[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference turris::womannotes-v2

Title:ARCHIVE-- Topics of Interest to Women, Volume 2 --ARCHIVE
Notice:V2 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open.
Moderator:REGENT::BROOMHEAD
Created:Thu Jan 30 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 30 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1105
Total number of notes:36379

489.0. "EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS" by HOCUS::MARON () Wed Mar 08 1989 12:14

    This also has been labeled the Yuppie Disease.  I had a severe case
    of Mono 3 years ago (was out of work for 8 1/2 weeks) and my doctor
    warned me that this could result in EBV later down the road.  Well
    let me tell you that even though I have never been through the EBV
    tests, I feel I suffer from this (not as severe as some cases I
    have heard of).  Usually when it is "that time of the month" I am
    totally wiped out.  My husband ends up doing all of the chores
    including making dinners.  I work in Manhattan and commute from
    Long Island, this is such a draining experience for me.  I have
    12 hour days, leaving the house at 6:00 AM and not returning home
    until 6:30 PM, at this point it is straight to bed.  I have gotten
    up some mornings and been forced to call in sick because I really
    don't have the energy to take a shower and hike it on the LIRR (thank
    God I have an understanding boss!).  If the pay wasn't significantly
    higher in Manhattan I would go back to working on the Island because
    I get wiped out doing this every day.  The slightest virus or sign
    of a cold puts me immobile for at least 3-4 days because I can't
    get out of bed.  I have tried vitamins and eating healthy foods
    and this doesn't help me at all.  It sometimes gets to the point
    where I will sleep an entire weekend away due to an attack of EBV.
    From what I understand, this is a pesky virus that will remain with
    me for life.  Any input would be greatly appreciated!
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
489.2pointer to other filesLEZAH::BOBBITTBe *Excellent* To Each OtherWed Mar 08 1989 13:439
    Epstein-Barr and Chronic Fatigue are mentioned in several places
    around the notesfiles
    
    Womannotes-V1 :  topic 302 (Epstein-Barr)
    GUMMO::MEDICAL :  topic 323 (Epstein-Barr)
    		      topic 68 (Chronic Fatigue)
    HYDRA::HOLISTIC : topic 364 (Both)
    
    -Jody
489.3You can't buy healthULTRA::WITTENBERGSecure Systems for Insecure PeopleWed Mar 08 1989 14:039
    How much  better  is  the pay in Manhattan? It would have to be an
    enormous  amount  to  be worth feeling wiped out every day, not to
    mention  the  extra  two  hours  commuting,  which  could be spent
    working.  Have  you considered takinga job nearer home. You'd save
    commuting  costs,  and  would  probably  have enough extra time to
    reduce expenses around the house, so it might not cost you as much
    as you think.  And of course saving your health is invaluable.

--David
489.4well, maybe this would helpSARAH::MELBINTue Mar 14 1989 13:3512
I used to get what would be like never ending flus, or something - usually when
I had worn myself down - I'd get something (may be something like what you say
or totally different) -Anyway, it would cause fevers (mild) at night, I'd go to
bed early, wake up and feel 'ok' , go to work and be wiped again by the
evening. My SO and my Dad both told me I was not getting enough exercise. Well,
I don't know but what I did was get serious about getting real exercise on a 
regular basis. So far, I feel better, but also haven't been sick (but once, and
my daughter brought that home to everyone). Maybe you need to build up your 
total strength. Of course, maybe this won't be relevant to you at all, but 
maybe it will be.

good luck
489.5R E S P E C TENGINE::POMIANSKYWed Mar 15 1989 14:1711
    re: .4
    
    Getting some *real* exercise, continuing to eat healthy and treat
    your body with the love and respect she deserves ie - easing on
    the stressful lifestyle really should fix you right up.  As far
    as a virus with a fancy name that is supposed to be with you forever,
     I would have to question that.  This virus (I am no Dr. but am
    very health conscious) does not have to torture you  till the end.
     You can torture it back with a few changes in the way you deal
    with your health.  Good luck and take a long bath tonight I bet
    it will help the old wind down.
489.6Take back the day!!IFF::H_SPENCERHolly SpencerMon Apr 03 1989 18:2354
	It sounds like you are at the point where you are overwhelmed
with stress in your life.  

	I had one of the worst cases of mono that my doctor had ever
seen.  My parents took some advice from Adelle Davis' "Let's Get Well",
which discusses mono and viruses.  She advises large doses of Vitamin C,
and a drink she calls "pep up", which I make out of milk, juice, protein
powder, and any bananas or plums on hand with the blender.   I recovered
faster than any case that my doctor had ever seen, and never had the
kind of trailing lethargy that most have.  While I commend your trying
vitamins and checking the results, you may find that you barely scratched
the surface with the doses you used during recovery, and then you proceeded
to further exhaust your adrenals and restorative powers with inadequate 
B vitamins for stress.

	A second help along this line is a new book called "Who Gets Sick"
by Blair Justice.  It surveys and reports on a wide range of recent research
on the link between our coping skills and our proclivity to get sick.  It
shows that while modern science forcefully maintains that there is an
agent for every illness, and, of course, manages the application of counter
agents as a very profitable business, the theory fails to explain how it
is that only some in a population exposed to the same agents get ill.  
The author goes on to dissect our responses to stress, and some factors
which seem to build up or tear down our immunity to most pathogens.  
Reading it may help you think through some of the co-factors that have
been found to aggravate our resistance to illness.

	A third consideration that is something I went through over
the past few years is a process of centering.  I took note of the amount
of illness and stress I felt, and then consciously took steps to get
hold of my ability to manage my health.  I sat down from time to time
and wrote down where I was and where I was going.  I did it in several
ways, you may find your own way. What I did was first wrote down all
the things that were going wrong.  Then I wrote down some ideals, where
I'd love to be.  Then I wrote down some steps or projects that would go
in that direction.  Then, after 3 or six months, I checked the list and
was surprised that I had actually accomplished a few.  So, I got busy and
finished a few more, and wrote down how great it was.  The first pass,
I mostly wrote down job-related or household-related items.  The second
time, I got into health-related stuff and relationships.  Amazingly enough,
it really worked, I was making progress, and taking on bigger projects.
I went from 4-5 colds per year to 2.  I went from getting a flu every
year, to none.  I went from 2 fillings per year to 1 in 5 years.  
I exercise more regularly, which helps my poor circulation, eat better,
sleep easier, and generally have more time for projects.  I also am
better prepared to deal with setbacks, anger, and disappointments, I have a 
context for what really needs to succeed in my life.  

	All of this is just suggestions, you seem to be very dedicated
and capable, and I'm sure you do reflect on where you are going.  I just
found visible results with the above, so if you really are bent on 
recovery, you'll have to take charge of what's eating you alive.
Good luck, I hope that helped.
489.7updated pointersLEZAH::BOBBITTinvictus maneoFri Jan 26 1990 13:3325
    Someone asked me off-line for a list of pointers on chronic
    epstein-barr virus, and the related fatigue syndrome.  So, for anyone
    else who needs them, here's an updated list...

medical notesfile:

45 - CEBV
68 - chronic fatigue syndrome
78 - CEBV - anything new?
89 - CEBV support group
270 - chronic fatigue syndrome
323 - chronic epstein-barr virus (CEBV)

holistic notesfile:

173 - epstein-barr
364 - chronic fatigue symptom

womannotes - V1

302 - chronic epstein barr virus

    
    -Jody