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Avatar universal

Does this sound like 'reactivated mono'?

I am a 40 year old male who is usually healthy except for asthma.

About two months ago I came down with chills and fever and was diagnosed (positive rapid test) with influenza.

For about three weeks I continued with chills, night sweats, severe fatigue and no appetite. I lost about 17 pounds. Doctor ordered blood work and chest x ray. Everything (CMV, HIV, ESR, CRP) was negative/normal except CBC showed atypical lymphs. My EBV titers: IgG very high (>750), Early Antigen 143. EBNA pos. IgM Negative. Mono spot- neg.

I have no swollen nodes or organomegaly.
I continue to have crippling fatigue / malaise. Also my feet and nose often become painfully cold. This has never happened to me in my life.
Some days are better, some worse. Sometimes it will just lift and I feel almost completely better, only to have 'it' return without warning and put me in bed.

Going on 7 weeks now. Very tired and frustrated. My questions: could this be a 'reactivated mono' ? I am 100% certain I have had mono years ago (had titers in college that were positive).
I was on heavy steroids for asthma about 1 month prior to getting sick.
At about the one month mark I was very concerned about leukemia and lymphoma. I saw a hem/onc who said that was very unlikely and advised to just watch and wait. So here I am watching, waiting and feeling like an invalid. I am just existing day to day, hour to hour.

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Avatar universal
I hear you on the friends think you are lazy/depressed after 2 weeks.  I was diagnosed with EBV in March 2010 when I was 50 years old. Most of the fatigue is gone but my immune system still is not right, over reacts to minor infections.  I am hoping this does not turn into some Autoimmune condition.
Helpful - 0
650547 tn?1271773198
1.  Yes, it sounds like mono is very likely, and yes, this virus can really throw some people for a loop!
2.  Again, yes, if you had already been infected with mono, stress (and other factors) can cause re-activation of the virus.
3.  You need to get LOTS of rest, as in possibly having to take time off of work.  Other than that, just try to eat healthy, and maybe take a daily vitamin.
4.  The link between EBV and CFS is debatable.  Personally, I think there's a connection, but I'm not a doctor.  It's way too early to tell in your case though, so just try not to think about it (I know, that's not easy!).
5.  It doesn't really sound like any more testing needs to be done.
6.  These are very common symptoms for EBV/mono.
7.  For me, the fatigue was the last thing, but it took quite a while to get over.
I have never heard of Jernigan products, so I can't help you there.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi...........will try to make this short I had sex about 9 months ago no condom. About 7 weeks later had a very bad dream that I cought HIV. I was completly stress and depress, not eating for about 2 weeks before the symptoms started. First symptom was a very sore thort, I thought it was cause by smoking to many cigarettes because of the depression over hiv. Finally got tested for HIV at 3 mons, 6mon, 8 mons all negative. Finally went to my doctor tested postive for EBV, but negative on monospot. Doctor told me I had mono and to rest. For the past almost 6 mons I have been having crazy symptoms like swollen lymp node in right neck, behide left ear and in collor bone area, not visable but can feel them, light night sweats, digestive problems, pain on left side (spleen) pain on right side (liver)(hep ABC neg) the pain on left and right side is not that painful but noticable, crazy fatigue(but was not an intinal symptoms came on about 2 mons ago) headaces. This virus is very bad. I work over full time and is a full time student, had to skip school for this semster and cut down on my overtime at work, but the fatigue is still here. I know you recover from mono how?
1.Does this sound like Mono?
2. Could my stress over Hiv made my mono  return(never recall having mono b4 I do not know if my doc tested for Igg or IGM but she told me I had mono so it had to be Igm)
3. What can I do to recover? food diet,body work,
4.Does EBV leads to CFS I am only 21 CFS will destroy my life?
5.is there anything else I should ask my doc to check for?(all blood work was normal doc refuse to test me for HIV again)
6. I do admit that I have been getting better since my stress level over Hiv has almost gone away, but the fatigue and swollen lymp nodes is what worried me.
7. Is the fatigure the last stage in this awful illness.
aw 4got another symptom is pressure on my right ear which has gone away for the most part.

Please help I can barley eat with our fallen asleep.

Does the Jernigan products works?             sorry for bad english.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the reply 9Dodge. I have had two decent days in a row but I'm afraid to actually believe it's gone. It's been a roller coaster. Not just of illness, but of worry and wondering about what is wrong and what else it could be.

I have some very supportive friends but I've noticed that most people quit caring after about the two week mark and just you assume you are lazy or depressed or something.

There is still a chance that this might be something like lymphoma, but I'm encouraged by the fact that I seem to have gotten over the worst part.

Throat is very sore now but I'll take it. I'll take that any day over the hell i've been through.

Thanks to all who read this. The doctors don't seem to know much about 'reactivated' or 'relapsed' mono.
Helpful - 0
650547 tn?1271773198
Hi, what you're describing does sound like it could be a relapse of mono.  There's a good chance it was triggered by your flu infection, which sounded pretty severe.  So most likely, once your body was able to fight off the flu, the EBV re-activation took over.  It seems a little strange that you don't have any swollen nodes, but everyone reacts a little differently.  As far as what you can do now, to help yourself, basically resting is all you can do.  An EBV re-activation is very similar to acute mononucleosis, and unfortunately there's nothing they can give you for either.  I hope this doesn't sound like a bunch of doom and gloom; I think if you can just really take it easy and give it some time, you'll start seeing small improvements.  It can be a process, but recovery is definitely possible!
Helpful - 0
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