Epstein-Barr Virus and Hashimoto : Hi everyone... - Thyroid UK

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Epstein-Barr Virus and Hashimoto

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSo
ā€¢22 Replies

Hi everyone šŸ‘‹šŸ¼

Is there anyone here who identified EBV as their root cause?

I just got my blood results which showed that I had an infection in the past. No unusual given 90% of population carry it but having Hashi I am now considering this could be my root cause as I already ruled out many other common offenders.

I spoke with my mum and she said I had a rather bad ā€œfluā€ at the age of 7 which antibiotics would not cure. Doctors could not determine what was wrong and it took weeks for me to recover. We now think it was my trigger as I started to exhibit hypo symptomatic soon after.

I want to try and tackle this beast, is there anyone here with tips of what worked for them?

Iā€™ve read Izabella Wentz books, she herself was triggered by EBV, and have her suggestions: NAC, Lysine, Vitamin C and D, antiviral herbs. Is there anything else worth trying?

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AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSo
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shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

These are some past posts which might be informative and others will respond if they've had it.

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSoā€¢ in reply toshaws

Thanks shaws, it looks like itā€™s a relatively popular topic. I had a good browse and read. Very interesting stuff!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

EBV links (just added to another EBV post a couple of posts above yours )

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drhedberg.com/epstein-barr-...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

drchristianson.com/epstein-...

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSoā€¢ in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you!!! ā˜ŗļø

Baobabs profile image
Baobabs

I am almost certain my Hashi's was triggered by a severe and long lasting ( 10 years) bought of Glanduar Fever. It took 10 years for me to make antibodies. No other person in my family have suffered from any kind of thyroid disorder. I believe it can reactivate and live in the thyroid gland so I had a comprehensive test recently to rule this out. I believe the EBV can severely damage our immune systems and so resulting autoimmune disease is not difficult to imagine.

Baobabs profile image
Baobabs

I also meant to say that most folk I know who have Hashi's have suffered a bout of Glandular Fever.

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSoā€¢ in reply toBaobabs

Hi Baobabs! Isnā€™t that intriguing. More and more I read about the EBV more Iā€™m starting to see that autoimmune connection.

I never really suffered a bout of bad flu, not that I could remember, until I had a chat with my mum who reminded me of an infection I had as a kid. Doctors thought it was mumps but I already had mumps before so that couldā€™t be it. No one ever determined what it was. We now believe it must have been EBV showing off. Soon after I started to show hypo symptoms- sleepy, cold, a bit plump. Things got worse as I got older until got diagnosed hypo at 18, Hashi at 21.

Have you ever tried anything to eradicate the virus?

Baobabs profile image
Baobabsā€¢ in reply toAnnaSo

No I haven't as there appeared to be nothing at the time but someone recently claimed to have trialed some anti viral treatment but when I asked the person to elaborate, I heard nothing more. I am not sure the extent of research linking EBV to Hashi's but I do believe a reasonable body exists. Did you have a blood test to see if you have or have had the virus? My dose of the virus was very severe, swollen liver, vomiting and hospitalised. The aftermath of ME was ghastly.

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSoā€¢ in reply toBaobabs

There has been plenty of post regarding EBV in fact. Shaws was kind enough to share a link to them.

I have been reading up today and there are research papers pointing EBV as trigger for autoimmunity, Hashimoto inclusive. Iā€™ve read that EBV was found in the thyroid of 80% of Hashimo patients versus none in control sample. Thatā€™s a staggering fact!

Iā€™ve heard about it being a trigger first time when reading Isabella Wentz book Root Cause few years back. Iā€™m going to revisit what she has to say about it in her books. She has chapters in both. I also heard about a guy called Anthony Williams I believe. Heā€™s a bit of a weirdo, saying all sort of nonsense like spirits guiding him but apparently a lot of people have seen improvements with his protocol for EBV. I havenā€™t had a look yet, not sure I can take a medical advise by someone like him though.

Baobabs profile image
Baobabsā€¢ in reply toAnnaSo

Virus's are always difficult to deal with. thought I was on my way out of life when I contracted EBV. I have never felt so ill in all my life, far worse than Hashi's. I didn't care if I died. In fact I thought it would be a relief!

MaraMontvell profile image
MaraMontvell

Interesting ! I just tested positive for EBV but I canā€™t recall ever having mono ( Iā€™m assuming thatā€™s the common name ?!)... just a bad flu once for 10 days. I was diagnosed with hashimoto in 2016.

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSoā€¢ in reply toMaraMontvell

Hi montvell!

Really interesting yes! Iā€™m gobsmacked. I knew about the EBV-Hashimoto connection but was unaware I had the virus as could not recall going through mono. As mentioned in my post, telling my mum about the blood result she reminded me about a bad infection I had as a 7 year old. We think that was it as hypo symptoms developed after.

How are you getting on with your Hashi treatment? Have you ever tried doing something to fight the virus?

MaraMontvell profile image
MaraMontvellā€¢ in reply toAnnaSo

TBH Iā€™m am a bit new to this hashimoto world. I was diagnosed but never treated until 6 months ago , started NDT by my naturopath. A GP ran the EBV tests and I tested positive for EBV Antibody IgG and my results for EBV Antibody IgM were equivocal ( not sure what it means. Negative is <o.8 and equivocal is 0.8-1.2, mine was 1.10 ) . My naturopath says this mean I had a virus in the past and says no treatment is necessary (hm )...but from what you are saying , the virus is still in oneā€™s system ? Perhaps I should get tested again. So in your case does it mean the virus is still active even though you got sick in the past ?

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSoā€¢ in reply toMaraMontvell

The virus never leaves. It can remain dormant for lifetime or it can reactivate and trigger issues such as Hashi or other autoimmune conditions. My virus is dormant at the moment but itā€™s still hiding (I believe in my thyroid, in one study 80% of Hashis had EBV in thyroid) and causing antibodies. Iā€™ve started a protocol to eradicate it with supplements.

MaraMontvell profile image
MaraMontvellā€¢ in reply toAnnaSo

Oh Iā€™ve learned so much just from this post! Just when I thought it was nothing .... Iā€™ll definitely be looking into supps to help with the virus. Thanks Anna

Baobabs profile image
Baobabsā€¢ in reply toMaraMontvell

It seems people's reaction to the virus can be very varied and it is possible to not know you have had it. If anyone has Hashi's it is worth being tested for EBV to see if it is still active. I did just to ensure my symptoms were not related to the virus. I felt terribly cold and fatigued when I had it. Actually I've just realised what I've said! I was freezing in the height of summer. Perhaps this was the beginning of my thyroid destruction?

cazzaleo profile image
cazzaleo

Hi AnnaSo

I really hope the protocol helps you!

I had glandular fever when I was a teenager and have had the virus reactivayed twice since (Iā€™m almost 40) with the last instance seeming to have triggered CFS/ME.

Iā€™m very interested in Isabella Wentzā€™s protocol - Iā€™ve seen sheā€™s had a few books out, which one have you read?

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSoā€¢ in reply tocazzaleo

Hi cazzaleo!

Isnā€™t it terrible how much damage one little virus can make. Really sorry to hear about your triggered CFS apparently that very common. I myself also suffer from it. I caught a cold from a colleague recently and it took me 4 weeks to get back on my feet and I got a range of other new symptoms like painful body. I was freaking out it was an Fibromyalgia making an appearance but it now went away.

I have both of Isabellaā€™s books. They are quite similar but also different. 1st Root Cause, is more theoretical. 2nd Hashimoto Protocol is more hands on and solutions orientated.

Iā€™ve just started on high dose Vitamin C and Lysine. I continue with Zync. They are all antiviral. I make sure I have some for of coconut everyday. Will see how I go with that. I have VitD deficiency so also working on this one.

Have you ever tried tackling the virus yourself?

cazzaleo profile image
cazzaleoā€¢ in reply toAnnaSo

Sorry to hear youā€™ve got the same issues. Letā€™s hope we can both be healthier and more energetic soon!

Thanks for your reply, I think I might get the protocol book, sounds most helpful.

Iā€™m taking quite a few supplements including the ones youā€™ve mentioned. I do feel like my constant sore throats and neck pains practically went away after Iā€™d started taking Lysine 3 times a day, so hopefully these things are helping even if itā€™s not always obvious how!!

AnnaSo profile image
AnnaSoā€¢ in reply tocazzaleo

Lets hope we get there! Would be nice to catch up and track progress from

time to time if you fancy? šŸ˜Š cheer each other on! šŸ¤—

I have found a weird thing that since starting supps Iā€™m having a strange glands pain. Not sure if thatā€™s related but canā€™t see where that would come from otherwise, would be quite a coincidence.

cazzaleo profile image
cazzaleoā€¢ in reply toAnnaSo

It would be lovely to keep in touch šŸ˜Š and perhaps share any success/tips we come across!

Itā€™s difficult to know what triggers what when youā€™ve got a couple of health conditions and youā€™re trying multiple things to help isnā€™t it? I know I can be guilty of starting more than one thing at a time so often canā€™t really tell exactly what benefit or otherwise come from them!

Baobabs profile image
Baobabsā€¢ in reply toAnnaSo

I think you will find it is anything but 'one little virus'. It is lethal!

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