Epstein-Barr Treatment for Long Covid?

law59 I am so very sorry for your experiences battling persistent EBV. I always maintained that after my first bout of mono 30 years ago, I was never the same. I have mild flare ups still. In my case, I wake up with very puffy eyes and facial swelling and think, "Here it comes!" The next few days, I experience significant fatigue. Then the symptoms go away. I realize that others experience persistent EBV in other ways, many more severe. I am a physician, but quickly learned not to talk to doctors about what was going on because they dismissed my complaints. I would also get the comment, "You know, doctors make the worst patients."

It is very difficult to suffer from an illness that is largely undetectable by lab tests. My great sympathies to anyone in this position. I am very grateful to Mayo that we have this forum where we can listen to, learn from, and support one another.

Just yesterday I got blood work results that I am positive for active EBV. I never recall having mono as a kid. I have been searching for an answer to overwhelming fatigue since I had Covid in 2021. I went to a new Primary Care Provider on Monday and she actually listened and agreed my fatigue might be caused by Covid activating latent EBV. After reading about it last night I understand EBV antibodies are of different types and complicated. I also read about long term risk of cancer due to EBV. I am now worried about that. Never ends……

I had the same conclusion that it was Epstein Barr that activated Long Covid. I got the Omicron virus in Jan. 2022 and then started shortly after with LC symptoms. Finally I was tested positive for EBV in June 2022. EBV activated and set off my body with all kinds of long covid symptoms. I did have a bad case of Mono and then EBV in my teens.

And then in the fall of 2022, I found out through chest X-rays that I had thymoma cancer (never heard of that). I feel it was activated by EBV. It was thankfully removed successfully in Jan. 2023. I am ever so slowly getting better, but who knows if I will ever fully recover. I wish you and all of us ease and wellness...and that research can figure this shit out!

I am curious, what blood work test did they do to confirm you are positive for active EBV? Was it EBV-EA-D (IGG) ?

After speaking with the nurse she interpreted my results to mean I had infection in the past, not now.
They tested for EBV ab IGG and
EBV ab IGM and EBV NA.
Only positive for IGG, indicating the infection was in the past. However they cannot tell how recent it was.
Not tested for EBV ab EAD, at least it did not show this on the report to be the same as IGG. The antibodies for EBV are very complicated.

That´s wonderful to hear.
Are you still doing better than before?
I´ve just resently had it prescribed.
I´d like to ask if you have had to take it continuously? What dosage do you take?

Yes, EBV antibodies are complicated! The information I am getting is that the test I mentioned, EBV-EA(Early Antigen) IGG test is the true indicator of current viral replication going on (or very recently). It is very hard to find a physician who knows anything about this. I am searching...
I very much want to try Valtrex but just getting an appt. with a provider who will prescribe that for me is becoming quite the challenge!

I'm into long covid for 17 months. Seeing a neurologist on April 24 too

Specific long covid program at University of Alabama. Maybe most comprehensive in world. Look for--UAB long covid on internet

I had Covid 12/31/20. Found out in November 2021 I had reactivated Epstein Barr. I was offered no treatment or help