1. < Infectious Diseases

Is chronic reactivated EBV different from chronic active EBV?

Posted by memecat28 @memecat28, Feb 7, 2018

I was just told I tested positive for all Epstein Barr Virus tests, except for the one that says you were recently infected. I was told I have Chronic Reactivated Epstein Barr Virus, and that I would be referred to an infectious disease doc. I started to research and everything keeps coming up with Chronic Active Epstein Barr, which seems to be a rare form and serious. Are these two forms different?

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chickie001 | @chickie001 | Nov 2, 2018
In reply to @mikla "Had some site problems where the “less than” sign caused some issues... anyway... Just got my..." + (show)
@mikla

Had some site problems where the “less than” sign caused some issues... anyway...

Just got my test back:

IgM - Negative (less than 36)
EA IgG - Positive (28.7)
VCA IgG - Positive (308)
EBNA IgG - Positive (169)

The lab actually called me (on a Saturday) as an “alert” popped up on their system indicating it they needed to alert me immediately and recommended I see a doctor ASAP. They offered to call them directly and fax a copy of the results. The numbers are a little worse than a year ago. Not a single doctor would agree I had a reactivation, including my hematologist so I ordered the test myself on the Internet.

I have the typical symptoms including fatigue/tiredness, swollen lymph nodes, feverish, joint pain and headaches. Been having these for over a year now.

Got a call into my PCP and will follow up tomorrow. I also sent Dr Cohen an email at the NIH asking for advice and steps I might take.

Guess we we will see what happens. Just another thing to add to the list of my chronic cervical pain and constant PVCs. I’ve already had, and fought off, prostate cancer. But I refuse to feel bad as long as I wake up every morning.

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I don't know what all the numbers mean but here are mine....EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGM) 46.70.........EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGG) 298.00.....EBV NUCLEAR AG (EBNA)
AB (IGG) 51.60...........Maybe someone can help

REPLY
1 reply
lori93950 | @lori93950 | Nov 2, 2018
In reply to @jgee18 "I have been so depressed and upset seeing myself this ill, that I have been crying..." + (show)
@jgee18

I have been so depressed and upset seeing myself this ill, that I have been crying not understanding what was wrong with me...on July first I woke up with my pelvic, groin, and belly swollen and after the entire lymphatic path all over my body started to swell...we thought it was an allergic reaction...we tried anti allergic meds, diet, antihistamine meds, antibiotics, an aggressive plan of steroids with anti allergics, blood tests, allergies testing, all came back “normal” but the swollen persisted (until this day ,this minute) the pain everywhere, my armpits are swollen and in pain, my breast I can’t even touch it! , my neck, my face, my hands, my feet....and we didn’t get any answers...I thought I got cancer or something terminal! But not positive tests....until they did the EBV test and my antibodies came back super high! I am concerned though cz I haven’t come across anyone with so many days of inflammation...I see cases in pain, with lack of energy...but swollen like me for two months?....I am so depleted, so drained, so many questions...and I feel so ill...I am 36 y/o and I usually wake up and go straight to the gym, I am normally active and full of energy...and seeing myself in a bed for two months and barely starting gathering answers by myself bcz the doctors that I have visited about this they don’t know what I have and they haven’t been sympathetic...so I am trying to survive this by myself...with so many questions and so sick...thank you for your advice I have to do something myself so I will start that plan that you mentioned and see if there is some hope for me...

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Everybody has different symptoms so try not to worry too much . I’m on month 7 and the last 2 months since I stopped working out are by far the worst. I so feel your pain as I live alone and no family around . Trying to rest and get better but I’m so fed up too. Let us know if you’re doing any better as this post is from September .

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lori93950 | @lori93950 | Nov 2, 2018
In reply to @ethanmcconkey "Hi @lori93950 welcome to Connect! Your increasing symptoms must be frustrating. @mrmie and @jgee18 have experience..." + (show)
@ethanmcconkey

Hi @lori93950 welcome to Connect! Your increasing symptoms must be frustrating.

@mrmie and @jgee18 have experience with EBV and may be able to offer support.

As for you @lori93950, have you been given a meds protocol yet?

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I’m taking Valtrex and loads of immune boosting supplements ... drinking celery juice eating healthy .... that’s the best I can do right now

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lori93950 | @lori93950 | Nov 2, 2018
In reply to @luannkelly "Wow, no one has ever mentioned to me about an infectious disease doctor. I hope this..." + (show)
@luannkelly

Wow, no one has ever mentioned to me about an infectious disease doctor. I hope this doctor can help.

