NEone who's had experience w/mono PLEASE help

[Pics]

For the last couple years I have been experiencing extreme fatigue that comes and goes. My friend told me I probably have mono. Ive been sick a regular amount of times with colds and flus like everyone else. But I dont usually go to the doctor for stuff like that, I just let it pass. So I dont know if I ever had mono. I do get swollen lymph nodes in my neck from time to time, but doesnt having a plain old cold give you that too?
The questions I need help with are:
- I know once you have mono the virus stays in you...but does it come and go OFTEN?
- If I DID have mono at one point would I test postive if I got tested when I wasnt "sick" at that particular time? Or do I have to be going through a spell at the time I test?
- Does mono always start with a big outbreak of sickness...or is it possible to just have pretty steady ongoing symptoms?

[9DodgeFan]

While I agree with some of what you've said, I don't think EBV will necessarily ruin your life.  As you mentioned, making a strong effort to stay healthy (eating right, exercise at least a little if possible, getting enough rest/not constantly over-exerting yourself, etc.) will go a long way in helping your body fight off EBV; however, certain factors (stress, sickness, etc.) can "re-activate" the virus.  The extent of this is different for everyone.  I just wanted to say that being diagnosed with EBV doesn't have to "doom" the rest of your life!

[timmmmmmae]

I have had mono since i was 13. Once you get it it never goes away completely. Best thing to do is prevent being around sick people and wash your hands during the day. Your immune system will be damaged for the rest of your life!!!! So be aware of this and the better you take care of yourself by eating right to boost your immune the better you will feel. This ***** but if you wanna feel better you must mindfully take care of yourself much better then people who don't have this. Remember when people tell you u are crazy and its in your head that your sick. Well i can say that they are wrong. I have been to many doctors and they wont be able to see the mono problem unless u tell them. Its just a frustrating illness that kicks u when u are down.

[terriemae]

i,too have been diagnosed with ebv recently at my insistence. my drs. have diagnose me with chronic fatigue for 30+ yrs. even in the 70's when i first read about Cher having my same symptoms, then much later diagn. w/ ebv, i just knew i should be tested. i could never get a dr. to test me. why? i just can't figure it out why they insist on no testing. i think so many just chalk it up to cfs because that's easier than actually researching your problem. now, my ebv test not even showed that i had it now, in the active stage, but i've it for years. this is one test that can show that. it just irritates me, that my suggestion just wasn't good enough to explore. anyway, i was told that ebv and mono were the same thing. my research says differently. also one dr sid it was contagious thru saliva, that's why it's called the kissing disease. then my other dr. said no it's not, since i have the chronic ebv, not the kind that's active once then gone. what have you been told. i'm afraid to kiss my husb. or children or granddaughter. i do so much sympathize w/ anyone who has it or cfs. i am always fatigued, 24/7. just more when it's active. i also don't understand why the drs. can't put us, that wish, on a stimulant,since my quality of LIFE IS RUINED W/ THIS. it would sure beat this, for me! just glad to speak w/ another sufferer of ebv since i can't find anyone else whose ever heard of it or at least understands it.sorry for the length, it's just good to finally find someone who can relate. good luck to pics. and thanks to PlateletGal for the info. terriemae

[PlateletGal]

Here are some of the diagnostic tests that can help your physician rule out CFIDS:

http://groups.msn.com/Neuro-ImmuneSupport/diagnostictests.msnw

All the best,

PlateletGal

[jewel21112]

I have had Chronic Epstein Barr Virus on and off for about 5 years now and my main symptom is fatigue.  It comes and goes, sometimes it's worse than others.  Sometimes I can sleep for days straight.  At my best I am active one day, resting the next.  Ask your doctor to do general bloodwork plus insist that you want Epstein Barr Titers done.  Most doctors don't want to run the test so you have to be assertive and insist that you want the EBV test done (don't let 'em get away with just testing your lymphocytes or doing a mono test- it's not the same).  Good luck!

[chrisneedshelp]

that does not sound like mono to me I would go see a DR about your fatigue could be as simple as a b12 deficiency