HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Ever get mono twice? Why did I?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/17/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
I just found out yesterday through a finger prick test that I have mono again. I had it in the fall last year, and now it appears I have it again. This would explain why for the last few months I've felt worn down, achy, and slightly feverish. I am not nearly as sick (yet anyways) as last year, but it's still not fun to have.

Have any of you had mono more than once? Does it sometimes never fully go away in people with chronic illnesses?
Posted 11/17/2012 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Mono is caused by the epstein barr virus. You get mono symptoms which eventually "go away" but the epstein barr virus remains in your system for life. It usually lays dormant in your body but there are periods where the virus is more active, usually not causing any symptoms, but you can actually pass it on to others during these times where it is active. It is very possible that periods of stress or taking immune suppressive drugs like steroid enemas, 6mp, entocort, and remicade could cause the EBV to give you mono all over again. That's why I think people are way to easily lured into taking this immunocrap for treatments. If you have to you have to but there are all kinds of bad things that can happen to you by having a weakened immune system, such as mono "flaring" up again. I'm putting my money on the Remicade doing this to you.
Posted 11/17/2012 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Gary. I'm with you in that line of thinking, that the Remicade is allowing the EBV to activate again. Unfortunately after a few years of delaying remicade a time came when I was very sick and needed it badly. So I'm stumped as to how I should handle this. I'll be talking with my GI specialist and PCP next week to see what I should do...
Posted 11/17/2012 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Oh no...just what you DON'T need. It was nice to hear you were having a bit of a break.

yes...gary explained perfectly.

Delicate dance you're in at this point. The only thing that might help is for you to use a med that will possibly suppress the herpes virus.?

I'm wondering if adding L-Lysine could be of any help?
q

Posted 11/18/2012 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
It was nice to be getting a break for a while, quincy! I'm at the tail end of options in regards to UC, so I'm doing that delicate dance slowly... hoping for more options for treatment in the future. I honestly feel that I am better off not having surgery, like my intuition is saying I'm close to finding stability with things. So I keep feeling things out.

I wonder if the mono ever really went away from last year. I need to get in to see my GP this coming week, and go over everything going on. The saddest thing about all of this, to me, is that I can't kiss the new woman I've been spending time with anymore... and I really want to! We spent last evening together at her place watching a movie and talking, and there was a frustration we both had to laugh at. She seemed frustrated and laughed softly/shyly, and told me she really wanted to kiss me. Now it looks like that won't be an option again for a good while...
Posted 11/18/2012 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
Herpes viruses never leave us...it's the virus (and all its forms) that keeps on giving.

It's unfortunate about both your frustrations.

We all risk and tolerate...it's a delicate balance sometimes.

What's the protocol for monitoring the Mono at this point? continued blood tests?

Is an antiviral not an option?

Look into L-Lysine...not an off the cuff suggestion. It's definitely helpful in many herpes viruses...even for cats.

q
Posted 11/18/2012 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
The gift that keeps on giving, huh? lol. The holiday season IS approaching... perhaps this is just an early present? ;)

I have more questions than answers about this mono situation, and was told by the PA at the walk-in clinic I went to last evening to contact my GP Monday. I need to find out the following:

-How long am I contagious?
-Is the Remicade essentially activating the EBV?
-Do I need to delay Remicade infusions until this clears up (next dose in three weeks).

My GP is very thorough, and will let me know what tests we need to do to keep tabs on this.

I will look into L-Lysine. I might head to the store here in just a bit and see if I can pick some up.

I don't know what you mean by an anti-viral, really... unless you mean something like a herbal supplement. I have oregano oil here that I have used before and feel it helps with things in general when I'm sick, but my G.I. specialist has told me not to take it because it interferes with the way Remicade is metabolized.
Posted 11/18/2012 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
I copied the whole page because it's a varied amount of info.

Maybe some info in there that can help you create a list of questions for the doc.

http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGNI_enCA464CA464&q=herpes+antiviral#hl=en&newwindow=1&rlz=1T4GGNI_enCA464CA464&sclient=psy-ab&q=mono+antiviral&oq=mono+antiviral&gs_l=serp.3..0l2j0i30l2.11581.15173.0.15521.14.9.0.5.5.0.133.824.7j2.9.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.H_V9KsVAu2c&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=50d91f5236d13f2&bpcl=38625945&biw=1045&bih=758

q

Posted 11/18/2012 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Oh no....that totally stinks! To have it not once but TWICE??

I can't answer any of your questions, but now I'm wondering....if someone has had mono before and starts on Remicade, does it increase your chances of getting it again more so than the normal population?

I had it when I was 17....man was that horrible! I could barely make it 10 feet to get to the bathroom (this was before Uc). Now I'm wondering if perhaps I have had slight activations in the past - is there such a thing? Because not too long ago I went out to a party, had a few drinks (not many) and the next day I could barely get off the couch. I blamed the late night (even though I slept for 9 hours) and the couple of drinks I had. Now I'm wondering if this darn EBV is to blame.

But anyway, I hope you feel better soon and that it runs it course pretty quickly for you!
Posted 11/18/2012 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
For what it's worth, I'm not bed-ridden. I'm not running fevers except to 98.2 (97.3 is my normal). I don't have the killer headaches. I don't have a sore throat.

My tonsils have some white spots, and are a bit sore. I have slight body aches. I feel a bit feverish.

So... it could be worse! Thanks for your concern, quincy and red.
Posted 11/18/2012 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Did they swab your tonsils?

Hope this won't last too long for you...
q
Posted 11/18/2012 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
They simply did a finger poke, drew a bit of blood up a tiny plastic tube, and waited five minutes to tell me I was positive in that test.
Posted 11/18/2012 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
thoreau, i have never had mono myself, but my cousin had it in high school. i remember i didn't really know what it was at the time- just thought it was "the kissing disease." she ended up missing almost an entire semester of school and ended up having to go to summer school. so going by what i know from her experience, i would HATE being in your position, especially since you've gotten it twice already. obviously, it doesn't help that your immune system can't do it's magic.

as for your new woman, i bet your next kiss will be awesome because you have to wait so long for it!

Posted 11/18/2012 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Bananagirl... whenever that kiss happens, it is going to be the best kiss of my life I have a feeling. I had honestly wanted to approach things by taking it slower with this new relationship... but this is definitely a little extreme! lol

Mono is rough, yes. I'll live though, and keep on fighting for stability in how I feel. My dad is kind of goofy (99% of the time, lol) and likes the movie "Galaxy Quest" with Tim Allen. He often says a line from it: "Never give up, Never surrender!" lol. I try to apply that to my life when I can. I've got a lot to be thankful for, so I'll keep on working on the things that need improvement. I'll keep smiling and laughing when I can, too... which comes naturally to me. :)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply