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I just want to bring this up for discussion but will start with my experiences that have made me think its possible that VZV could be an ongoing issue with many cfs/me people.
SO i had chickenpox as a kid and it ran its course like most kids, so quite benign, a few itchy spots, a few mild viral symptoms etc, nothing to really say.
Fast forward 25-30yrs, age 31, in a post viral state from cmv mono when i got chickenpox, again. Not so benign, actually up there with one of the worst moments of my life and think it was the straw that broke the camels back when it came to cfs/me for me. I was one big swollen pimple with pussy pimples and sores on top on that. They were as itchy as, headaches and dizziness, fevers. I couldnt shave due to the pox. My mouth bled when i brushed my teeth and the other end bled after whipping it when going to the toilet. After 5 days the fevers stopped, the pussy sores started to dry up but got itchier, still with headaches and lethargy was severe. walk outside the house and not leaving the yard intensified fatigue.
It took several months to feel somewhat normal (which never really happened) and might have occurred sooner if i didnt then get ebv mono.
Fast forward 5 years or so and i find a good cfs doc and did antivirals with good success, up and downs etc but generally up with many posts on here.
Of interest and concerned about possibly getting shingles or even chickenpox again, 9 months ago i got serology done for VZV/varicella zoster virus. Here in australia we cant get viral titres tested, they just come back positive or negative with igm and igg. My test just came back igg positve, evidence of past exposure, represents good immunity?????
Two weeks ago i had a shingles outbreak on the side of my head. Initially i didnt realise i had shingles, just some type of viral infection, thinking it was my normal cmv reactivation for which i start taking famvir and do 10 day courses now when virus symptoms start. Previously i had been on antivirals constantly for a few years but now use them when required.
This did feel different to my previous possible cmv episodes, though as i didnt get the sore glands i normally do and this time i was constantly tachycardic and a mild fever. 4 days post antivirals i felt a bit better and was over due for my hair cut which my wife does. Usually a no blade clipper. This was when we saw the shingles rash which was starting to crust up. I was concerned but sort of glad as it wasnt as bad as i thought it would be as i recall my chickenpox episode aarrgghh. time will tell
Last week was a short working week for me of 2 days for me, it was a struggle. Still ongoing headaches that were getting worse and normal pain killers not really helping much and lethargy. Yesterday i was suppose to go back to work and had 4 days. i couldnt do it. I saw my doc who wrote me off for the week to rest up and some better pain killers which have helped and probably why im posting now.
What was interesting talking with my doctor was that i brought up the test i had 9 months ago saying i had good immunity against VZV, also said where i had the rash was where i usually have those brain fog type headaches, this seemed to intrigue him. He also stated that maybe the test (rememeber not titres) was evidence of a chronic low level VZV infection. It would be interesting to know what the titres were and if there is a certain level where they could say that its an active infection?
There are VZV infections that occur without and rashes etc and like ebv i did come across some research showing VZV can suppress nk cells.
So bringing this up as its not really spoken much about as a chronic infection, more as a one off type of infection. Would be interested to hear on others thoughts and if they have found any interesting research on this subject as well as those who have had multiple chickenpox and or shingles episodes.
cheers!
SO i had chickenpox as a kid and it ran its course like most kids, so quite benign, a few itchy spots, a few mild viral symptoms etc, nothing to really say.
Fast forward 25-30yrs, age 31, in a post viral state from cmv mono when i got chickenpox, again. Not so benign, actually up there with one of the worst moments of my life and think it was the straw that broke the camels back when it came to cfs/me for me. I was one big swollen pimple with pussy pimples and sores on top on that. They were as itchy as, headaches and dizziness, fevers. I couldnt shave due to the pox. My mouth bled when i brushed my teeth and the other end bled after whipping it when going to the toilet. After 5 days the fevers stopped, the pussy sores started to dry up but got itchier, still with headaches and lethargy was severe. walk outside the house and not leaving the yard intensified fatigue.
It took several months to feel somewhat normal (which never really happened) and might have occurred sooner if i didnt then get ebv mono.
Fast forward 5 years or so and i find a good cfs doc and did antivirals with good success, up and downs etc but generally up with many posts on here.
Of interest and concerned about possibly getting shingles or even chickenpox again, 9 months ago i got serology done for VZV/varicella zoster virus. Here in australia we cant get viral titres tested, they just come back positive or negative with igm and igg. My test just came back igg positve, evidence of past exposure, represents good immunity?????
Two weeks ago i had a shingles outbreak on the side of my head. Initially i didnt realise i had shingles, just some type of viral infection, thinking it was my normal cmv reactivation for which i start taking famvir and do 10 day courses now when virus symptoms start. Previously i had been on antivirals constantly for a few years but now use them when required.
This did feel different to my previous possible cmv episodes, though as i didnt get the sore glands i normally do and this time i was constantly tachycardic and a mild fever. 4 days post antivirals i felt a bit better and was over due for my hair cut which my wife does. Usually a no blade clipper. This was when we saw the shingles rash which was starting to crust up. I was concerned but sort of glad as it wasnt as bad as i thought it would be as i recall my chickenpox episode aarrgghh. time will tell
Last week was a short working week for me of 2 days for me, it was a struggle. Still ongoing headaches that were getting worse and normal pain killers not really helping much and lethargy. Yesterday i was suppose to go back to work and had 4 days. i couldnt do it. I saw my doc who wrote me off for the week to rest up and some better pain killers which have helped and probably why im posting now.
What was interesting talking with my doctor was that i brought up the test i had 9 months ago saying i had good immunity against VZV, also said where i had the rash was where i usually have those brain fog type headaches, this seemed to intrigue him. He also stated that maybe the test (rememeber not titres) was evidence of a chronic low level VZV infection. It would be interesting to know what the titres were and if there is a certain level where they could say that its an active infection?
There are VZV infections that occur without and rashes etc and like ebv i did come across some research showing VZV can suppress nk cells.
So bringing this up as its not really spoken much about as a chronic infection, more as a one off type of infection. Would be interested to hear on others thoughts and if they have found any interesting research on this subject as well as those who have had multiple chickenpox and or shingles episodes.
cheers!
