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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@diggydo27

Thanks @mrmie ! I was actually tested for Lyme as part of my massive panel and it was negative. The only other items that came up were slightly elevated Calcium and Albumin (by slightly I mean .1 over the range). I did find an article that reactive arthritis can be caused by an infection in another part of your body (most often your intestines, genitals or urinary tract) but I'm not sure if this is a stretch (arthritis is in my family history). Thanks for the links, I'll take a look!

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@diggydo27 Wups! My blog address above is wrong. It should be BackToLifeWellness.blogspot.com
Wishing you well!

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@mrmie

@diggydo27 Wups! My blog address above is wrong. It should be BackToLifeWellness.blogspot.com
Wishing you well!

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Thank you Marianne.

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@christinemorse

Sounds exactly like me. I have an awesome PCP who listens and acts. Symptoms began before April but then intensified so I knew something serious was wrong. He ran labs, then referred my to a rheumatologist and then to a Oncology/hematologist in the department I actually work in! I had horrible unexplained bruising all over my body, they just appeared. Diagnosis: Chronic Reactivated EPV. I would start with finding a good PCP. If I didn’t have a good Primary Care Doc I would likely have a mental breakdown as well. He told me today that this illness could last up to a year or become Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which lasts forever. I hope to hear more from you as your symptoms seem so similar and I’d like to hear how you’re managing. Blesssings

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Have you had any luck in treating the EBV?

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@cnoto

And stop any antiviral medications. From what I have read, it makes EBV WORSE, not better!

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Where did you read that antivirals make it worse? I was actually trying to write a post (still can’t figure out how!) to see if anyone has had success with valtrex...the Univ of MN Medical School has a recurrent EBV mono page and although they are pure research working on a vaccine they recommend a valtrex protocol.

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@darkmatter53

Hi Michelle, Please keep me posted on your condition and good luck with your treatments. I have lived with this stuff for 18 years now. Seems more like 40. Have they found any other infections with you?. So far the only thing they have found on me is the Epstein. And even then, some of my doctors say it is an old infection. Go figure. Anyway, good luck....regards, Frank

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Frank and Michelle, I live in Plant City, Florida. Had Mono when I was 18 (1984) and it was in my liver. Have had Chronic Active EBV ever since, but wasn't diagnosed until 2014. Every year the symptoms get worse. I also, have had problems with finding a doctor that will listen and walk me through this. My husband and I are in the process of having a 'come to Jesus' moment with our doctor. He is either going to become an expert in this or he's going to help find a specialist.
Have tried many different natural methods. There are products out there that will help some of the symptoms. There is no cure for Chronic Active EBV, but if you're like me, you want as much information as possible and you just want to be believed.

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It's seems that we're all in the same boat on this 'group chat', trying to find a doctor who will take the time to learn exactly what CAEBV means and what we all can expect. I've had this for 36 years now and the symptoms get worse as I age. Here are my symptoms and a few solutions that I've found. I don't drink alcohol, only drink water, do not smoke and eat healthy. (My mono attacked my liver, not my throat, causing jaundice)

