Mono and auto immune disease?
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hey guys.
I contracted mono when my baby was a week old. About 6weeks later I developed symptom after symptom, non stop feeling like crap ever since. I'm sure many of you know what I'm talking about but specifically chronic fatigue, constant swollen glands, sore throat, chest pain, gastritis, IBS, tingling in arms and legs, feeling weak, out of breath, eyes irritated etc etc
Anyway almost 12months later my doctor now believes I'm showing signs of several different auto immune disorders. Is it possible for mono to cause all of this? And does anyone know how to flush this virus out of my body? I'm currently trying acupuncture as well as an elimination diet while I wait to see several different specialists but I swear I am soo sick of being sick! I want my life back. I'm willing to try anything to get better
Thank you x
0 likes, 38 replies
Backtome
Posted
Mono_too Backtome
Posted
They tested me for autoimmune disorders too, so far so good.
Shawnatwo Backtome
Posted
Hi Backtome
This virus does so many different things to the body it is ridiculous. I'm sorry you've had to deal with this an entire year. This is month ten for me. I can say I've had more better days than in the beginning but I find when I over do things I get the terrible fatigue again and the coming down with a cold feeling with chills. I also had/have gastritis. First endoscopy confirmed gastritis second endoscopy confirmed absolutely none. I was symptom free of stomach pain for 3 months and it all came back. That's the one symptom I can't seem to get rid of and tight throat. I know it's getting better it just takes some time. I also was tested for autoimmune disease and I do not have it. Did mono cause your gastritis?
Mono_too Shawnatwo
Posted
My daughter has terrible gastritis, I had the tight throat feeling, but after a year it is going away,
craig07920 Backtome
Posted
Hey Back to me,
So sorry to hear you've had such an awful time over the last year. Want to offer some hope and reassurance that this can all still be part of the mono / glandular fever virus. For some people it is normal for it to take this long to recover and still get fully better. For me, it was about 10 months before I seen a real turning point and still some time after that before I would say I felt fully better. This can all still be post viral which means you can and will get better, I truly believe that - just hoping things can improve soon and remember God is a great healer!!
Vitamins and herbs definitely helped me through, a good strong multi-vitamin per day is a great idea as well as B complex (for energy levels), high doses of Vitamin C (1000mg-3000mg per day), good dose of Vitamin D per day and also immune boosting herbs like siberian ginseng and oregano can be really good for boosting your immune system.
Thinking of you and really empathising, and I believe you WILL make a full recovery still and just hang in there.
Craig
Backtome
Posted
Thanks Craig. That gives me hope
I am taking supplements and also doing acupuncture. She told me body is damp and moist and the virus could still be lingering. After two sessions I have started to bring up phlegm. I'm hoping that's a good sign that it's coming out?
I'm also on a crazy strict diet the last two months and many of my symptoms have calmed down. Hoping I will continue to recover.
Sorry you all had to deal with this too
it stinks
gee29819 Backtome
Posted
Don't listen to Craig if you for sure developed autimmune diseases. Vitamins won't help you and you shouldn't wait it out. Auto immune diseases won't disappear!!!! you'll need some serious immunosuppressive drugs and possibly corticosteroids to stop your immune system attaching itself. Go to freaking doctors!!!!!
Backtome gee29819
Posted
I am working with my doctor and getting lots of tests to rule out auto immune issues. But the thought of going on long term medication that has severe side affects makes me want to give up on life tbh. I am hoping i won't need to do that. Since i changed my diet and started supplements 2months ago like 80% of my symptoms gave vanished so I'm hoping I'm getting better finally
gee29819 Backtome
Posted
Mono doesn't cause auto immune diseases. It triggers them.
In other words you were initially predisposed.
dan84262 Backtome
Posted
If you have an autoimmune system your dr should get you tested in order to rule out that possibility. I've read many articles about mono and I know that the Epstein Barr virus is linked to different kinds of cancers, but as far as I know it's not linked to any autoimmune disease (chronic fatigue syndrome is not an autoimmune disease btw.)
