When Your Body Starts Speaking a Language You Don't Recognize (And It's Not Pretty)

When a Virus Wears a Mask: Epstein-Barr’s Hidden Role in Joint Pain

Picture this: You're 37, juggling kids, career, and that endless mental load we all know too well. Then suddenly, your body decides to throw you some curveballs that leave you wondering, "Wait, when did I get this old?"

That was me – a mom of two who couldn't figure out why a simple dinner including those addictive rolls at the Texas Roadhouse would leave me hobbling around the next morning like I'd run a marathon in heels. The stabbing pain in my big toe became as predictable as my morning tea. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

My back ached constantly, my knuckles felt like they belonged to someone twice my age, and I was starting to feel like my body was staging a full-scale rebellion. Arthritis at 37? With my family history of rheumatoid arthritis, it seemed like the obvious answer, but something just didn't feel right.

The Medical Mystery Tour Begins

My primary care doctor's solution? "Avoid gluten – it's probably a sensitivity." But here's the thing that didn't add up: I was eating plenty of other gluten-containing foods without the same dramatic reaction. It felt like I was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Then a friend mentioned a local nurse practitioner who practiced functional medicine. You know how it is, sometimes the best medical advice comes from your mom friends over coffee! At my first appointment, she said something that made my ears perk up: "I'm seeing a lot of women your age with elevated Epstein-Barr viral loads and similar symptoms."

"Have you ever had mono?" she asked.

Cue the flashback to 10th grade – sharing red cups at a party when I was 15. (And no, not from kissing boys, much to my teenage disappointment!) But seriously, how could something from over 20 years ago be causing problems now?

Plot Twist: The Culprit Revealed

She was absolutely right! My Epstein-Barr levels should have been between 18-21.9 (normal for someone with a previous mono diagnosis), but mine were sitting pretty at 121. Six times higher than expected.

But wait, there's more! (I know, I sound like an infomercial, but stay with me.) She also discovered that my "normal" Vitamin D wasn't actually optimal for me, my A1-C was flirting dangerously with pre-diabetes territory, and my magnesium levels were struggling. Add in creeping cholesterol numbers, and I was basically on the express train to Feeling-Like-Crap-ville, with potential stops at Heart Attack and Stroke stations.

The Learning Curve (AKA: Feeling Like a Nursing Student Again)

Enter the world of pharmaceutical-grade supplements, a universe I knew absolutely nothing about, despite 17 years as a critical care nurse. Liposomal glutathione, liposomal Vitamin C, NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine), L-Lysine, it was like learning a whole new language.

How could a dormant virus cause such chaos? Well, let's just say that two pregnancies, the stress of bedside critical care nursing, a husband pulling overtime as a police detective, chronic sleep deprivation, and a diet that would make a nutritionist weep had all ganged up to create the perfect storm.

I'll be honest, I felt like I didn't know anything about health, despite my nursing background. Here I was, an experienced healthcare professional, needing my nurse practitioner to walk me through chemical pathways like I was back in nursing school. It was humbling, to say the least.

The Lightbulb Moment

That's when it hit me: my nursing education had focused on managing sickness, not preventing disease. I was trained in "sick care," not healthcare. There was this entire world of root-cause medicine that I'd never been exposed to, and it was fascinating.

After six months of consistent supplementation and gradually cleaning up my chaotic eating schedule (goodbye, sugar-loaded meals right before bed!), the aches and pains started to fade. My body was finally getting the memo that we were on the same team again.

Why I'm Sharing This Story

It's been 12 years since that first appointment, and I'm still learning, still experimenting, still discovering what works and what doesn't. Functional medicine continues to evolve, and honestly? It's one of the most exciting spaces to be in right now. I also wonder how many perimenopausal symptoms I avoided by being on this functional medicine journey?

I want other women, especially those of us navigating the wild ride of perimenopause, to know that there are answers out there. You don't have to accept feeling lousy as your new normal. Whether you're dealing with mysterious aches, energy crashes, or just feeling like your body has been hijacked by someone else, there might be a root cause waiting to be discovered.

Your solution might not be the same as mine (spoiler alert: it probably won't be exactly the same), but that doesn't mean there isn't one. Sometimes it really is just a tiny virus that's been throwing an epic tantrum in your system for decades.

Ready to become a detective in your own health story? Let's figure out what your body is trying to tell you – and this time, we'll make sure you're fluent in the language it's speaking.

Curious about diving deeper into functional medicine and uncovering the root causes of your symptoms? I'd love to help you connect the dots and start feeling like yourself again.