Add HHV6 to the list

This week I saw my LLMD and she casually mentioned my HHV6. At the time, I didn't know what she was talking about and thought: Oh, she's talking about the Epstein Barr? No. It's something different, right? It's its own horrible thing?

I'm spinning out a little here. I feel like, every time I see my LLMD she diagnoses me with some new awful virus or condition.

Far as I know I currently have: SIBO, Lyme, Babesia x2, Bartonella, Hashimoto's, Candida, Epstein Barr and now HHV6.

I feel overwhelmed. Does everyone else have this massive list of viruses and conditions?

Hi KristenBee —

I'm so sorry you're feeling overwhelmed. But this is all overwhelming. I think most of us have felt the same at some point along the way.

Correct, HHV6 is not the same as EBV although they are all in the herpesviruses. Experts suggest that 100% of the population has HHV-6 by the age of 3. Something like 70% of the adult population has herpes simplex (the cankor sore type), most people also carry the EBV virus, etc…

And there are other very common viruses that most people living in the general population have. And others that LLMDs like to test for w/ Lymees (CMV).

In other words, carrying these viruses is pretty common, even for well people. You cannot be "cured" of viruses but healthy immune systems keep them dominated or even in remission. The reason so many Lyme patients have issues with viruses is because of our compromised immune systems. Ticks can also carry viral loads that also become part of our Lyme & Co infection loads.

It's great that your LLMD is looking into high viral loads. It's important to treat them w/ antivirals to keep loads low so that your immune system isn't overwhelmed by them and you can benefit more from your Lyme & Co treatment.

I had high titers for 4-5 different viruses and held off treatment for a couple of months to deal with high viral roads and a few other things and I'm so glad I did. I had to cycle through a couple different antiviral Rx's to get one that worked for me but I got there.

Visits to the LLMD can often feel like you are peeling an onion layer slowly, only to reveal more issues, because that's kind of what we're doing. That can be frustrating but it is also a part of figuring out what your body and immune system is struggling with and how to help it out (no amount or combination of antibiotics or herbs will heal the Lyme & co w/out the help of your immune system). So, in a way, the more you discover, the closer you are to figuring out your unique approach to healing. And this is also why a one-size-fits-all abx Rx doesn't work. Successful treatment is usually broad and complex. And customized.

So please don't stress - w/ a good antiviral the HHV-6 and EBV are the least of your worries. You're in good hands… Take a deep breath and let us know if you need help with any of the other issues you're juggling.

-p

Good post mcspike!

-p

mcspike said...
Hhv6 is kinda of like 'my specialty', in other wordz Ive zpent countless hours researching it.

Hhv6 is the childhood disease that's nicknamed 'rosieola'. A HIGH IgG does indicate RE-activation, but theres the b-variant and a-variant.

Theres a foundation dedicated JUST for HHV6 because its the virus that when teamed w/HIV it causez AIDS.

HHV6 has been found in all sorts of cells from people who donate their bodies to science. Its been found in ALL M.S. brains and Chronic fatigue syndrome 'live participates'!!!

Theres a VERY good read(book), 'The virus within', written by a team of scientists who received fed grants to look into the cause of CFS, and Gulf War syndrome.

IF you have reactivation of HHV6, and also have ANY of the other herpes viruses such as the one that causes shingles from chickenpox; then a strong antiviral is 100% necessary.

Also, hhv6 is capable of bonding w/the intracellular bacterium such as borrelia, mycoplasma, and chlamydophila! So the antiviral is essential when attempting to erradicate any bacterium.

Im so sorry you have Hhv6, but keep the hope....persevere!!!

Excellent post!

I was a nanny to a woman that had chronic fatigue and she was HHV6. She saw a specialist in chronic fatigue and I took care of her babies. She worked hard and finally go it into remission but she has to be extremely careful not to stress.

I love helping her. I watched her go through vials and vials of blood to get answers and then she went through bags and bags of infusions.

She is fine and both of her children are now being taken care of by their parents instead of me.... but I was there for 5 years during her treatment.

Girlie -

Interested to see if mcspike has a specific response for you but here is a good conversation from awhile back. I think most virus tests are the same - looking for titers. But in my experience, the tests are also confusing with respect to identifying a current, old, or reactive load. Maybe there has been better info on this since this conversation.

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3618192

-p

Sorry - I didn't type what I meant to say.

The tests are reliable in terms of indicating whether or not a virus is there, but not at all reliable in telling you if it's old, new, or just reactivated. There's an IgG vs IgM rule of thumb similar to the Lyme tests for old vs new - that experts now say isn't so reliable. So, my LLMD and I just went by high titers, who cares of it's new or old, just treat it.

The antiviral meds are also hard on the liver/kidneys, so another option is to try antiviral herbs. I have been on IMN-V-I and II and after working up to high doses, I've had periods where it wasn't effective and my viral load surged (this nearly always coincided with herxing due to a change in my protocol). So, then I added in an antiviral Rx. So I'm still struggling to transition off the Rx but others might have more success.

-p

Lysine by IV - interesting.

I'm taking Lysine capsules (more like horse pills). Hard for me to say much about it - I'm also on Rx and an herbal tincture - all antivirals. I do know that the natural antivirals are absolutely no match for the Rx for me.

-p

Oh that's right bvt does work on viruses. Have they done any studies showing the viruses is killed, blue?

-p

What do you mean by "retraced"?

I've been using high dose oral Lysine for a few years now, and haven't had any symptoms of any of my herpes viruses that I know of.

I just switched to a pure form of Lysine (no additives), so hoping I can lower my dose a bit and get better results still.