I can see how it would be hard to imagine for someone that is not plagued with the Chronic Active form of the Epstein Barr Virus. Mono is an illness that comes from Epstein Barr which sounds like what you had. The Epstein Barr Virus never leaves your body after that. And in most people it never reactivates and makes them sick again. You sound like you are one of the fortunate ones. Unfortunately in some people their immune systems get out of wack and cannot keep it inactive, and it returns with symptoms all over again. It is a different illness altogether at that point, still Epstein Barr, but a Chronic form that shows a different pattern of Titers. I had this happen to me in my 30’s as a young mother and it lead to a very rare illness called Gillian Barre Syndrome and I was paralyzed in intensive care before I knew it. It took me years to recover from that illness. Then a few years later it appeared again keeping me in pain and on my couch barely able to enjoy life for almost a year. My Dr. tried to give me anti depressants! When I refused, he finally agreed to test me for Epstein Barr. (The reactivated form) showed up in the Titers and he immediately referred me to an infectious disease specialist who told me to go home and rest! Finally after much research on my own I Started intensive supplement therapy, and I gradually recovered or so I thought. I got lax in my supplement regimen and allowed my immune system to get weak again and along with a lot of family stressors (caring for sick parents, etc.) It came back! I am now in my 60’s and it is reactivated and as strong as ever. I have been fighting it with the help of an Integrative Drs. Practice and after 11/2 yrs finally starting to win the battle, I hope. Yes we do go to the Drs. But most General Practitioners do not know how to treat it. My Integrative Dr. now has me on Anti-Viral meds and a lot of supplements but it is as the name implies CHRONIC and ACTIVE. Epstein Barr can cause many illnesses, so I just work at getting a lot of rest, eating as healthy as I can, keeping stress low, and supplements to keep my immune system fighting. You sound like a very strong healthy individual and will probably never have to worry about illness with the virus again. BUT unfortunately there are many who do!!