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Mumps reactivating ... what to do?

Aileen

Senior Member
Messages
615
Location
Canada
The doctor's office called today. I managed to get her to run a bunch of tests to see what was going on as I feel a lot worse. I thought perhaps either some other illness had appeared and/or I had a reactivating virus.

It seems like the tests indicate that I have mumps and so I am to go back for repeat blood testing tomorrow. They wanted to know my symptoms and yes, it certainly feels like I have mumps although there isn't much swelling. I've actually been saying that I feel like I've got mumps - sore glands, throat, ears, teeth - for several weeks.

She didn't run all the tests that I'd asked for so I asked if she'd run the EBV and CMV tests this time. Hopefully she will since I caught the mumps reactivation. It isn't usually something I'd ask for but since I'd had mumps as a child (from a vaccine) and had the symptoms, I put it on the list. Good call on my part if I do say so myself! :D

The question is what to do about it? Is there anything I can take to beat this thing into submission? Going by the way I have been feeling I'd say it has been reactivating for about 3 to 4 weeks.
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
Nice catch!

Try for an HHV-6 test, too, unless you know you've not been exposed. I had all those symptoms, plus being swollen like a chipmunk, and I was told it was HHV-6 and/or EBV reactivation. Apparently both those viruses live in the salivary glands and can make them swell.

Herpesvirus reactivations can feel just like you describe -- glands, throats, ears, teeth -- and generally don't produce swelling like in mumps.

Now that I know mumps can reactivate, I'm wondering if I actually had the mumps instead. :eek:

Have you taken any immune modulators like AHCC?
 

Aileen

Senior Member
Messages
615
Location
Canada
The only immune modulator I have ever tried was Immunovir years ago and it was a disaster. Don't remember the details just that it made me sicker. What is AHCC?
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
with poor nk or t cell function, many of these viruses that are katent in healthy people will reactivate in us. My memory is crap at the moment but i posted a link not long ago about people with other acute infections and it seemed that these infections then caused ebv to reactivate, i think any big hit on the immune system and ebv is going to rear its ugly head.

cheers!!!
 

Aileen

Senior Member
Messages
615
Location
Canada
Well folks, I got a call from the public health unit this morning. Apparently my IgM was weakly positive so that is why everyone's tail is in a tizzy. They are wondering if the dreaded mumps is out there in the community. :eek: I'm rather amused by all the fuss. I explained what happened, answering all her questions before she asked. Apparently everyone is very confused by this. When I asked her if she thought I might be contageous she wasn't really sure either, but thought it wasn't likely as I'd been having symptoms for 4 weeks and no apparent swelling. I go for repeat blood testing later today. Depending on the results, I may be hearing from public health again... So now we know how to get some attention.:p
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
The only immune modulator I have ever tried was Immunovir years ago and it was a disaster. Don't remember the details just that it made me sicker. What is AHCC?
AHCC is an OTC supplement derived from mushrooms. It is sometimes suggested by ME/CFS docs in the US where Imunovir is unavailable. Apparently it is quite effective at improving NK cell function.

Here's some more info about AHCC:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Hexose_Correlated_Compound
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
Well folks, I got a call from the public health unit this morning. Apparently my IgM was weakly positive so that is why everyone's tail is in a tizzy. They are wondering if the dreaded mumps is out there in the community. :eek: I'm rather amused by all the fuss. I explained what happened, answering all her questions before she asked. Apparently everyone is very confused by this. When I asked her if she thought I might be contageous she wasn't really sure either, but thought it wasn't likely as I'd been having symptoms for 4 weeks and no apparent swelling. I go for repeat blood testing later today. Depending on the results, I may be hearing from public health again... So now we know how to get some attention.:p

yeah that would be right... they only really worry with us if they think we are contagious...