(Somewhat of) a common denominator?

I just posted on Debbie's thread "Great day subbing in library."  It got me thinking....

Years ago, I was also an aide at a school.  I know several here on this forum are either teaching or were teachers.  While I loved the (aide) job, wow--was it ever a magnet for germs!  I used to dispense meds, and at times, there were about 10-15 bottles of pink medicine (amoxicillin?) kept in the fridge.  I'd have to hunt for every child who needed medicine.  I also wiped lots of dirty noses (and bottoms, at times), cleaned up wet pants accidents, vomit, etc..  We disinfected things all the time, but especially in the winter, you knew germs were everywhere (too cold to open the windows and let fresh air in).

I'm curious how many others here have worked in similar settings?  Or maybe hospitals or nursing homes?  Standards are high (that's good!), but still, germs abound. 

 Here's what I'm wondering:  Could being constantly exposed to such germs, viruses, etc. have been a factor--even a small one-- in why we're dealing with fibro today?  I don't recall that any infectious agent is at play in fibromyalgia, though, at least from what I've heard.

Do you think there could be any connection?  Maybe over the years spent working in such environments, could those germs have caused at least some of the symptoms we deal with today--or been even a small factor?

Just thinkin'.......

Hi Ljm: That's interesting: The research that an old infection is latant in the nerve endings. I often think about all the 'germy'places I have encountered and, as my first post said, worked at. I really believe there has to be some sort of connection.

You're right, though. Fibro is just so complicated, and there's no one answer. Smart to take a many-layered approach. And, what works for some, doesn't work for others. What caused fibro in some likely didn't cause it in others. But I think the common denominators are fascinating.

Thanks for the reply and have a great day. :)

That's a thought, Sherrine. And so many women are fortunate enough to not have fibro or anything similar (we really have to ask them sometimes how they avoided it, LOL!). :)

Yes, I worked in a daycare center, then in an elementary school (first and second graders, combined). The daycare center was the 'germier' place, hands down. But, interestingly enough, the first really bad case of strep throat I got was when I worked in the elementary school. But maybe just more children equals more strep germs floating around.

I drove school bus for 17 years, lunch lady before that. Nothing like being trapped on that big yellow germ factory with 65 runny, sneezing, snot nosed elementary kids. With the windows UP! I caught everything they had the first year, much like teachers. Did it cause my fibro? Who knows!

Most of the research pointing to an infection is related to one of the Herpes viruses (mono, chickenpox, etc). I had mono in HS and ever since found that when I get stressed out or over-worked I'd have what I always referred to as "recurring mono", basically I'd feel like the mono was back for a few days. I worked in retail during my teens and early 20's and I'd go to the Dr with strep and/or sinus infections every few months. When I moved up north for several years I somehow didn't get sick up there like that (once I acclimated), but then I returned to the South and it started up again, finally resulting in having my tonsils removed at 30. It was a couple of years later when I was diagnosed with Fibro.