. About 4 months after I started getting sick, a doctor prescribed metrodizanole and I broke out in rashes. Because I have previously had no allergies to medicines, I am wondering if that could have been a herxheimer reaction to something...

Do these symptoms sound like any other additional infections other than lyme disease?
(What I can remember from blood tests: WBC's go up and down. SED rates are usually high.)

Lyme Disease is caused by tick bites and if the other people around you have been bitten by these ticks, then yes, they will get the symptoms that you have. The tick is one that infests dogs, sheep and deer, so if these people have dog or are near sheep or deer, then this is possible.

The primary infection occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the initial tick bite, but there may be no symptoms apart from the flu like symptoms that you have described above.

Sed rate will be raised, as you have inflammation in your body. The allergy symptoms are cause inflammation. The white cell count maybe raised if there is infection present and the immune system is working well. However, it may also be normal, as it is possible to have inflammation on its own without infection.

I think that you probably had an allergic reaction to Metronidazole, because your body is over producing anyway and if in this state, with an overactive immune system, then allergic reactions are more likely. Also, Metronidazole may have been the incorrect antibiotic for this in the first place and is usually responds better to Doxycycline or Amoxycillin for a three week period. As for a change of anitibiotics and see if this helps.

Hope this helps?

Have your doctors run blood cultures for Q Fever also?