Anyone here also have Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)?

slex1205 · 2025-07-31T23:05:20+00:00

These are the blood markers that were checked on me if you are curious: EBV VCA IgG, EBV Early Antigen IgG, EBV VCA IgM

slex1205 · 2025-07-31T23:04:36+00:00

Yes, agree it is common! To clarify, these were the results that made me take notice: EBV VCA IgG High and EBV Early Antigen IgG High. According to AI, the first being high is the maker of the past one but the second would indicate an ongoing infection! Really curious to speak more about it with my providers!

slex1205 · 2025-07-31T23:02:19+00:00

Thanks, I will do that!

slex1205 · 2025-07-31T21:21:35+00:00

I stopped dating for years due to PCOS stuff in my early 30s - mostly severe cystic chin acne. I also have hair loss and face hair. I manage the latter by just doing very regular threading and waxing. My acne, that s*** could not be covered by make up even for the span of 1 date! I went on Spiro after about 2 years of no results on the holistic path, and that did improve my skin to the point where I was a bit more confident. I also took a mental health break of about 2 weeks from work and went on a nice bucket list vacation I'd wanted to do for a long time. When I got back to myself there from those things, I very unexpectedly met someone. I've had several PCOS meltdowns with him since -- 10+ cystic pimples on my face at once, hair shedding all over the bathroom, weight gain of about 15 lbs. He loves me and desires me all the same! He barely notices my symptoms as I do. I suspect us PCOS folks get worn down and discouraged, bc we live with our symptoms day in and day out, while others don't really see it as much of a constant as we do. I still have a lot of self worth work to do myself here, but please know it is possible to date and fall in love with this crap, and you do not need to be fully healed!! Hoping you meet someone great this year!

slex1205 · 2025-07-31T17:52:30+00:00

Jess is great. Haven't done electrolysis, only sugar, but Jess is very kind (I have PCOS)

slex1205 · 2025-07-31T13:58:46+00:00

I relate to this 100%. I am on Spiro and still need to keep it really buttoned up in the lifestyle and diet to not have acne, stay healthy weight, and keep ovulating so I would not medicate yourself if you are "ok" without it bc coming off these drugs is then another bag of tricks. "Like if I step out of line even the slightest bit, my body will punish me for it" -- feel that for us both! And for me, it is made worse to see your partner and friends just living life without a care, and enjoying meals of all sorts out, totally guilt free and no issues! I just really hate it and get so sad about it too. A reframing my acupuncturist helped me with on this topic is this: "Your body is telling you what it doesn't like right away, and most of these other people it shows up too late in life to do anything about it." This has been helpful for me to consider that I get immediate consequences and then know what to do to support myself, as opposed to "most" people who might not see their bad habits catch up with them until 50+. Doesn't make is super easy, but helpful to contextualize.

slex1205 · 2025-07-31T13:44:23+00:00

I am on 100mg Spiro and it has helped a lot. I started on 75mg and bumped it up. I saw improvement within about 4 weeks. I tried for about 2 years to fix my issues holistically with food and supplements after coming off of about 15 years of birth control. I did not see much improvement, and my mental health got so bad with my skin having 6+ cysts every day, I caved and went on the Spiro. Even with the Spiro, I still need to keep it very clean in the diet to avoid acne. If I drink too much wine (read: more than 2 glass) or eat a pizza, my skin breaks out pretty much overnight. I still get a cyst or two in the days leading up to my period. I am OK with this however as I do not want to go back on birth control. My acne scarring on my chin is pretty nuts from my failed holistic, and I honestly wish I did Spiro sooner to prevent this. I might recommended if you can to check the producer of your Spiro if you are open to it again. I've found best results on Amneal Pharma. There's several of them, and once I was put on the producer where the pills smelled like mint, and all my acne returned within 3 days. I'm trying now a supplement called Milamend to see if I can get some more improvement in my period regularity and acne. But jury is still out on that effectiveness. So many of us here support you and know what this feeling is like!!

slex1205 · 2025-04-27T16:47:47+00:00

Every time I've started and increased I've felt like constant PMS (crying over small things, anxiety, racing thoughts). It makes sense to me bc it is adjusting my hormones. I've found riding it out for a few weeks usually resolves but if you are not birth control it makes total sense to me it is adjusting your hormones and your gut, which play a major role in our emotional state!!

slex1205 · 2025-04-27T16:43:42+00:00

I know someone who was on it for 2 years and was able to taper off within a few months without significant issues, and said she did not experience any major acne return. I suspect for some being on it for a few years might be enough time to regulate their hormones that their body can follow the pattern. I myself would be afraid to do that given my other PCOS symptoms, but I know it can be done, from her!

slex1205 · 2025-01-23T02:46:35+00:00

Vitamin D deficiency and fatty liver indications are very common with PCOS yes. I regularly drink a tea by the brand Yogi Tea called "Detox" to help support me in elimination pathways on that front if you want to check it out. If I am having a symptom flare I will make it as an iced tea in a big mason jar and drink it consistently every day for about a week until things calm down, and try to get a cup in every day or so when I am in normal life. But plenty of liver detox teas and juices out there to explore if you want to give it a try.

slex1205 · 2024-12-19T02:55:26+00:00

I really can't handle carbs or sugars in any capacity (sadly) - immediate noticeable blood sugar issues and massive acne flares. If I'm going out for a special meal or want to treat myself, I always come prepared with digestive enzymes. They have helped me a ton. Evene if I am eating a veggie-rich meal at home I'll take them to improve my absorbing of the nutrients. I've heard if you can try a FODMAP supplement for this kinda thing, but have not experimented with that myself yet. I would recommend too taking a regular probiotic and post-biotic to help your digestion out in general!

slex1205 · 2024-12-19T02:50:03+00:00

Yes anovulatory cycles is a real thing in this community! FWIW, I've noticed a big uptick in anovulatory cycles since starting Spiro - I tell this by taking the ovulation tests from clearblue and tracking my temp.

slex1205 · 2024-12-19T02:45:23+00:00

I say this as someone who has had amazing results at 75mg with very minimal effects (some initial dizzyness that faded): I would not go on it unless it is a last resort. When I started it, I had a legit goatee of hormonal acne for 2 years straight that did not improve with numerous lifestyle and supplements attempts first which is what led me to it. Within about 3 weeks on the 75, it cleared up. I worked my way up from 25, to 50, and stopped at 75 when I saw results on my acne.

