1. < Infectious Diseases

Treatment for chronic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)

Posted by cummings3 @cummings3, Jan 23, 2017

My son has been suffering with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) for over a year. I have taken him to an immunologist and infectious disease doctor with no answers. He is always tired and never feels well. He has relapsed with Mono twice in the last 10 months.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Infectious Diseases Support Group.

Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Jul 2, 2017
In reply to @airsleeper "I was diagnosed with Chronic Epstein Barr four or five years ago. However, I have had..." + (show)
@airsleeper

I was diagnosed with Chronic Epstein Barr four or five years ago. However, I have had symptoms for 15+ years. Very long story short...I've also been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, MTHFR gene mutation, hypothyroidism, and I can't remember everything else. I've noticed from the recent posts I've read that nobody has mentioned seeing a doctor at Mayo Clinic. I see a great doctor who is treating all of these illnesses, but my family is urging me to go to Mayo. The doctor is in support of this, too. I'm wondering if it would be worth the exhaustion and expense of traveling over 1,000 miles, hotel stay, and eating out. I'm concerned that no better treatment is known and that
This will be a waste of my time and money...which is low due to not being able to work. I had to take early retirement. I need some advice here, please.

Jump to this post

Hello @suzyp,

Welcome, and thank you for joining this discussion, and sharing your story. I can imagine how worried and stressed you must be!

Here are a few conversations on Connect that you may find useful:
– Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself http://mayocl.in/2tz0bcE
– I just need some answers!!! Please help me!!! http://mayocl.in/2uf42sH

You may click on any of the above links, and you will be directed to conversations centered around the complications you listed. In each discussion you will meet many great members talking and sharing similar experiences.

Meanwhile, I'm tagging @clghanimo @jenchaney727 @suesiegel @arriba @copiela @jatl @cheryldotson @cummings3 @aman_23_23, who have all discussed Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), and I’m hoping they will be able to offer some more insight.

@suzyp, have you considered getting a second opinion, or perhaps changing physicians?

REPLY
Jonathan | @jonnybear619 | Jul 3, 2017

How has your son progressed? I am 30 and have been sick for 10 weeks. I had mono at 13yrs old ebv. Have always been tired alot but now i struggle to do basic day to day things like go to work and stay sharp. Each time I do anything physical next day i have phlem sore throat congestion and feel horrible. I use to lift weights box played college football. I'm scared for my future will this ever be gone? What do i do besides rest? I pray no one has to go through this. I sleep 9 10 11 hours and still exhausted my job and happiness are in jeopardy. I just want be back to normal. I am sinking lower every day and compared to stories i see of years of this struggle i dont think i could do that. I am not able to live life right now and it selfishly breaks my heart. Please help me.

REPLY
8 replies
clg | @clghanimo | Jul 3, 2017

I so understand your dilemma. I am 60 this month and have had this issue since I was in my 30's. It was nothing to lay down to take a nap and wake up 4 or 5 hours later and still be exhausted and ready for bed at night. I am still fighting to get someone to recognize what I am trying to say. I went to the Dr. this past week with the complaint of painful joints, brain fog, headache and exhaustion. At the appointment she raises my Zoloft and talks to me about my mood and the she sends me for blood work to check my thyroid and A1C. Recommendation to watch what I am eating and she will see me in a month. My job is suffering, my family life suffers, and my health continues to suffer. I am not sure how many times over the years I have asked myself "is it really just in my head?" Sorry to be a downer, I do have wonderful moments. I have realized that I have to force myself to keep going and the more I move I do forget about the pain. I am also still looking for help.

REPLY
2 replies
suzyp | @suzyp | Jul 3, 2017
In reply to @airsleeper "I was diagnosed with Chronic Epstein Barr four or five years ago. However, I have had..." + (show)
@airsleeper

I was diagnosed with Chronic Epstein Barr four or five years ago. However, I have had symptoms for 15+ years. Very long story short...I've also been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, MTHFR gene mutation, hypothyroidism, and I can't remember everything else. I've noticed from the recent posts I've read that nobody has mentioned seeing a doctor at Mayo Clinic. I see a great doctor who is treating all of these illnesses, but my family is urging me to go to Mayo. The doctor is in support of this, too. I'm wondering if it would be worth the exhaustion and expense of traveling over 1,000 miles, hotel stay, and eating out. I'm concerned that no better treatment is known and that
This will be a waste of my time and money...which is low due to not being able to work. I had to take early retirement. I need some advice here, please.

