Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
I am new to Lyme and am trying to piece together all the missing links that I can.
I gather from reading in different articles that mono and Lyme share a connection but I can't put my finger on exactly what it is. Would someone be able to clue me in more?
Does Lyme cause mono? Or can mono make one more susceptible to Lyme?
Many years ago (1972) I had mono and now I'm wondering if there isn't more to this puzzle.
Thanks for your help in educating me.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
Since mono is a virus, once you had it, it stays in your system, usually dormant or kept under control by your immune system.
Lyme compromises the immune system, so other bacteria, viruses, and fungus can take hold.
Also, some people get lyme and never seem to get many symptoms, while others do. Or some people who got bitten years ago, get symptoms after stress or sleep loss.
It could be that Mono compromised your immune system enough that lyme was able to take hold harder.
Lyme is usually mutilayered based on a weakened immune system. We have to get rid of Borrelia, and then usually several other things too.
Best wishes for your healing process.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Most people (around 95%) have been exposed to this virus by the time they are 35. Sometimes the virus causes mono, sometimes it doesn't. (In very young children, there are virtually no symptoms.)
EBV, as bejoy noted, stays in your system for life. Occasionally, it can become "re-activated," particularly if your immune system is somehow compromised.
Similarly, Lyme can hang around in our bodies for ages, only becoming a problem when our immune system is weakened.
So they kind of go hand-in-hand. Each opens the door for the other.
In my particular case, I think I've been carrying Bb for years, with few to no symptoms. Then I got mono (EBV) in November 2007, which weakened me enough that the Lyme was able to come out full force.
My EBV titers have remained high, and it looks like I also have reactivated HHV6.
So now my immune system is dealing with Lyme and co-infections, along with the virals.
My LLMD thinks it's best to treat the Lyme and co's first, because it's possible that then my immune system will be strong enough to deal with the EBV and HHV6 on its own.
If it's not, then we will look into anti-viral medications.
-AnnaL
Posts: 398 | From By the Salish Sea | Registered: Dec 2008
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
Thank you for answering bejoy, annaL and lymestop.
I think I understand. If you have had mono the EBV virus stays in your body forever.
It can weaken your immune system thus making way for Lyme to wreak havoc. I hope I have that correct.
If you don't mind, I have another question. I got the mumps as an adult. Crazy, but true. I just googled "mumps" and found that it is also a virus.
So, do you suppose having had both mono and mumps my immune system is even more weakened?
I haven't had my official Lyme diagnosis yet as my first LLMD appointment is March 17.
I just can't imagine what else could be causing me these wide range of symptoms. Plus, I live in a rural area, have dogs and cats and unfortunately find stray ticks in my house (and bed).
Thanks for any light you can shed on the mono-mumps-Lymes topic.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
About mumps, I was supposed to have had it with meningitis as a child.
I now wonder if it was actually mumps, or an accute lyme lymph node reaction to a bite behind the ear. I'll never know.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
bejoy,
I think I know where your thinking is on this.
Illnesses, aches, pains, and so many other seemingly explainable things take on a huge question mark when looked at with Lyme in mind.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
lee, that's how my LYME started out by being diagnosed w/mono at age 21 right after xmas!!
i realize now, it was my 1st MISDIAGNOSIS, and later thru complete body testings, EBV shows up in several areas; no one ever said i had EBV!
39 yrs. lyme; 34.5 yrs. MISDIAGNOSED by 40-50 drs!
yes, it is also 1 of 300 OTHER illnesses mimicking lyme disease!
Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
Hi bettyg,
All these misdiagnosed, misunderstood, sort-of-related issues really have me wondering.
Thanks for your perspective.
Until I joined Lymenet I had never even heard of EBV. I was told I had mono in high school, but that was it.
Now I don't know what to think.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
It is very possible to have a virus or a bacteria or both making one ill. In my case, I had "probable lyme"; HHV-6, EBV, HSV1, VZV, Chlamydia Pneumonia and enterovirus all reactivated.
The best thing to do is to test for all these pathogens, and treat what looks most obviously wrong.
Viruses won't necessarily go dormant on their own once reactivated. Same for bacteria.
HHV-6 should be tested for at Focus Diagnostics Lab.
Enterovirus should be tested at ARUP in Salt Lake City.
Test for all...treat most obvious. These pathogens can all cause the same symptoms, so to treat based on a "clinical diagnosis" without running a bunch of tests is not a good idea.
Best, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
I was also told I had mono. It was about 6 months after I'd gotten a bad summer 'flu' in July. My legs felt heavy that fall and tired. Then either Dec or Jan I was sooo tired, and the doc told me I had mono.
I think I never had it. I think it was Lyme all the time. I don't know of anyone who had mono and muscle twitching and scary thoughts of death.
My sister in law had mono and her only symptoms were spleen swelling and fatigue. A few months later she was fine.
I never recovered.
It's hard to tell, but like Bettyg, I think I was given an improper diagnosis.
posted
I agree with Anna. One opens the door for the other.
I had mono at age 17. I've not been well since. Dxd with Lyme MANY years later.
One little hitch. I believe I got Lyme about 10 yrs before the mono.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
I keep trying to remember what I was doing in 1972 when I got mono. It was in the late winter/early spring, I remember that much. I was a junior in high school.
I got very sick to my stomach for four days. I thought I was dying. My parents took me to the doctor and the doctor sent me to get blood work done at the hospital.
A couple of days later the doctor called and said I had mono. Now I wonder if it wasn't really Lyme. I vaguely remember going horseback riding with a friend a couple of times the fall and winter before getting so sick.
When a person has mono doesn't something happen to their white blood cell count? It goes up or down or something? Is that an accurate way of diagnosing mono? I have a feeling that's what was done for me.
I'll never know really, but I am completely re-thinking my mono diagnosis. Maybe it's been Lyme all along.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Yes, it could have been Lyme all along. It's dxd by looking at the blood cells. Some of the cells have only one nucleus...hence the "mono".. mononucleosis.
oops.. Now they have the EBV tests. In 1972 it was likely dxd as I said. I got it in 1968.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Yes, I had mono in 2006 and have never been the same. Whether lyme opened the door for mono or vice versa doesn't really matter, they are there and causing major issues. I went from perfect health to a mess in about 2 months and have made very little progress since.
So there is a connection and I believe one of the early lyme researchers, Paul Duray (not sure of spelling), wrote about the connection a good bit.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
Thanks for educating me, Lymetoo. I had no idea about the different tests and when they came out.
By the way, I love your dancing ballerinas in your signature.
I used to study ballet(the greatest joy of my life) until I hurt so badly and my brain left me.
Lymeorsomething,
I completely agree with you. No matter what the cause of our illness is our lives are forever changed.
Wishing you all the best.
Leelee
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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