Feb 24 2009
Epstein Barr symptoms – fatigue, diarrhea and nausea
When you are infected with Epstein Barr virus, your body mounts an immune response in order to clear the virus from your system. As well as symptoms like a sore throat, coughing, fever and swollen glands (which we discussed in an earlier post), you can also experience debilitating fatigue, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Let’s have a look at these symptoms in more detail.
Fatigue
Fatigue is your body’s way of telling you to slow down, go to bed and sleep! In order to fight Epstein Barr you need to rest your body, so any energy can go toward healing your body.
I understand that committments to work, study, family and sport can be important, however it is vital that you rest your body in the early stages of this illness. If you continue to push yourself, you will prolong your illness or suffer from complications.
One of the Scandinavian countries enforce a mandatory rest period of a few weeks after people are diagnosed with mononucleosis to ensure the symptoms do not become chronic. It would save a lot of suffering if this practice was adopted worldwide!
Diarrhea
Diarrhea speeds the evacuation of bugs and their toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. If you have diarrhea it is advisable to rest your gastrointestinal tract by consuming only water or fluids like broths, until the condition clears. Medication like Lomotol can stop diarrhea temporarily but may worsen other symptoms like nausea or abdominal pains as the infection is not being eliminated. Medication can also prolong the length of the illness.
Nausea and vomiting
These symptoms are the body’s way of emptying the stomach of dangerous substances or bugs. Nausea can also indicate that your liver has been infected with the Epstein Barr virus.
The best approach for nausea and vomiting is to cut down your food intake – preferably by doing a liquid only diet or a light diet of dried toast, broths and soups with no fats, dairy, alcohol or sugar. This will ensure that less energy is needed for digestion, more for fighting the infection. To quell the nausea, ginger, peppermint or spearmint tea may be drunk. If you are vomiting regularly then an electrolyte replacement drink may be needed. Avoid taking medications that suppress the symptoms and allow you to eat. These medications may prolong the healing process.
Epstein Barr treatment
If you have been diagnosed with Epstein Barr, it is important to rest your body, drink plenty of pure water and support your immune system with vitamins, minerals, herbs, an immune-boosting diet and lifestyle improvements. These natural treatments for Epstein Barr are discussed in detail in the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by naturopath Elizabeth Noble.
128 responses so far
Hi Angie,
Sorry your son has not been feeling well. The Epstein Barr virus that causes mono can affect liver function to cause nausea, headaches, fatigue etc. Even if the virus is no longer active, symptoms like nausea and fatigue can linger for several weeks. I would recommend your son starts on some gentle liver cleansing with half a lemon squeezed into some warm water on rising in the morning. Plenty of pure fluids should be drunk throughout the day. Try to base his diet around lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, quality protein and small amounts of wholegrains. Excess fats and dairy should be avoided. To quell the nausea he could try eating some crackers or dry toast or drinking some ginger tea. If the nausea persists a stronger liver tonic or cleanse would be worth trying.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi, my friend’s daughter is scared that she may have EBV because her boyfriend was diagnosed with it not to long ago. She found out that he is no longer contagious but she is still worried because they had kissed and shared drinks/food together before he found out what he had. She has also confided in me that she has gotten a few of the symptoms of EBV such as diarrhea, minor fatigue, and minor nausea. She does exercise a lot because she plays sports and always drinks water. Do you think that by doing that, it can help rid her of the virus if she has it ? And do you have any other advice on what I can do to help her ?
Hi Sindy,
Thanks for your post. It is possible that your friend has picked up EBV but the only way to find out is from a blood test.
I would recommend she starts taking some immune boosting nutrients like vitamin C and zinc. For her fatigue, a B complex and magnesium can help – especially if she plays a lot of sport. Her nausea and diarrhea may improve if she adds some probiotics like acidophillus into her diet.
I would not advise she pushes herself too hard with the sport. The body needs rest and quality sleep in order to recover.
I hope this information gets her started.
Elizabeth
Apple Cider Vinegar for the diarrhea. One tablespoon in mineral water w/ sugar or honey and lemon (up to three times a day). Or one tablespoon in coconut water with a little mineral water. Don’t drink it plain, it will burn your throat.
Thanks Steve. Good tip. I recommend my patients try apple cider vinegar in water with or around meals to aid digestion.
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
I am 47 years of age and last week I have been diagnosed with EBV after suffering from increasing fatigue for the past two years. My symptoms never included any swollen glands or a sore throat, just this awful debilitating exhaustion. I’ve also been suffering from an awful bloating of the stomach. Every few months I would have two-three days of very high fever and diarreha (last year I had to be rushed to Hospital on one occassion) and then get better. Except the fatigue would never quite go away. I used to be an avid gym goer, doing weights and cardio exercises 3-4 times a week but for the past year it has become more and more difficult to recover. Last week I had a complete check-up, including a blood test for EBV which showed positive. All my other results were excellent, I am a very healthy person with no signs of any other illness. My doctor advised me to rest but also said it could take a few months to get better. Have you had any other inquiries with similar symptoms? Will this go away and will I ever be able to return to a healthy, gym-going life style?
Hi Uli,
Thanks for your post. Sorry you have been struggling with a bout of EBV. It can be a very frustrating time. Most people get over the virus within a few weeks however in some people it can linger on for months or years.
From your symptoms I would focus on fixing up your digestion with a bowel cleanse followed by a course of probiotics like acidophillus and bifido bacteria. Natural enzymes and a pure fresh food diet may also help. If your digestive symptoms return then a liver cleanse may be in order.
For your fatigue I would be looking at adding some vitamin C, B complex, magnesium and fish oils. Epsom salt baths, which are naturally high in magnesium are worth trying. Aim for a high protein/low carb diet with plenty of fluids. All these therapies are discussed in my e-book if you need further guidance.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth
I am 48 yrs old and was diagnosed with EBV about 6 weeks ago. I have been on Amantadine for 6 weeks. My titer counts were 750. I have 2-3 days a week that are OK and then I start with a sore throat ,chills and belly pain . Sometimes the pain in my belly is right above the belly button and to my left side. This goes on every week now. The lethargy has left and not nearly as bad. I also startes takinfg Lysine and vitamin D and 12. the chills are terrible. All of my other labs were normal and the CT scan was normal as well. I have never been this sick. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks
Lisa
Hi Elizabeth
I am 48 yrs old and was diagnosed with EBV about 6 weeks ago. I have been on Amantadine for 6 weeks. My titer counts were 750. I have 2-3 days a week that are OK and then I start with a sore throat ,chills and belly pain . Sometimes the pain in my belly is right above the belly button and to my left side. This goes on every week now. The lethargy has left and not nearly as bad. I also startes takinfg Lysine and vitamin D and 12. the chills are terrible. All of my other labs were normal and the CT scan was normal as well. I have never been this sick. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your post. Sorry to hear you have not been well.
The nature of recovery from EBV is often to have a few good days followed by a bad day. The key is to pace yourself and have some strategies in place to help you cope on the bad days.
I would recommend you focus on the boosting your immune system and repairing your adrenal glands with some vitamin C, zinc, B complex and magnesium. For your abdominal pain look at adding some probiotics and eating a light, low fat diet. It is possible your liver is involved so some gentle liver cleansing may be a good idea. Some cases of EBV do take several weeks to get over so plenty of rest and fluids are essential.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
I was diagnoised with Mono about 4 days ago…Currently, all of my symptoms are being controlled quite well except for the bloating in my stomach which causes shortness of breath and leads to minor anxiety attacks…today i’ve experienced my face being real hot (temple, cheeks and neck) but not to touch with a slight burning…i’m currently still dealing with the diarrhea but the stomach cramps have stopped…everything else is normal…any advice is greatly appreciated….
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your post. Gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, loose stools and abdominal pain are common in the early stages of mono. I would recommend you follow a liquid-only diet of broths, soups, herb teas, vegetable juices and water for a couple of days.
Once your symptoms have improved you can add some boiled rice, steamed vegies, ripe fruits and low fat protein foods. I would be avoiding fats and excess dairy. Adding some probiotics like acidophillus and bifido may also help. Make sure you get plenty of rest in order to allow your body to heal.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi there, I am a 50yo male. Last week went to hospital via ambulance with symtoms of chest tightness breathing troubles, pain in chest neck throat and back. Many test were run including mono, whichis what l got diagnosed with. During the past 6-7 months l have been treated for thyroid, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland disfunction. I am now being told that there’s nothing more the doctors can do. That I’m basically stuck with this disease and this is how it will be for the rest of days. My symptoms now are extreme fatigue joint muscle pain foggy thinking forgetfullness equalibrium off extreme chills and extreme hot flashes. I can’t believe there is no studies done to learn more about this.Also l have not been in any intimate contact siituations in a very long time. Do you know of a test to see if this is 100% the Barr virus? Are there any support websites?
