Thanks Smile. I've already been weaning myself off the carbs and will look into the pro-biotics. That draino thing is REALLY scary!!!

About 15 years ago, I read an article in the doctor's office about yeast, and how women who are on extended doses of anti-biotics can develope chronic yeast infections throughout their bodies, the main symptom of which is severe fatigue. I showed it to my doctor, because at that point, I had been off and on anti-biotics for about 10 years, due to recurring severe strep infections (which first started when I had the mono). What she did in response was take me off all anti-biotics and forced me to fight that particular strep infection on my own. I was so sick for two weeks, but guess what, I've never had another strep infection since then.

Unfortunately the fatigue never disappeared with the strep!

My mono came right out of the blue. There was no warning that I can recall. I was in university, on the student council, thoroughly enjoying my life and studies there. Then one day I was literally hit in the the head with violent headaches. Went across the street to the pharmacy to get some pain medication (up until that day, I had hardly ever taken medication of any kind). The pharmacist urged me to go to a clinic nearby. That's where I was diagnosed with the mono, but left the clinic without anything more than a prescription for bedrest. Two hours later I ended up in the hospital with the mono, asceptic meningitis, severe strep throat and an eye infection. I was in hospital for ten days, and then in bed for close to three months.

Even then, I think now that I resumed a normal pace of life too soon. I was plagued with unrelenting, worsening fatigue, which I ignored as much as possible. But it was barely 2 years later that I had my massive breakdown which spiralled into major depression...I had never thought to pursue it until you mentioned it to me the other day, but looking back, it seems that there must be a connection between the two.

[ September 18, 2005, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: Eagle Heart ]

Eagle, I also resumed activity too soon after mono and have been told that I didn't give my body time to fully recover thus the causative virus may have only become stronger rather than being eliminated as it would have been with adequate rest. As a result it kept coming back when my defenses were down.

As to the mind body connection, it seems logical to explore our being as a whole when we encounter illness in any form. The mental and the physical are parts of the whole thus if either is out of balance, the entire system is impacted.

I am a firm believer in antibiotics when they are necessary, but I think we have to be careful about over reliance on them or any other alteration of our physical/psychological system. We should be aware that, like all pharmaceuticals, antibiotics affect God's wonderful design by putting it out of balance. That imbalance is sometimes necessary, but it can affect both the psyche and the soma because it affects the whole.

When our bodies lose equilibrium, our entire system is out of balance. We can't control the world around us or much of the psychological impact of it on our beings, but to a degree, we can control how the changing world affects us by maintaining a healthy physical system to contend with the inevitable stresses of life.

Our bodies are so beautifully designed that they will generally recover equilibrium unless we are out of balance for a long period of time or very seriously impacted by some of the broad spectrum antibiotics. We also have to consider that any antibiotics prescribed are in addition to the antibiotics that bombard our systems daily in the meat we eat (Animals are administered antibiotics to increase weight gain and they may be passed along in the foods we eat)

Antibiotics are generally chemical derivatives of a form of fungus, yeast or other organisms that exist naturally in our bodies to fight infection. By introducing those chemicals in large quantities, the naturally occuring bacteria in our bodies are destroyed and the fungi, yeast, etc. that also occur naturally can over produce thus putting our bodies out of balance. Those toxins are poison and they emit toxins that affect our entire system. We can aid our system to re-balance itself after antibioitic therapy by ingesting the naturally occuring organisms that have been impacted.

Yogurt and buttermilk are excellent natural sources of some of the organisms necessary to re-establish balance after a course of antibiotics. And though they may be missing the further benefit of foods containing them, pro biotics in capsule form contain a wider variety of organisms. Probiotics are available at most health food stores. The best pro-biotics in capsule form are usually those that require refrigeration because they contain live organisms which is one a facor to consider when purchasing them.

As we enter the second half of life, it seems more important to accept responsibility for our own existence and to arm ourselves with all the information we can in order to defend ourselves against spiritual and physical atack. Much of this is in the medical literature, but it is not generally accepted in the medical community. Most of it is still primarily regarded as theory so do your own research.

smile

Here's some more information to add to the heap.

My husband had mono, but does not have chronic fatigue. However, he believe his Type I Diabetes presented itself after taking massive steroids prescribed for the mono.

Smile, I'm with you when it comes to doing your own research. Thanks to the internet we can researach all we want.

My sister researched Mom's type of cancer when Mom was sick and dying. She was able to inform Mom's doctor about some of the latest and greatest medications for that specific cancer type. The doctor was grateful for the new insight. Mom was not a candidate for the medication, but he printed the article because he had other patients who may have been.

Interesting thread....

I had mono when I was in high school - missed almost my entire Grade 11 year.

My Dr. once told me, when I complained about always feeling tired, that I was probably having a recurrence - that could be mono or Epstein-Barr and to expect that I would have these bouts time and again.

I don't have CFS, because I've never had a bout that debilitating - but I never have oodles of energy either.

As I get older, and hopefully wiser , I'm learning to pay attention to my body and realize that I need to get rest when I'm tired - otherwise I get sick, have feelings like I can't cope, get a bit down and withdraw. Getting sick is my body's way of making me take the downtime!! Its like I need permission, so I get sick so that I have permission

I get sore throats and colds when I'm too run down, and lately lovely little cold sores.

Eagle, going back to some of your other posts and your book - you talk about being an emotional, sensitve type of person - wanting to help everyone - but needing to realize you can't do it all and that what little bits we can do are important too (I think I've paraphrased that correctly). This was a big AHA moment for me when I read it. I do often take on too many things because I do believe in their value, and want to help, etc. BUT I have to realize I don't have the same energy levels other people do, and that is OK. I need to step back, take down time and rest time and if that is more than other people need, so be it. You have helped me to understand that, and the value of taking care of me too - thanks!

Back in 1998, my thyroid went out of whack and left me with what I thought was a heart attack and major stress on my body. Not to mention the actual emotional and mental stresses from working long hours and purchasing a house. I swung into Epstein-barr and Cytomeglovirus at the same time and ended up on bedrest for 6 months. It was such an eye-opening experience for me. It made me realize what was most important in my life and working myself to death at a job wasn't at the top of my list anymore.

I did some major soul searching while on bedrest and what I realized was that if I ever wanted to truly write (fiction, I was a technical writer by trade and wrote non-fiction) then I was going to stop being distracted by a job and devote more of my time to writing fiction.

My husband and I re-worked our accounting books and vowed to find a way to make it work. It's been more than six years now. I had 3 relapses during that time, but recently, have been in remission for more than 3 years.

I've cut back on the stress, I've learned new coping techniques for handling the bits of stress that do get through, and I'm writing. Full time.

I believe we have a better life now, than when I was working. Stress can be a major cause of so many illnesses. Eliminate the stress, and you might eliminate some of those symptoms. In my opinion.