Re: Epstein Barr and FIBRO/CFS

December 28, 2001

At 11:46 PM 12/27/2001 -0500, liebran wrote:

>They seem to be blaming EB for everything from fibro to multiple

>sclerosis. I just heard that on TV last night. If anyone has had mono,

>they will have EB. I have never been tested for that, so not sure what

>role it plays with me.

The connection between FM and E-B is even stronger than that, though. What

we call fibromyalgia today used to be called (when it was called anything)

" chronic mononucleosis. " I came down with mono in the summer of 2000. I

first noticed mono when I had trouble turning the wheel of my car. My arms

hurt. And I was getting this burn in my leg muscles when I walked, that

couldn't be explained by previous exercise. Finally my glands swelled in

my neck so badly that I couldn't turn my head, and that was when I went to

the doctor. NEVER expected to hear I had mono. I went in for a liver

function test!

But I can't deny that a LOT of what I feel with my fibromyalgia is for all

intents and purposes indistinguishable from my bout with mono. It was

another year before I knew to call it anything but " recurrent mono. " It

came and went (sound familiar? -- flares....), and in every other respect

was really just exactly like mono for me.

The difference, I guess, is that these steroid injections do seem to be

helping me with it, whereas that, I think, would not have made a bit of

difference to mono. There's no treatment for mono. Oddly enough there are

treatments for FM, although there is so far no real cure. So the

comparison breaks down there, but up to that point I think it's fair to say

that - at least for some of us - E-B is a strong contender as a potential

causative factor for FM.

Hmmm, those are my initials. Oh well. LOL

Best,

Em (EB!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is the tale, not he who tells it.

I no longer need to punish, deceive or compromise myself.

Unless, of course, I want to stay employed.

Broccoli is bigger than all of us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recommended Posts