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There’s no help .... I’ve been to one . It has to just go in its own time ... there is no cure apart from rest eating healthy that’s all we can do

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Marianne | @mrmie | Nov 2, 2018
In reply to @chickie001 "I don't know what all the numbers mean but here are mine....EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)..." + (show)
@chickie001

I don't know what all the numbers mean but here are mine....EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGM) 46.70.........EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGG) 298.00.....EBV NUCLEAR AG (EBNA)
AB (IGG) 51.60...........Maybe someone can help

Jump to this post

@chickie001 Hi. You would need to post the reference ranges that are on your lab report. Different labs do these titres differently and have different reference ranges. So a result from one lab may mean something totally different than that same result from another lab

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1 reply
chickie001 | @chickie001 | Nov 2, 2018
In reply to @mrmie "@chickie001 Hi. You would need to post the reference ranges that are on your lab report...." + (show)
@mrmie

@chickie001 Hi. You would need to post the reference ranges that are on your lab report. Different labs do these titres differently and have different reference ranges. So a result from one lab may mean something totally different than that same result from another lab

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EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGM) 46.70 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
43.99 Positive

EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGG) 298.00 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
21.99 Positive

EBV NUCLEAR AG (EBNA)
AB (IGG) 51.60 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
21.99 Positive

REPLY
1 reply
chickie001 | @chickie001 | Nov 2, 2018

Sorry. For some reason the ranges didn't post.

EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGM) 46.70 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
43.99 Positive
EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGG) 298.00 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
21.99 Positive
EBV NUCLEAR AG (EBNA)
AB (IGG) 51.60 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
21.99 Positive

REPLY
sharyld | @sharyld | Nov 3, 2018
In reply to @magbatt "Hi jgee 18, Wow, getting the stuff today. Perhaps I shouldn't say so because it may..." + (show)
@magbatt

Hi jgee 18,
Wow, getting the stuff today. Perhaps I shouldn't say so because it may raise expectations unrealistically, but I'm excited for you.
I'm not a doctor - I can only speak from personal experience. I'm sensitive to many things, so usually start anything new slowly. In this case, I did not. I started with the full deal right from the get-go and didn't have an issue. The Astra Isatis is an herbal formula (didn't know that until recently) and there could be an allergy issue there, but I had no side effects. I only remember that after ten days I
realized I was feeling so much like my old self. It's probably unrealistic for you or others to expect such a dramatic turn around,
so I would say don't give up if it doesn't happen as dramatically as mine did. There could be other factors involved also. Without a lot
of vitamin D3 I tend to have SAD, so I always have to think about how that may be affecting how I feel. (although, that has also been
much less a factor since I've been on the EBV protocol.)
I'm just so hopeful for you. Keep me/us posted. Magbatt

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Hi Magbatt-I've been diagnosed with re activated EBV and am planning to start the supplements you mentioned. How many times daily have you been taking them?
Thanks!
Sharyld

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1 reply
Marianne | @mrmie | Nov 4, 2018
In reply to @chickie001 "EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA) AB (IGM) 46.70 H U/mL U/mL Interpretation ---- -------------- 43.99 Positive..." + (show)
@chickie001

EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGM) 46.70 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
43.99 Positive

EBV VIRAL CAPSID AG (VCA)
AB (IGG) 298.00 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
21.99 Positive

EBV NUCLEAR AG (EBNA)
AB (IGG) 51.60 H U/mL
U/mL Interpretation
---- --------------
21.99 Positive

Jump to this post

@chickie001 Thanks for posting the reference ranges. It looks like they are all elevated so likely an active infection with EBV. The IgM antibodies are positive when there is an active infection but not always. IgG will usually remain elevated for life even in healthy individuals. I'm glad your doctor actually recognized that the EBV is active. Mine told me to exercise despite having extremely elevated titers across the board and debilitating symptoms. She's no longer my doctor, of course! Again, http://www.ebvhelp.com is a good resource, along with http://www.rawlsmd.com. Listen to your body. THIS IS NOT AN ILLNESS THAT IMPROVES BY PUSHING YOURSELF! I've learned that the hard way. ....God bless

REPLY
1 reply
chickie001 | @chickie001 | Nov 5, 2018
In reply to @mrmie "@chickie001 Thanks for posting the reference ranges. It looks like they are all elevated so likely..." + (show)
@mrmie

@chickie001 Thanks for posting the reference ranges. It looks like they are all elevated so likely an active infection with EBV. The IgM antibodies are positive when there is an active infection but not always. IgG will usually remain elevated for life even in healthy individuals. I'm glad your doctor actually recognized that the EBV is active. Mine told me to exercise despite having extremely elevated titers across the board and debilitating symptoms. She's no longer my doctor, of course! Again, http://www.ebvhelp.com is a good resource, along with http://www.rawlsmd.com. Listen to your body. THIS IS NOT AN ILLNESS THAT IMPROVES BY PUSHING YOURSELF! I've learned that the hard way. ....God bless

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Thank you for the information. I will definitely check out the websites. Actually I asked my PC to do the bloodwork then he would not refer me to anyone. I was still sick 2 weeks later and he was booked up so fortunately for me I got to see his PA. She was great!! Explained the lab results and said....I don't care if he won't refer you but I am....you are sick and we need to know why it keeps reactivating. Will keep you updated.

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