As the title of my posts implies i have had a chronic bad sore throat for over a month and all of my lymph glands are engorged and enlarged around my neck and I feel like i could sleep for days. It honestly feels like i am wearing a 10lbs weight around my neck and makes it almost impossible to move my neck, swallow food and sip water. I have been to my primary care 3 times and each time she does a strep test and every time the strep test is negative. She has also put me on 2 rounds of antibiotics along with omeprazole and ranitidine to reduce stomach acid since i have gerd and acid reflux. Finally got into an ENT dr today and he threw around the word eppstein barr and mono. I also did blood work today but won't get the results until tomorrow or the next day. Meanwhile i am in so much pain and my throat is so sore i can barely swallow and have tried just about everything to reduce the swelling and pain from gargling salt water to drinking oregano broth and eating as much as i can stand of raw garlic and locally sourced honey. I have had the eppstein barr virus in the past and when it became reactive in my system i was 16 years old and it took me down for over a year but never had the chronic bad sore throat. Just wanted to know if anyone else has had similar symptoms and what they did or more tests? I have missed alot of work and if i miss anymore days i will lose my job of 13 years and my benefits. Need help/advice
I'm so sorry you're going through this and it seems to be taking forever the doctors to find out what's going on. I'm not familiar with eppstein barr although I've heard of it. You can find a numbing spray made for sore throats at any pharmacy. I had to use it once when sore throat accompanied a cold and it was a doozie. It might get you some relief until they get it under control.
I also believe you can't be fired/let go because of illness. There are lots of programs you should check out. Your doctor should know about many of them. Also, if you have an HR person go talk to them about programs that can help you out. There are even programs that can help with the copay of medicines even if you have insurance. Do some searching online and see what's out there that might help. And always come here and share anything that helps you feel better.
Warm hugs, ChutzModerator: Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Conditions: Fibromyalgia, Chronic pain, IDDM (diabetes). Ulcerative Colitis, Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Disk Disease, Depression, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, PTSD and others trying to mess up life. ~~~~~
Science is nothing but trained and organized common sense.
Hi there. I am very curious how you are doing. I had a virus just as you describe at around the same time. I'm still in bed from it, aside from the occasional shower and brushing teeth (which I could not do until a month ago). It has been brutal. I have had Epstein-Barr in the past and my titers remain high, so there's a good chance I experienced a reactivation. There's a product from Researched Nutritionals called Plasmyc, and it contains antibodies to Epstein-Barr (and many other specific viruses), so if you know that you have a history with EBV, then it might be a good product to try. My PCP and functional medicine doctor both recommend it highly and say it's very powerful. I have chronic Lyme and adrenal issues as well, so I am using a PEMF device to target a broader spectrum of microbes, but I might try the Plasmyc if I don't see improvement soon. Sending you good vibes and good luck!
