I have read a few things recently that have me wondering if I came down with a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection back in university. At the time, in the winter of 1986, all seemed fine until one day I suddenly could not retain any of the information I had studied the night before (mid-term exams) and the next morning when I woke up I could barely lift my head off the pillow. I thought it was probably mono as did the dr at the university clinic. The tests came back negative however. I really wasn't diagnosed with anything, just told that I had caught something that the tests weren't picking up and that it just had to run its course. I think I was given something for symptomatic relief, maybe for nausea. It was a long time ago...
What has got me thinking about this now? I've recently read that not only does Epstein Barr Virus cause mono but CMV can cause it, or something like it, as well. Also, a recent article stated that CMV infects the cells in the nose first, and they are the cells involved with smell. I have a severe hypersensitivity to smell since coming down with ME a couple years after this mono-like event.
That leaves with a few questions.
1. Would a family doctor back in 1986 have tested a 22 year old for CMV in addition to EBV thinking it might be mono?
2. If I did have CMV back then, are there any reliable tests now that can tell me if I was previously infected or if it is currently active? I'm in Ontario and I don't know what the quality of our viral testing is but I'd be willing to send it somewhere to get an accurate result.
What has got me thinking about this now? I've recently read that not only does Epstein Barr Virus cause mono but CMV can cause it, or something like it, as well. Also, a recent article stated that CMV infects the cells in the nose first, and they are the cells involved with smell. I have a severe hypersensitivity to smell since coming down with ME a couple years after this mono-like event.
That leaves with a few questions.
1. Would a family doctor back in 1986 have tested a 22 year old for CMV in addition to EBV thinking it might be mono?
2. If I did have CMV back then, are there any reliable tests now that can tell me if I was previously infected or if it is currently active? I'm in Ontario and I don't know what the quality of our viral testing is but I'd be willing to send it somewhere to get an accurate result.