Thanks, Greg
Hi Greg,
Thanks for your post. Sorry you have been going through problems with your health.
Epstein Barr can trigger symptoms like extreme fatigue, muscle pain, brain fog and body temperature fluctuations. A good doctor can run Epstein Barr antibody tests to see what stage of the illness you are at. A holistic doctor or naturopath who specialises in immune support would be preferable. If you don’t know anyone in your area then have a look at the good doctor’s list at:
http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm
Alternatively there is a free support forum at http://www.cebv.org where you could ask other mono sufferers about their experiences.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hello,
I’m 23 and was diagnosed with EBV back in March of this year. In the beginning I had all the symptoms such as eyelid swelling, sore, swollen throat covered with white patches, nausea and my spleen was enlarged. I rested as much as possible for a month but I had a lot of insomnia and wasn’t fatigued so I figured I was better. Well in the beginning of May I had a lot of nausea and upper right abdominal pain. I had my gallbladder removed about 8 years ago so I figured the pain was possibly due to my liver as I have constant high enzyme and bilirubin levels. Near the end of May I started having bouts of diarrhea and severe fatigue along with debilitating headaches. It is now September 1st and I’m still experiencing bouts of diarrhea along with constant nausea, headaches, pounding and pressure in the head and now debilitating fatigue and muscle weakness. I’ve also been experiencing shakiness of my muscles and the same weird indescribable ill sensation I had when mono first hit me back in March. Do you believe all these symptoms over the past few months are still related to mono? I’m not taking vitamins as of now and have tried numerous probiotics for the diarrhea but oddly they only make it worse.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thank you!
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for your post. Sorry to hear you are feeling so awful. EBV is a latent virus that can relapse when your immune system is under par. It sounds like you may not have fully recovered from the initial infection.
I would focus on the health of your liver and gastrointestinal tract. Before you take probiotics it would be worth taking a gentle cleanse with anti-microbial herbs like walnut, barberry or citrus seed extract to eliminate any bad microbes in the gastrointestinal tract. The probiotics are then more likely to be effective. Supporting the liver with a daily lemon juice, dandelion, milk thistle, lots of pure water and an alkaline diet may help your nausea and headaches.
For your fatigue and muscle problems I would look at taking some magnesium, C , B vitamins and zinc. Plenty of rest is essential.
Hope this helps.
Elizabeth
This message is in response to Greg and others who believe these symptoms will be ongoing for life. I was diagnosed with Chronic Mono years ago. 6 months ago I found the main culprit to be WHEAT! That’s right, it was as simple as Wheat. I’m experiencing a 100% turn around. I believe the EBV is still a battle I’ll have to fight every September in some form – but it’s just a little lethargy. I now enjoy a stomach issue-FREE life, no bloating, diarrhea or gastro issues. I also have no more brain fog, no painful joints except for a small amount in the hips when I over exert. I think there was so much inflammation in that area that it has done permanent damage. I have fat on the bottom of my footbed for the first time
My nail beds look and feel healthier and I no longer bruise easily. Just sayin 
Try changing your nutritional intake and see if that could be a root cause. 24 years I went wrongly diagnosed. Hope this is helpful.
Wendy
Hi Wendy
Thanks for your post. Good to hear that getting off wheat has helped you manage your EBV symptoms. Wheat and other gluten-based grains can certainly trigger inflammation like sore joints, stomach issues and brain fog in mono patients.
Keep up the good work.
Elizabeth
Hello Elizabeth,
I was diagnosed with mono yesterday, but i have just about every symptom. I have vomited, had diarrhea, fatigue, sore throat, mucus, and even a rash on my arm. I was wondering when these symptoms should die down? It is making it very hard for me to go to class at full strength and my peace of mind is faltering.
Also, how long would you say I would be contagious? I have a girlfriend who i would feel terrible about passing this onto,despite the fact that she likely would have already gotten it.
Hi Mike,
Sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with mono. It’s not much fun having all those nasty symptoms. These acute symptoms can last for a few days to a couple of weeks. In some unusual cases they can linger for a month or more. Your best approach is bed rest
with plenty of fluids, a light diet and some immune boosting supplements to help your body fight the virus.
The virus is shed via saliva up to several months after infection. The most contagious time is in the acute phase so avoid kissing your girlfriend or sharing drinks, eating utensils, towels etc. Your girlfriend may have already had the virus. In this case she is immune from picking it up again from you.
Hope you feel better soon.
