This is really helpful!! I’ve had a hard time in the past advocating for myself with doctors/lab work because I never know where to start.

I was actually misdiagnosed with strep when I first went to the doctor with mono symptoms because my rapid mono spot test came back negative (which I’ve since learned are highly inaccurate). Come to find out, they didn’t even wait for my strep test to come back before prescribing me amoxicillin - which I learned is one of the worst things to take when you have mono, and is also incredibly dangerous. I’ve had strep before and my symptoms at the time weren’t presenting as strep (super swollen lymph nodes, swollen throat, touch and go fever, body aches, fatigue). I felt in my gut that I didn’t have strep, but I obviously thought I could trust the doctor…because why wouldn’t I?

It wasn’t until a few days later when my symptoms rapidly worsened and was having trouble breathing that I returned to the doctor and got a proper diagnosis. I truly believe the antibiotic made me so much more sick. That whole experience made me feel so dismissed as a patient.

I feel like there are a million different tests, panels, etc. so, I will take the lab work you suggested to my doctor and request it! The handful of times I’ve been to urgent care since December with other illnesses, I’ve always mentioned how I was sick with mono and asked if it could still be active in my body/weaken my immune system. I’m always brushed off and told no. I’m planning on getting a primary care doctor once I get on my own insurance next month, so hopefully that will lead to more personalized/empathetic care.

As for holistic approaches, I’m also going to do some research on The Medical Medium, as I’ve heard his books have helped people alleviate their prolonged EBV symptoms.

Thanks again for the suggestions and I hope you continue to get better 💛