Jump to this post

Hi , all the natural doctors have wanted to do is fill me up with supplements..
what kind of a dr treats CEB ?

REPLY
Jonathan | @jonnybear619 | Jul 3, 2017
In reply to @airsleeper "I was diagnosed with Chronic Epstein Barr four or five years ago. However, I have had..." + (show)
@airsleeper

I was diagnosed with Chronic Epstein Barr four or five years ago. However, I have had symptoms for 15+ years. Very long story short...I've also been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, MTHFR gene mutation, hypothyroidism, and I can't remember everything else. I've noticed from the recent posts I've read that nobody has mentioned seeing a doctor at Mayo Clinic. I see a great doctor who is treating all of these illnesses, but my family is urging me to go to Mayo. The doctor is in support of this, too. I'm wondering if it would be worth the exhaustion and expense of traveling over 1,000 miles, hotel stay, and eating out. I'm concerned that no better treatment is known and that
This will be a waste of my time and money...which is low due to not being able to work. I had to take early retirement. I need some advice here, please.

Jump to this post

Could you help me? I have been sick for 10 weeks with Mono they said it should it's reactivated. Is this a lifelong thing or will I ever be the same? Anytime I do anything physical I get sick with bacteria like congestion. etc.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 3, 2017
In reply to @jonnybear619 "How has your son progressed? I am 30 and have been sick for 10 weeks. I..." + (show)
@jonnybear619

How has your son progressed? I am 30 and have been sick for 10 weeks. I had mono at 13yrs old ebv. Have always been tired alot but now i struggle to do basic day to day things like go to work and stay sharp. Each time I do anything physical next day i have phlem sore throat congestion and feel horrible. I use to lift weights box played college football. I'm scared for my future will this ever be gone? What do i do besides rest? I pray no one has to go through this. I sleep 9 10 11 hours and still exhausted my job and happiness are in jeopardy. I just want be back to normal. I am sinking lower every day and compared to stories i see of years of this struggle i dont think i could do that. I am not able to live life right now and it selfishly breaks my heart. Please help me.

Jump to this post

Hello Jonathan @jonnybear619 - I got your private message but thought I would answer you here as others in the group may also have some ideas that might help. You mention you have been sick for 10 weeks. Have you seen a doctor for your symptoms yet?

The reason I ask is that with my first occurrence of polymyalgia rheumatica the pain was unbearable by the time I sought help. I had to crawl up the stairs and use a walker and my wife drove me to my doctors appointment. It kind of crept up on me a little at a time. I was put on a low dose of prednisone and was finally able to get off of it when the PMR went into remission. It was in remission for 6 years but started back up last summer.

Mayo Clinic website has some possible causes for the type of fatigue may be experiencing listed here - http://mayocl.in/1JPq7NK. If you haven't seen the doctor about the fatigue, sleeping a lot and just being exhausted all the time, I would definitely try to see your doctor as soon as possible.

Please don't give up! You are your best advocate so I would recommend keeping a daily log of how you are feeling, activities, hours slept, etc.. I would also recommend writing down any questions you may have for the doctor as it is so easy to forget when are actually with the doctor.

John

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 3, 2017
In reply to @clghanimo "I so understand your dilemma. I am 60 this month and have had this issue since..." + (show)
@clghanimo

I so understand your dilemma. I am 60 this month and have had this issue since I was in my 30's. It was nothing to lay down to take a nap and wake up 4 or 5 hours later and still be exhausted and ready for bed at night. I am still fighting to get someone to recognize what I am trying to say. I went to the Dr. this past week with the complaint of painful joints, brain fog, headache and exhaustion. At the appointment she raises my Zoloft and talks to me about my mood and the she sends me for blood work to check my thyroid and A1C. Recommendation to watch what I am eating and she will see me in a month. My job is suffering, my family life suffers, and my health continues to suffer. I am not sure how many times over the years I have asked myself "is it really just in my head?" Sorry to be a downer, I do have wonderful moments. I have realized that I have to force myself to keep going and the more I move I do forget about the pain. I am also still looking for help.

Jump to this post

Hello @cighanimo, I think one of the side effects of Zoloft is fatigue, drowsiness and brain fog. Are you able to have a conversation with your doctor on your situation with how you feel? When do you take the Zoloft in the morning? If the doctor knows you are having fatigue during the day maybe you can discuss taking the medication in the evening? You are your doctors best source of input on how you feel and what's going on with your body. I would have a serious discussion with your doctor and if she is not receptive consider getting a second opinion. Here are some tips from the Mayo Clinic website on dealing with side effects of antidepressants like Zoloft:
http://mayocl.in/1JaQ0KG
I am happy to hear that you are still having some good days. I can relate to that a lot. It hurts today but tomorrow is a new day - one step at a time, one day at a time. Keep pressing your doctor for answers and write down all your questions for them to make sure you don't forget anything.

John

REPLY
suzyp | @suzyp | Jul 4, 2017
In reply to @airsleeper "I was diagnosed with Chronic Epstein Barr four or five years ago. However, I have had..." + (show)
@airsleeper

I was diagnosed with Chronic Epstein Barr four or five years ago. However, I have had symptoms for 15+ years. Very long story short...I've also been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, MTHFR gene mutation, hypothyroidism, and I can't remember everything else. I've noticed from the recent posts I've read that nobody has mentioned seeing a doctor at Mayo Clinic. I see a great doctor who is treating all of these illnesses, but my family is urging me to go to Mayo. The doctor is in support of this, too. I'm wondering if it would be worth the exhaustion and expense of traveling over 1,000 miles, hotel stay, and eating out. I'm concerned that no better treatment is known and that
This will be a waste of my time and money...which is low due to not being able to work. I had to take early retirement. I need some advice here, please.

Jump to this post

Thank you ! I'm hoping to find a doctor who will try and sort out my problems.

REPLY
suzyp | @suzyp | Jul 4, 2017
In reply to @clghanimo "I so understand your dilemma. I am 60 this month and have had this issue since..." + (show)
@clghanimo

I so understand your dilemma. I am 60 this month and have had this issue since I was in my 30's. It was nothing to lay down to take a nap and wake up 4 or 5 hours later and still be exhausted and ready for bed at night. I am still fighting to get someone to recognize what I am trying to say. I went to the Dr. this past week with the complaint of painful joints, brain fog, headache and exhaustion. At the appointment she raises my Zoloft and talks to me about my mood and the she sends me for blood work to check my thyroid and A1C. Recommendation to watch what I am eating and she will see me in a month. My job is suffering, my family life suffers, and my health continues to suffer. I am not sure how many times over the years I have asked myself "is it really just in my head?" Sorry to be a downer, I do have wonderful moments. I have realized that I have to force myself to keep going and the more I move I do forget about the pain. I am also still looking for help.

Jump to this post

Hi cighanimo, I'm not the only one dealing with 30 years of the unknown. no dr has wanted to sort out my issues and it is so frustrating . I was dx with Hashimotos in 1984, and with CEBV in 1994. The one dr gave me a meds for the Hash's inflamation and ther other did nothing for the CEBV My thyroid burnt out and I've been hypo ever since and have been on Levo for 30 yrs. I have a multitude of symptoms pain, fatigue, rashes, etc., off and on. But This is the worst I've ever been ...with debilitating fatigue and " liver pain." I also have diabetes & high BP , so my pcp concentrates on those problems. . My hope is to find a doctor who will treat the EBV and Hashimotos ...but I don't have a clue who to go to.

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 4, 2017

@clghanimo @suzyp @jonnybear619 I thought this video might be helpful for you.

What happens when you have a disease doctors can't diagnose TED talk by TED Fellow Jennifer Brea who became progressively ill with myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome:
http://bit.ly/2nvf21H
I'm not sure if it is an option for you but if it is, the Mayo Clinic is very good at diagnosing health issues that are difficult to diagnose. If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, you can contact one of their appointment offices. The contact information for Minnesota, Arizona and Florida can be found here:

Mayo Clinic Contact Information: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.
Mayo Clinic Tours - YouTube Videos: http://bit.ly/2o3jvMj

John

REPLY
6 replies
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.