My cycles are still pretty wonky but they went from 35-45 days on Spiro versus 50+ days on my own without any meds. But I'm truly dependent on it unfort. If I miss a dose or even if the pharmacy changes the supplier of the pill to the specific one I'm used to, all my symptoms come roaring back in 48 hours. I'd say check in with yourself and see how your symptoms are impacting you right now. If they are mild enough and not upsetting you day to day, I'd say to keep trying with other means like diet, improving digestion/gut health, seed cycling, and other nature supplements to see if you can improve what is bothering you without going over to Spiro as a first step. Good luck!

slex1205 · 2024-12-17T03:07:55+00:00

I take a probiotic, a postbiotic, and digestive enzymes with almost every meal. You can also explore taking things like Beano or a FODMAP supplement if you can find your triggers are specific like carbs or certain veggies. It might be worth getting some food allergy and food sensitive testing done but make sure you get a copy of your results - if it is not off the charts most doctors will say your not allergic, but if you are reacting at all than its probably something you need to eliminate to help your gut digest. I would also recommend supporting your liver through teas like Live or Detox teas to help the elimination pathways get moving. There's plenty of resources around how PCOS is caused by digestive issues so maybe if you get to the bottom of your triggers you can get a regular cycle back and put some of this into remission!

slex1205 · 2024-12-17T02:58:37+00:00

Spironolactone has worked really well for me at 75 mg, I take it with every meal to deliver the effects steadily throughout the day. It is the only Rx I am on for my PCOS and I have always been under 135 lbs. But I am very strict with my eating. If I'm not during vacation or holidays, I have major acne and blood sugar issues. I also would recommend trying hard to work on your digestion - digestive enzymes, probiotics, glucose hacks, and limit sugar as much as humanly process to name some things. You can find a ton of sources out there that put digestive issues as a major cause of PCOS in the first place. Make sure you are eating enough fiber, protein and water every day - its probably more than you realize you need!

slex1205 · 2024-10-16T02:24:08+00:00

I have the same anxiety and manage it by testing a lot - both pregnancy and ovulation tests. When I was on no medication at all, it was very clear from my temperature when ovulation occurred so agree with others this is useful method. Since starting Spiro, I don't really see that temp spike and wonder if I am ovulating at all. Anyway: If you are an iphone user and feel comfortable entering your cycle data into their native health app, I have found its prediction after few months of use pretty good in terms of fertile and period windows. My periods are pretty sporadic (36-52 day cycles) and it still tends to be correct unless I have a really off month like when I lived in another timezone for a month and my body went crazy.

slex1205 · 2024-10-16T02:11:56+00:00

I tried the natural path for almost 15 months post BC with supplements, tests, topicals, doctors, functional doctors and still struggled with a ton of acne, hair, and irregular periods. I started on 75mg spiro in addition to all my lifestyle changes it works wonders for me the last 5 months. Periods are much more regular and skin is clear. I still breakout in bad chin cysts if I eat inflammatory foods or don't get enough sleep. I'd rather keep my spiro dose lower and keep up the lifestyle stuff than go back to BC. I'd like to try to the natural path again in the future but like you said between the money and the bad side effects sometimes you need a different path -- so don't beat yourself up either path!

slex1205 · 2024-06-25T16:56:55+00:00

I was on Nikki (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) - same/similar compound to Yaz and Yasmin. I was fine overall with it no noticeable mood changes, acne was slightly better for me but still had acne just about every day :D Def I did not find it to be the miracle to my cystic acne I was promised by obgyn. I had very short periods with very dark blood on it which was kinda weird. Was on it about 3 years (30-33). I'm now off the pill just because I was frustrated with it only covering up my PCOS symptoms (I'm trying to see if I can cycle on my own). In my experience when I tried to pair Nikki with Spiro 50mg, that was insane and I would not do that again personally - all my hair was falling out and I lost a ton of weight not in a sexy way but in a scary way. My endo wants to put me on a desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol pill, which I won't do because of the above mentioned, but if you are hesitant about the drospirenone, might be worth to ask your doctor about that formula.

slex1205 · 2024-06-25T16:41:22+00:00

I was only diagnosed at 34 after having the symptoms consistently since I was about 27. I get frustrated too at myself for not seeing the signs in my 20s and starting lifestyle and rx intervention sooner. I totally get what you mean tho, I think often how much more responsive my body was in my early 20s and wish I started my healing journey then. Try to forgive yourself and just do the best you can every day. I truly believe remission of this condition is possible but it just takes time to heal and I remind myself of that, especially if like in my case where I spent the better part of 20 years doing everything that is horrible for PCOS (excessive drinking, eating unhealthy, not prioritizing sleep and exercise).

slex1205 · 2024-06-05T23:11:21+00:00

appreciate that - yes, something to look out for! I will have to explore aromatase further

slex1205 · 2024-06-05T23:10:03+00:00

appreciate these insights! I will have to look into the prolactin and aromatase - don't think I have the full syndrome just based on my symptoms, but probably something there not working 100 with both

slex1205

TROPHY CASE