Fatigue so bad that entire body tingles and every nerve hurts: During bad episodes, get on the couch and stay there. If you fight it, you'll only get worse. Listen to your body.
Sleep: Require at least 10 hours of sleep per night
Insomnia: Isn't this fun, catch 22
Chronic Migraines: Keep a Migraine Tracking Chart, using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. When the pain level gets to an 8 or higher, take pain killers, otherwise live with the pain. Tried Ajovy and that didn't help. Doctor wants me to try Emgality. I'll try......
Depression/Anxiety Attacks/Brain Fog: Doctors will want to fill you up with anti-depression drugs. I take a mild dose of Bupropion to keep away the brain fog. Anxiety Attacks, they happen and I deal with. Depression: Who wouldn't be depressed, but DO NOT let this get you down. We all could have stage 4 lung cancer. Yes, what we have majorly sucks, but jump up and enjoy every good day. Depression is not an option. Don't let this rob you of all the wonderful things that we still have.
Klutz and Stupidity: Have a tendency to drop things and have also found that I'm having more 'duh' moments.
Fevers, Chills, Nausea and Nosebleeds: Mild fevers a few times per month, chills - put on extra clothes, nausea - it happens and nosebleeds they happen too. Just deal with it.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Severe Constipation - take a Cascara Sagrada every night to keep my system regular. Have tried all the 'fiber' and meds and found this natural product is the only thing that works. Have been taking if for over 30 years and the only side effect is that it's turned my colon the color brown, but has had no other bad effects.
Allergies to Alcohol, Mosquitos and Fire Ants: One drink and I'll be up puking, solution - don't drink. Mosquitos and Fire Ants, I didn't know this, but this is a symptom. I found that Neosporin with Pain Relief will help.
Dizzy: Not really dizzy, but more like Sea Sickness. My world rocks. and not in a good way. There are 3D videos on the internet that will help. It's a matter of retraining your eyes to respond to your inner ear.
Canker type sores: Will get cancerous sores in and outside of my nose. At my worse times (before diagnosis) would get in my mouth and even on my legs. If not treated, these will explode and look really nasty and can last up to a month. Clean these with alcohol and use Abreva. The stuff is expensive, but well worth it.
Weight loss: I'm 5'3" and was down to 90 pounds. I now am careful about how many carbs I eat and dairy products. They thought I had Celiac, which I don't, but eating too much wheat will increase my symptoms and will lose weight. I work hard to keep on an extra 15 pounds above my comfort weight, so I am now 120lbs, for when I have really bad episodes. I can lose 7 pounds during a bad 2 week episode.
Hair Loss: This also happened when I was down to 90 pounds and my body wasn't processing food.
Pain: Back pain and right side pain, feels like a bruise. kidney stones.
Aching joints, especially the knees and hands.
Urinary tract infections: Even with all the water I drink, my urine samples are always 'contaminated' and have blood in them. Have seen an urologist, he put me on meds for 3 months, they did nothing and I just accept that my samples will be contaminated and have blood in them.
Feminine Problems: When I eat too much wheat, will experience 'touch them and die' painful boobs, cottage cheese discharge and yeast infections. It can get so hot down there that I can burn the skin off my husband's 'you know what'.
And back to Fatigue: Mentioned this above, but since NOBODY seems to get it, I'm repeating. I'm tired, cansado, stano, lassus, fatigued, work-out, sleepy, exhausted, weary, drowsy, drained, debilitated, spent. I'm so bloody tired that I can't move.
Work: I can no longer work and I miss it. Have streamlined our home and yard to keep maintenance to a minimum.

It seems that we are all so used to being brushed off that we have failed in truly communicating with our doctors. I've written a letter to my doctor and dropped off. So far, he's talked to my husband to find out 'what's happening with Laura' and he's willing to make an appointment with me to go over all of the above. I know that there is no cure for this and we can only treat the symptoms, it would just be nice to have the support of the medical profession.

Just don't be like me and wait 36 years to get mad enough to do something. When you go to your doctor, you have maybe 10 to 15 seconds where they listen to you. Put it all in writing and give to him/her. If they don't respond, find a new doctor.

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I'm 65 and had mono as a freshman in high school. I have never really felt great and would always worry if I could make it thru trips and activities. Never shared these feelings with anyone and constantly pushed myself. The last 20 years I have not felt well. My gallbladder and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever came along and I do not remember feeling really good after these. I asked my doc now that my gall bladder was out when would I feel better and was told I am better because the gallbladder is gone. 20 years later after finding out I am highly intolerant to gluten my stomach problems are healing. I still have more periods of feeling bad than good and lately my joints hurt like crazy. I pray for healing. Last year I thought I was dying and changed to a integrative medical office and have come a long way.

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Sir I have very little bit knowledge .I am 1st year ayurvedic medical student.for improving my knowledge I joined in this group.i want to become a good doctor.please help me sir with your good medical tips and good medical knowledge.thanking you sir.my name is kalyan sir.

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This illness is death.I have had it for 9 months, I do not function. I am now sitting here with tonsillitis with lymph nodes sticking out of my neck. Good luck with infectious doctors they do nothing. This illness is chronic I have it and I keep getting sicker and sicker. I can no longer function. It causes many cancers and good luck getting anyone to run the proper tests that need to be done. There is mono Epstein barre, Epstein barre virus, infection, reactivated, you have to look at your IvgG and all of that

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I was tested recently (by my request and on my own) for EBV due to strange health symptoms. It showed positive for past virus. I am constantly being told it's not big deal you had Mono...I don't recall ever having Mono and I too know it can cause other bigger health issues so I just hope for the best as MD's shrug it all off.

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