This week a friend sent a link to an article:  “Epstein-Barr Virus, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia” (see library).  Very interesting article about how the Epstein-Barr virus is actually responsible for a myriad of mysterious illnesses, including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (which is often closely aligned to fibro).  I did some digging around because it’s intriguing to think that almost 40 years of illness could be attributed to a latent herpes virus, particularly since I have never had any other signs of Epstein-Barr virus (or human herpes virus 4) other than sore and tired muscles.  Never have had canker sores – I was tested for mono when I first started on this journey because of the lack of energy and abundance of sleeping.

I haven’t read everything on the subject, obviously.  But here are some thoughts.

While the doctor who wrote the above article is Anthony William, “Medical Medium,” there are other doctors who have been treating fibro for their patients with antiviral and antibiotic medicines.  One is Dr. William Pridgen who presented an abstract at the American College of Rheumatology last year entitled, “A Combination of Celecoxib and Famciclovir Is Efficacious in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: Results of a Phase IIa Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study” (see library).  Famciclovir is a medicine used to treat herpesviruses.  The results of his study were such that he is proceeding to patent the “proprietary dosage” of this drug combination.  Other physicians are Dr. Dantini (Florida) who has been treating fibro with antivirals since the 1980s and Drs. Lerner, Montoya, and Chia.  There have been studies that indicate that anywhere from 47% to 75% of fibro patients have an active HHV6 infection (herpesvirus).

I’m bothered by this development, but I’m not sure why.  I need to think why.  Is it because it seems too easy?  Can the “cure” for such a complex disease be that simple?  Is it because I know a large percentage of fibromyalgia patients will flock to anyone claiming to have a cure for them, and the person with the “cure” at the moment is withholding information while he patents his process and because of a latent distrust of the pharmaceutical industry?  Is it because he is affiliated only with medical industry rather than a research facility or university and I can see dollar signs jumping frantically?  Is it because celecoxib alone will relieve symptoms?  Is it because I’m snob and I haven’t YET found scholarly articles by Drs. Pridgen or Daniki in the fibromyalgia “literature”?  Is it as simple as his “cure” will not work for me because celecoxib (or Celebrex) is one of the many meds I can’t take?  I will have to keep looking, thinking, reading…