with Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D.
I have carried on with the products as advised and am also currently doing a detox for mercury. I discussed awhile ago about glandular fever (mono) which the doctors still find present in my system. I have been taking Valtrex for this but I think you mentioned thymic protein (Pro Boost) as well. Since I first became sick I have had tenderness around the area of my liver. It also feels quite hard or swollen as well and pretty painful when pushed firmly. I have been scanned for gallstones, which was negative, and had liver tests which were all fine. From research I find that it has been suggested this liver soreness is the result of viral infection (due to swelling of the liver the surrounding tissue becomes sore). What do you think? Is it fair then to say that as long as I have this soreness a virus is still present or could it be another issue related to toxicity? Are there any further tests you would recommend? Am I mis-diagnosing myself? I already take liver specific herbs (e.g. milk thistle) and also cleansers, such as barley grass and chlorella. I hope you can shed some light on this as the pain is very noticeable and my doctors don’t know. Thanks for your time.
Dr. Teitelbaum’s response:
Having mono is one of many common viral triggers for CFS. Unfortunately, unless I am dealing with the acute infection, I have abandoned using Valtrex, as despite Dr Lerner’s research, I have found it to be not helpful in this setting. Valcyte (a newer anti-viral) has, however, been dramatically beneficial in a subset of CFS patients with HHV 6, CMV, and likely also Epstein Barr (mono) viral infection(s).
Most often (and very commonly) people with CFS/Fibromyalgia have marked tenderness below the bottom rib coming from where the muscles attach to the bottom rib. It can be in back, front, left or right, but most often front right, over the liver. If the liver evaluation is normal (which it usually is) it is almost always muscle pain as noted above. The way to tell is to push up from below the bottom rib so your fingers are pushing on the bottom of the lower rib. Give it a good and steady push. Does this reproduce the pain? If yes, as there is nothing between your fingers and the ribs besides skin and muscle, it confirms the pain is from the muscle. This is confusing as muscle pain feels like it is coming from the deep organs in this location. When I treat the muscle pain, the pain resolves. It is NOT dangerous—just scary (till you know what it is) and annoying.
SHINE represents four areas of health issues that need to be addressed when creating a treatment program. These health issues and their roles in treating CFS/FM are as follows:
S = SLEEP: Get adequate sleep, preferably eight to nine hours a night. Sleep replenishes the body's energy and heals its muscles. Inadequate sleep will leave you exhausted and in pain.
H = HORMONES: Get tested for hormone deficiency and treated if needed. Hormone deficiencies can contribute to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
I = INFECTIONS: Get treatment when symptoms of infections occur. The lack of restorative sleep in CFS/FM leads to dysfunctional immune systems. Underlying viral, bacterial, bowel, sinus and yeast infections are common and can be a contributing cause or result of CFS/FM.
N = NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS: Optimal nutritional supplementation is essential. Many nutrients can be depleted as a result of CFS/FM. B-12, magnesium, Acetyl L Carnitine and glutathione, as well as your basic A, B, C and D vitamins need to be supplemented at a level that your average over the counter multivitamin cannot provide.
E = EXERCISE: Exercise as able. After 10 weeks on the 4 steps above, you will be able to slowly increase your exercise—without being wiped out the next day!
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posted on May 11, 2008 | 704 views | tags: CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, CMV, Epstein Barr virus, fibromyalgia, FMS, HHV-6, liver pain, mononucleosis, valcyte, valtrex
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