So I have EBV, now what?

[Jenoah20]

So I went to my Dr. for a physical, complaining about my sore knees and back, I am 43 years old and have never had any serious illness, I take medicine for high blood pressure and that's all.  My worst habits are my diet and lack of exercise.  I don't smoke or drink and I am 230 lbs.  But my knees and back hurt...  She did blood work and calls me in to tell me that my EBV levels are high (EBV Ab VCA IgM is 9, my EBV Early Antigen Ab, I is 141, my EBV Ab VCA IgG is 2061 and my EBV Nuclear Antigen Ab is 1299)  I have no idea what these numbers mean.  She proceeds to tells me that this means that sometime in my life I had mono!?!  OK, sure I have heard of mono, but I never KNEW I had it or that there was even I time to THINK I may have had it.  Her response was of no concern and she told me, there isn't any magic pill for this, but that explains why you have been tired and proceeded to talk about my higher then normal Cholesterol (my total is 226) she told me to go on a low fat diet and lower my numbers, with light exercise, so as not to cause the EBV to flair up...exercise and rest!  When I brought up the pain in my knees and back she said "oh, yea, I will send you to a physical therapist for 2 weeks and they can evaluate if you need an orthopedic Dr."  SO WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS EBV???  Is there any reason to be concerned?

[Jenoah20]

Thank you for your reply to my posting.  I really don't have an answers or not even sure what to think, but I have never experienced the symptoms that I have read posted or what you listed, so I am seeking a 2nd opinion and pursing my other symptoms, the lack of strength in my knees and my back.  I do appreciate you taking the time to respond...this has been a weird couple of weeks.  God bless.

[meanjean1]

I had infectious mono, a year ago, I was so sick, for 3 wks I never came off the couch excepte to use the bathroom in which my husband had to help me! ( I was 42 when I had this) I felt as if my legs were going to break in half.  From Jan till the middle of april I was real sick.  I finally went back to work but worked a month, off a month, this was all of last year.  There is nothing you can do for a virus at all, you call only sleep and rest especially when you are tired or it will make you worse!  It's only been a little over a year since I had it and I frequently start aching and get real tired, to the point I am down for 2 days or more.  Recovery is a long one.  If you feel like this then you probably do have ebv.  If you don't call your doctor up and ask her/him what your wbc is. if it's high, you probably have it.  also my knees hurt real bad too.  But you can also get another opion too if you wish.  Good luck and hope you feel better!  meanjean1

[PlateletGal]

Honestly your symptoms don't sound like EBV or CFS symptoms. I would consider seeing another physician and getting a second opinion.