Elizabeth
Hello,
We are so frustrated, my 12 year old daughter has such extreme nausea that she cries. 2 weeks ago she had strep (rapid came back negative) but long culture came back positive) and she had pneumonia. The cough symtoms have gotten so much better but this child has white spots on her tonsils and is so nauseous! She is light headed, muscle aches and just feels awful. An ENT automatically said that she has mono but the pediatrican is not so abt to confirm as the blood tests are not revealing that it is Mono. Another blood test was taken on Friday, it is Sunday and waiting for results. We just want an answer and want my daughter to feel better. She loves school, basketball and has not been able to participate in any activities. She sleeps in a recliner because she says that the nausea is better that way. Can you please help!
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for your post. Sorry to hear your daughter is suffering with bad nausea. It is possible she has picked up mono which is affecting her liver function. I think the first priority is to get her nourished and re-hydrated. I would aim for a liquid only diet of small amounts of broths, soups, herbal teas and freshly squeezed vegetable juices. Even just small regular sips will help her body to absorb the fluid and nutrients. Dry toast or crackers, ginger tea and small amounts of lemon juice in water may also help.
If your daughter has been on antibiotics for the strep and pneumonia then it is important to replenish the healthy gastrointestinal bacteria like acidophillus and bifido bacteria in her diet. You can get these bacteria in capsules or powder form.
To boost her immunity and relieve her muscle pains she will also need to be on some essential nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, magnesium and the B complex. Rest and sleep is also essential at this stage.
I hope this information helps.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth-
My 8 yr old Daughter was diagnosed with Mono. today after 5 days of a high fever (102.5-104), cough and complaining that her stomach hurt. Before her blood work, she had abdominal x-ray (neg) and a chest x-ray which showed possible pneumonia (questionable in her upper right lobe). The Dr thought that her stomach ache was referred pain from the pneumonia. I wasn’t convinced and after pushing for blood work her Mono. test came back positive. Its been about 9 days now and her only complaint is that her stomach still hurts and gets worse as the day goes on. She has a hard time describing the feeling but says she feels “car sick” yet she is still eating pretty well. She always points to her stomach (to the left of her belly button) so I am assuming it is nausea. I discontinued the Omni-cef (she had 3 doses) and I am giving her Slippery Elm first thing in the morning then a few hours later I am giving her acidophillus/bifidus capsule, Vit D3, and 1000 mg of Vit C. I read above that she may benefit from a liver cleanse? What you recommend for a child? Thank you!
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Sorry your daughter has been diagnosed with mono. Nausea and stomach pain often point to liver involvement. I would try your daughter on small, frequent snacks which are low in fat and dairy. Ginger or peppermint tea as well as the probiotics can help to settle the symptoms. An 8 year old does not normally require a full liver cleanse. I would start her on half a lemon squeezed into warm water on rising plus a fresh food diet and plenty of water. If the stomach pain persists it may be worth checking to see if her spleen in swollen.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Iwas diagnosed with mono 3days ago.ihave really really bad diarrhea nd bad sever stomach pains is that normal or wat?? Its been an ongoin thing now and iys not gtn better wat do IDO HELP
Hi Sara,
The Epstein Barr virus that causes mono can attack the gastrointestinal tract to cause diarrhea and stomach pains. The best approach is to go on a liquid only diet for a couple of days until it calms down. Adding some probiotics like acidophillus bacteria can also help. When your appetite returns, start back on some dry toast, white rice, pureed vegetables or stewed apple to see how you react. If your symptoms persist you may need to check with your doctor.
Elizabeth
My 12 yr old girl has had mono for 9 weeks now, the fatigue isn’t any better.. She has really bad headaches and nausea. She has been on homeopathic meds without any changes, blood work has come back better. She’s not sleeping alot She has been taking a multivitamin with Zinc, Vitamin C and probiotics. She has a good appetite and no abdominal pain. She never had a sore throat originally. She is so frustrated and stressed about being sick and not feeling well. We don’t know what else to do….
Hi Toni,
Sorry to hear your little girl has been ill for so long. It sounds like her adrenal glands may be involved so I would try her on some high dose magnesium, B complex, fish oils and vitamin C. The zinc and probiotics are good immune boosters so she should stay on them. An Epsom salt bath (2 cups to a hot bath before bedtime) may help her sleep. If the nausea continues a gentle liver cleanse like lemon juice in warm water daily may be beneficial. Lots of rest is of course essential.
I hope these ideas help.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth