hello everyone...
I am positive for CMV and EBV.. and thats pretty sure now because i've verified the antibody-tests (IgG and IgM) with a lymphocyte-transformation-test. It shows active Varicella zoster virus and CMV actually.. EBV looks like in latent phase, but i had some slightly positive EarlyAntigens to it.. so it could be mildly reactivated... but thats not the culprit right now...
3 Months ago i started my antiviral protocol... (my second, because the 1st was 2012 with 5 Months on low dose valcyte). My CMV titers went down from 27 (with valcyte) to 18 (with famvir) to 12 (everything above 3-4 is positive.. ). I took the Valcyte only 1 months because i was afraid of the side effects.. especially the carciogenic. So i was highly positive for CMV. With the valcyte, i wanted to break down the viral load quickly.. and then switch to another antiviral with lower side effects... i switched to Famvir and took it 6 weeks. The first 2-3 weeks on 500mg/day.. then 1x1000mg/day for 2-3 weeks. But i didnt felt very good on it.. i mean.. i felt better then before the second treatment started.. but it felt like i was slipping backwards.. and that happend. Wednesday last week i dropped the Famvir because i was sick, but instead of getting better.. i got worse and worse.. friday was the worst day i felt a long time, especially the "psycho" symptoms were very strong. On satureday i got some valaciclovir.. because i read, that valaciclovir 3000mg/day is making 2 times higher plasma peak levels then famvir 1500mg/day. I thought, ok, maybe the Famvir isn't working on 1000mg/day but it is too expensive to take it on 1500 or more a day...
When i got the valaciclovir, i took 1500mg right away and another 1500mg later. My symptoms improved.. and yesterday too. I know it sounds weird, because we are thinking in months mainly.. but i swear.. the really bad symptoms i got on friday went away with the valacyclovir.
Because of the fact, that Famvir with a "low" dose of 1000mg/day took down the CMV Viral load from 18 to 12, i wanted to ask, if someone has experience with treating CMV with valacyclovir (valtrex)?? I know, Dr. Lerner says for CMV Valcyte is needed.. but like i said, i would like to avoid it if possible. I want to increase my Valacyclovir-dosage to 4500mg/day and stay on it for a few weeks.. then do some new tests and take a look on the titer. Of course.. this trial depends on my symptoms.. when i got my old symptoms back over a few days.. i will switch to Valcyte again and stick with it.
best regards and sry for my english (i'm from germany)
Edit: the weird thing is, with Famvir the CMV titer fell from 18 to 12.. and i felt "ok" on it.. but since 1 week i didn't felt ok on it anymore.. i dont think that it stopped working..
I am positive for CMV and EBV.. and thats pretty sure now because i've verified the antibody-tests (IgG and IgM) with a lymphocyte-transformation-test. It shows active Varicella zoster virus and CMV actually.. EBV looks like in latent phase, but i had some slightly positive EarlyAntigens to it.. so it could be mildly reactivated... but thats not the culprit right now...
3 Months ago i started my antiviral protocol... (my second, because the 1st was 2012 with 5 Months on low dose valcyte). My CMV titers went down from 27 (with valcyte) to 18 (with famvir) to 12 (everything above 3-4 is positive.. ). I took the Valcyte only 1 months because i was afraid of the side effects.. especially the carciogenic. So i was highly positive for CMV. With the valcyte, i wanted to break down the viral load quickly.. and then switch to another antiviral with lower side effects... i switched to Famvir and took it 6 weeks. The first 2-3 weeks on 500mg/day.. then 1x1000mg/day for 2-3 weeks. But i didnt felt very good on it.. i mean.. i felt better then before the second treatment started.. but it felt like i was slipping backwards.. and that happend. Wednesday last week i dropped the Famvir because i was sick, but instead of getting better.. i got worse and worse.. friday was the worst day i felt a long time, especially the "psycho" symptoms were very strong. On satureday i got some valaciclovir.. because i read, that valaciclovir 3000mg/day is making 2 times higher plasma peak levels then famvir 1500mg/day. I thought, ok, maybe the Famvir isn't working on 1000mg/day but it is too expensive to take it on 1500 or more a day...
When i got the valaciclovir, i took 1500mg right away and another 1500mg later. My symptoms improved.. and yesterday too. I know it sounds weird, because we are thinking in months mainly.. but i swear.. the really bad symptoms i got on friday went away with the valacyclovir.
Because of the fact, that Famvir with a "low" dose of 1000mg/day took down the CMV Viral load from 18 to 12, i wanted to ask, if someone has experience with treating CMV with valacyclovir (valtrex)?? I know, Dr. Lerner says for CMV Valcyte is needed.. but like i said, i would like to avoid it if possible. I want to increase my Valacyclovir-dosage to 4500mg/day and stay on it for a few weeks.. then do some new tests and take a look on the titer. Of course.. this trial depends on my symptoms.. when i got my old symptoms back over a few days.. i will switch to Valcyte again and stick with it.
best regards and sry for my english (i'm from germany)
Edit: the weird thing is, with Famvir the CMV titer fell from 18 to 12.. and i felt "ok" on it.. but since 1 week i didn't felt ok on it anymore.. i dont think that it stopped working..