Please Help

Mono, what are the differences between Lyme and mono that you can recall?

Lisa, for EBV, the window for testing positive is very small for most people. The antibody test shows 4 tiers and two of the tiers are for a recent infection (last 4-6 weeks). From my research both Lyme and Mono are both very hard to detect.

For Lyme, the test done by most medical insurance is Western Blot, which is horribly inaccurate.

From my research, both EBV and Lyme can be dormant in the body until stress activates. EBV and/or Lyme can activate 1st causing an activation of the other. Essentially getting infected by both at the same time. Both have links to other autoimmunity diseases such as MS. Both have similar healing tactics such as diet. Both cause very similar body aches, anxiety and fatigue.

I had the severe sore throat that resembled strep, and mirrored so many other symptoms from this and other forums. I have a doctors appt on Monday and I will ask to take the Western Blot test (its free, why not). Also, I want to take the antibodies test again and see if my EBNA and the other IGG number went down. I tested too late for the early activation, but my ENT aknowledged my numbers were pretty high (like a vaccine he said).

I am almost 8 months in, and feel about 65%. I feel SLIGHLTY better but still have a ways to go. Whatever you have, focus on rebuilding your immunity ie diet and rest That can only help you.

Good Luck

Hi Bo,

I'm hoping so much that you can get a real breakthrough with things soon, I remember myself when going through mono that 8 months was a real low period for me because I still felt a long way off being fully well again and had a bout of joint pain and bruising around that point and I was just so fed up and down all I could do was ask God for help.

I really felt a change and turn around start to happen around 10 months if I remember rightly Bo, thanks to God only, things started to pick up and started to feel like myself again - it did still take a little bit of time to fully get to full recovery, but really life was so much easier again and was just so grateful for the symptoms to be son intense daily and felt I could live a much more normal life again.

So really just want to encourage you Bo to hang in there, remind you that it can (unfortunately) be very normal for mono / symptoms of EBV to go on for as long as you have been going through it and then to see real change and full recovery happen - I've read a lot of stories on the site of people that have a real 'moving' phase between 9-15 months where things started to get much better for them. And also with mono it can be the case too that it can feel like it's staying at the same level for months and months and then a big step forward can come in a short space of time - I felt that kind of things happen so don't lose heart or hope if it seems like progress has been slow or stagnating at times to now - there is hope and recovery ahead Bo I truly believe that given my own experience and reading the recovery stories of many others who had such a tough experience with this for a similar length of time.

Hang in there and thinking of you, and good luck with the test you were thinking of getting - hoping it can offer some real hope and reassurance and help towards recovery. And remember you WILL get through this and get better - hang in there trusting God with that.

Craig

Thank you Craig,

Im starting to doubt everything, and im going down the rabbit hole of other possibilities. I was so certain I had EBV untill a friend of mine told me of Lyme, and our symptoms were so aligned. I think I have added stress to myself when I thought I was on a good path. Now I am experiencing a burning sensation behind my eyes that is really worrying me.

I think the biggest thing is I am not getting any better. Maybe my joint pain has subsided, and from the research I have done, Lyme causes a lot of joint pain and nuerological symptoms. Plus it was my sons 1st birthday last week and planning his party and such was abnormally stressful.

I do have a doctors appointment and I will be requesting a lot of labs so i have hope. Your last post was really helpful. I just thought I would be feeling better than i have been at this point. I even hate to cry because I am afraid my tears are contagious.

I will be sure to keep you up to date when i get my lab work done. Thanks again Craig

aww thats so sad ... have a good cry boy have i shed some tears! lyme and ebv have the same symptoms so get a full blood panel so you dont have to keep going back like i did . i had like 6 blood tests before i was duagnosed with ebv

Hi Bo,

It really is awful when worries about different illnesses come into your mind and you doubt things, I can only imagine how hard it must be when the diagnosis is not confirmed early on - as you say it's just that short window of time in the first few weeks that the monospot test seems to show positive. But remember what your ENT specialist said Bo, it sounds from what you said there that he felt it was likely that it has been mono, and of course that together with all the symptoms certainly points towards that. I don't know too much about Lyme's Disease, but I hope that they can do a blood test that can rule that out and put your mind at ease with all these.

It is awful that you have been so unwell for your son's 1st birthday Bo, and the stress of doing any activities like organising a children's party right now I know can heighten everything and be so draining. I do believe you will have lots of happy birthdays ahead for your son where you are fit and well again Bo, I really do believe that.

After 8 months I was in such a frightened and weary state with this virus, it sounds very similar to where you have been Bo. But please know that there is hope and there is a turning point with this - my experience was that weird joint pain and bruising and aches in different parts of my body at around the 8 to 9 month mark was actually just before a major change started to happen and things started to feel better - as if it was a final push of my body to get on top of this thing once and for all.

Hoping and praying for your recovery Bo, you WILL get the breakthrough you need, even if it's still a little bit of time or whatever, God willing you won't have to go through anything like what you've been through this last 8 months again. My experience was the Year 2 was SO much easier than Year 1, was still a little fragile and getting back on my feet again don't get me wrong, but the intensity has gone and it was a year of hope and recovery. This is the worst phase by far you've been through Bo and believing that things are going to get better for you, so hang in there and remember there IS hope and there IS recovery with this thing, even after so many months of feeling at a similar level or not feeling as though you are making much progress (I was EXACTLY the same after 8 months). Be kind to yourself and take things easy (although I know it must be much easier said than done with a young son).

Craig

aww.... dont be too hard 0n her shes desperate for help and believe you me i know that feeling . this has been the ugliest most horrible frightening thing ive ever been through .... ive cried and begged for help from anybody.

i didnt get diagnosed until month 5 so not knowing, drs saying youre healthy when you feel terrible ....is the worst .

I agree Lori, it's very important for us all to be compassionate, supportive and understanding to each other through this illness, no matter what stage we are at. I know for sure how down I was through it and how much regular (daily) encouragement I needed from the people around me. All of us on here know how painful the lowest moments of this virus are and it's important we remember that and support each other at all times if we can. It's a great network and I'm very grateful for finding it.

Craig

I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU NOT REPLY TO ME AGAIN VANCITYRAIN.