I believe you've already been to a dr so that's a good thing. Mono does not have a specific cure or treatment (although some drs prescribe aciclovir.) So you should eat healthy, rest, take a lot water in order to stay hydrated and relax. In most cases, the body heals on its own after glandular fever. If you have a new symptom or feel extremely anxious about your situation, then it's time to go to the dr again.
As other people have posted before. Mono causes a lot of different symptoms (I'm struggling with horrible neck pain myself.) So I wouldn't worry too much about it. Take it easy.
dan84262
Posted
*If you have an autoimmune system disease your dr should.....
That's what I meant lol. These boards should have an edit message option.
Backtome dan84262
Posted
Thank you. Yes I'm currently working closely with my doctor and he's doing blood tests every two weeks to check for inflammation.
I also have neck pain, muscle tightness, fatigue, swollen glands etc
I had no idea until recently that mono can stay in your system this long so I was at the doctors regularly trying to figure out what the hell is wrong. I also had gastritis and pain everywhere plus IBS and some other symptoms like tingling in fingers, it felt like grit In my eyes and itchy scalp.
After numerous visits they eventually suspected an auto immune disease and have started appropriate tests but I posted here to figure out if all my symptoms are the same as others with mono to hopefully put my mind at ease.
I'm hoping it's not a chronic disease of course
gee29819 dan84262
Posted
Mono, being born prematurely, smoking cigarettes etc.
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
craig07920 dan84262
Posted
Hi Back to me,
There is definitely hope there so hang in there. Oh listen Gee is right that you should get checked out with your doctor if there are concerns other auto immune conditions or whatever, I'm not saying that at all that you shouldn't - and it sounds like you are doing all the right things and seeing your doctor and getting tests, so that is wise for sure.
But thing I'm really trying ot hammer home is that there is a lot of scaremongering also.....the vast majority of people with mono / glandular fever go through such a tough tough time with it like most folk here but then do make a full recovery still. Because it goes on for so long doesn't mean that it's something else, often it's just the post viral effects lingering - that's all I'm saying - I want to offer hope and reassurance in that respect. After all if 75% of the world's population are infected with the virus (most as a child), then it means that most have returned to full health after it. But of course do see the doc if concerned about anything!!
Hang in there and hoping things can improve - most important thing is to hang onto hope and ask God to help and heal in Jesus' name!
Craig
Backtome craig07920
Posted
gee29819 dan84262
Posted
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17121489
gee29819 dan84262
Posted
https://www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-info/lupus/
gee29819 Backtome
Posted
It's cool to be optimistic but if I were you after A YEAR of struggles and as you said DOCTORS SEEING AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES SYMPTOMS, I'd get tested for :
CFS/ME
RA
SLE
Hepatitis b c
If everything is fine you can feel optimistic after that.
Listen, I can help. My sister is a doctor I can show her your results.
Get this done:
Liver enzymes ALT AST GGTP
CBC
CRP
ANA.
That's a good start. You're welcome.
craig07920 gee29819
Posted
Gee, what I said is get checked with the doctors, that is the right thing to do. But I also think people have to be responsible in scare mongering others too.
Craig
Backtome gee29819
Posted
I have had blood work done for most of those and I got a copy of my results and showed them to my acupuncturist (who worked for 20years as a nurse) and she has looked over all my results too. She believes the mono is still in my system too.
But I'm also getting blood work done every two weeks and staying in touch with my doctor, waiting to see 4 different specialists so I am taking every step necessary to rule out any other possible problems.
I'm not being optimistic but I'm hopefull that i will get better and hoping/praying I don't have an A/I diease.
I just posted here to figure out if my symptoms are similar to others here with mono just looking for reassurance that it's not something more sinister.
But thank you. I will continue with the tests and specialists and hope for the best.
My doctor is defo concerned and so am I. But it took a long time for them to take my symptoms seriously so I've come here and to an acupuncturist (nurse) for extra support and advice while I wait to see numerous doctors.
gee29819 Backtome
Posted
Read about Dr Lerners protocol.
I felt the difference from the very first pill of valtrex. Valtrex will stop the replication of the virus so your immune system will get it under control.
I read on phoenix rising that the sooner you try lerners the better are results.
After you exercise, 24 hours later do you feel worse? And do you have neurological abnormalities such as short term memory problems? If the answer to these questions is yes, look into cfs.
Nurse is not a dictor. And acupuncture is not infectious diseases and immunology. Sorry just saying.
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keq148
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
Epstein–Barr virus-associated infectious mononucleosis and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus
Conclusions. EBV-associated IM does not seem to be a risk factor for SLE. The temporal pattern of increased SLE risk in individuals with a negative PB test suggests that some patients who go on to develop SLE may present with unspecific symptoms, for which they may be tested for IM, long in advance of their SLE diagnosis.
dan84262
Posted
I tried to post the link to the article but this site doesn't allow it. You can find it on google though.
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
According to the article you posted:
The generality of this model has yet to be established, and undiscovered components of risk are virtually certain to remain to be described. In the meantime, this hypothesis for the origin of lupus autoimmunity appears to explain the data now available. Our challenge now is to modify and extend this level of understanding…or to disprove it.
____________________________________
Your article does not prove anything, it's just an hypothesis. Which might be true or wrong.
gee29819 dan84262
Posted
I've posted a more recent article right after first link, and it's under moderation just like yours.
Wow! Have you ever read any medical stuff before? EVERYTHING IN MEDICINE IN A HYPOTHESIS when it comes to IMMUNE SYSTEM. No one knows how exactly immune system works!!!!!!!!
There were precedents, studies. sle IS linked to ebv in predisposed individuals. That's why I said it TRIGGERS it, doesn't CAUSE it.
You are manipulating the article showing ebv doesn't CAUSE lupus. Duh! It doesn't. It triggers it.
Listen. Believe your own truth. I'm done trying to state the obvious.
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
"I've posted a more recent article right after first link, and it's under moderation just like yours."You are manipulating the article showing ebv doesn't CAUSE lupus. Duh! It doesn't. It triggers it.
Then post the title of the article. I'll find it on google, I want to read it.
You're saying that mononucleosis is a risk factor for developing lupus. That is not true.
"Have you ever read any medical stuff before?"
That is none of your business if I have or not. I'm just p'roviding scientific evidence. If you cannot provide evidence for your statement that mononucleosis is a defined risk factor for developing lupus, stop spreading misinformation on this website.
"You are manipulating the article showing ebv doesn't CAUSE lupus. Duh! It doesn't. It triggers it."
It triggers it? Yeah, whatever, maybe in you imagination it does. I'm not manupating the article, I just posted the conclusions of the article.
You're acting like a 12 year old girl. I'm just asking for a normal debate between 2 adults about mononucleosis being a risk factor for developing lupus and you're typing using uppercase which is immature and very rude. Grow up and stop yelling like a little child.
gee29819 dan84262
Posted
Hey 'adult' read John Hopkins medicine's article on lupus
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
What's thetitle of the article? You know that articles have titles, right? Otherwise how would I be supposed to find it on the internet?
How old are you by the way? Because you don't seem to be an adult.
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
Infectious disease agents such as the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV, which causes mononucleosis or “mono”), herpes zoster virus (the virus that causes shingles), and cytomegalovirus have also been implicated.
Is that all the evidence you can provide? Ok.....
gee29819 dan84262
Posted
Just looked up your activity... you upvote(press like) your own messages. How is it called? Low self esteem or what?
In fact don't respond. Don't want to feed you anymore. Bye
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
dan84262 gee29819
Posted
Look who's talking.I just checked your activity and you have also upvoted your own messages. This is on your activity:
"Voted for a reply by gee29819 +1 2 days ago"
Are you telling us that you have low self-esteem? lol.