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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by spriggy on March 11, 2006, at 19:34:21
My Epstein Barr titer continues to be extremely HIGH ( over 3,000 when "normal" is around 100).
Anyway, I wondered if this could be creating some of my depression and anxiety?
I haven't been able to find anything directly relating them but I can't help but to wonder.
All these health issues I've had seem to make my mental state worse..
Posted by James K on March 12, 2006, at 13:05:35
In reply to Can Epstein Barr cause mental symptoms?, posted by spriggy on March 11, 2006, at 19:34:21
I say yes. But what i mean, is based upon your diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and extremely high EB titers, I think there is a good chance that you would fit a CDC diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. For a while, some researchers thought that CFS was somehow caused by or a form of Epstein-Barr, but that has been pretty much ruled out because much of the general population has Epstein-Barr antibodies as well as sick people.
But, when I was first being diagnosed with cfs many long years ago, My eb titers were throught the roof.
That's a lot of talk to say that Brain Fog, a mental lethargy and confusion, and just generally not thinking well, is one of the major side effects of a post-viral disorder (which I believe CFS to be). Fibromyalgia and CFS are very related in study and symptom, but still unknown, but there are definetley brain and cns aspects.
I hope I'm making sense, I'm sick at the moment from cfs and med withdrawals, and others, but I wanted to try to make some answer.
James K
Posted by spriggy on March 12, 2006, at 19:36:55
In reply to Re: Can Epstein Barr cause mental symptoms? » spriggy, posted by James K on March 12, 2006, at 13:05:35
Thanks James.. I appreciate your answer and it makes sense.
How did yours start? Do you recall a starting point?
I know exactly when this all began with me; Christmas of 2004 I had a traumatic event with my dad (he almost died and I watched it), the week prior to this, I had a fever, stomach pains ( horrific stomach pains), and went in for blood work.
They called me and said my white count was really high; put me on antibiotics, had the situation with my dad and my anxiety hit w/panic attacks so I went on Lexapro.
I wigged on it; hallucinated, felt SOO bizarre. I also started running fever's; just daily fever's and started feeling "sickly" and weak. I lost nearly 20 pounds ( and I was small/petite to start with) and THUS began this horrific situation.
They thought I was hypoglycemic, ran tests for lymphoma, said Lupus, said Fibromyalgia,etc.. Every single specialists they sent me to had a new diagnosis but no answers'. Finally ran the EBV titers and saw how high those were ( this was 8 months into my sickness) and then finally concluded it was Epstein Barr and Fibromyalgia.
I haven't had a fever in several weeks; my throat isn't sore right now, I am taking B-12 injections 3 times per week and on mega vitamins/minerals.
I exercise at the gym 3 days a week and started using a tanning bed to help with this mood funk ( it's dark and rainy up here).
I am doing ALL i know to do to get better; I stay sick A LOT; not just normal fibro sick but with infections- strep, sinus, etc..
Oh also in this time, they sent me to an allergists who did an allergy tests and I literally was allergic TO EVERYTHING and also developed asthma this year.
It's like my normally healthy body shut down and went haywire and my mind/mental state went with it.
I get the fibro fog, but I have more anxiety/racing thoughts and depression more than anything.
It's just weird.
Tell me about yours.. it's nice to know I'm not alone although I am sorry you have to suffer too.
It sucks.
Posted by Tanzanite on March 12, 2006, at 20:42:01
In reply to Can Epstein Barr cause mental symptoms?, posted by spriggy on March 11, 2006, at 19:34:21
I have ebv and it either did major damage to my immune system or my immune system was damaged then the ebv made it worse. But, my immunologist believes it can lead to depression just because of being sick. Being sick and in pain can cause mental health problems. I believe that since the body and mind are connected when something goes wrong with one thing, the other is affected. I hope you feel better Spriggy, Being sick is no fun at all. HUGS
Chelle
Posted by James K on March 12, 2006, at 22:08:58
In reply to Re: Can Epstein Barr cause mental symptoms? » James K, posted by spriggy on March 12, 2006, at 19:36:55
> Thanks James.. I appreciate your answer and it makes sense.
>
> How did yours start? Do you recall a starting point?
>
----It was june 1994. I was 25 years old. I had been through a major depression and substance abuse, then my first treatment. I was on Prozac, my first psych med. I had spent 3 months in a halfway house with ex-cons and drug addicts and I had been physically ill, panic attacks and malnourshished. After a suicide attempt or two, I moved in with my still wife, and put weight back on, stayed sober, and exercised myself into (male model *grin*) physical shape.Then I decided to go up north on a road trip with my biological family to visit my grandparents. My dad had just returned from South America for business, and had apparently picked up a virus. On the drive, he, me, and my 5 (?) year old nephew started to get sick. I shared a bed with my nephew. I told them I was sick, they said, get your *ss out there and paint the shed. I did. My temp went to 104. My chest hurt. I thought I might die. They took me and my dad to a local small town doctor. They said he had pneumonia, and I had a cold. I got mad, because this was no cold. My mother asked me "why are you so angry all the time.", I said "because you hit me too much" she said "You have false memory syndrome" I said "Take me to a bus station." I ended up flying home that night. The sickest I've ever been as an adult. I'm sorry to the other people on the flight. I got home, pleurisy, orchitis, fever, night sweats, no insurance. I lost everything. I stayed in bed for months. I've worked and pushed and drank ever since. Sometimes, I think I'll have a heart attack, like last night. One time I decided to sleep on the floor on an air mattress, and after a couple of days, I moved the bed clothes, and there was puddles of sweat. Nothing matters.
I'm down right now. so don't think it's all bad. I've lived a wonderful life with love and friendship and fun and sucessful jobs. It hits sometimes. I'd look for good cfs sites, like the Dallas cfs society, (I don't remember what they are called). I'm rambling, sorry.
James K
Posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2006, at 22:07:32
In reply to Re:My story, *maybe trigers? how should i know? » spriggy, posted by James K on March 12, 2006, at 22:08:58
Have any of you had your ana checked? I know what being sick can do to your mental status. I'v been dx'd with everthing from chronic lymes disese, to Hashimotos thryroiditis, to a micro ademome on my pituitary whieh I awaitomg a nerologists appointment to get another Mri to see if it's grown. And cfs, fibromyalgia to bending your neck will create papalysis. It just never ends. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by James K on March 14, 2006, at 12:34:06
In reply to Re:My story, *maybe trigers? how should i know?, posted by Phillipa on March 13, 2006, at 22:07:32
> Have any of you had your ana checked?
-- I don't recognize the initials. By the way, Hi phillipa. Sorry we haven't talked lately. I got wrapped up in my own world. My mind and body are starting to come back around from the extreme lows of the last two weeks.
love,
james k
Posted by Phillipa on March 14, 2006, at 18:59:17
In reply to What is ana? » Phillipa, posted by James K on March 14, 2006, at 12:34:06
Hi James no need to apologize ANA stands for anti neuclear antibodies. They are used to diagnose autoimmune diseases. An example would be lupus, but my lymes diseas had high one's too. Sjornes is another one Renauds, and even normal people can have elevated ones oh my hyshimotos thyroiditis is an autoimmune type of low thryroid so I think that is why my ANA is always high. Fondly, Phillipa
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