In clinical practise something that I notice is there are three main categories in which viral infections influence people who experience Chronic Fatigue, ME/CFS or post-viral fatigue syndromes.
For some people, a viral infection was an acute trigger or “the straw that broke the camels back”. In this scenario, the individual experienced an acute infection and has never felt the same since. In this case, the virus was a trigger for heightened immune signalling, which wasn’t able to return to baseline.
More simply, the virus entered the building, set off the alarm, left the building – and yet the alarm bells are still ringing. This is something I have written about previously, here.
The second scenario is when the indivudal becomes susceptible to reactivation of an existing viral infection, the most well known being Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) associated with glandular fever. This is when the virus enters the building, never leaves but hides. Every now and again when the defences are down, it makes a reapperance, but it will never fully go away.
The final example is similar but different. Some individuals do not experience the reactivation of EBV, but they are susceptible to frequent infections which don’t necessarily cause any harm, but they can be incovenient and stall momentum and progress in recovery as a whole. In this case, the body’s defences are not very strong and viruses can therefore come and go more frequently than they might do in a healthy immune system.
In scenario two and three, the goal isn’t to treat the virus per se (although sometime antiviral medication such as Valtrex can be helpful to give the system some stability), but rather to support the immune system so that the body has better defences.
Better defences means that we can keep the EBV contained in hiding and we can prevent new infections from entering the building. When there is less reactivation and fewer new infections, the body has more stability for rest, recovery, repair and most importantly, progress and healing.
Dinstinguishing Between Active and Historical Viral Infections
Many practitioners will recommend testing panels for various viral infections. Those commonly assessed might be:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
- Human Herpes Type 6
- Rubeola (Measles)
- Varicella zoster IgG (Chickenpox / Shingles)
Often these tests may show elevated levels of IgG antibodies which individuals and practitioners may misinterpret to be problematic. IgG antibodies tells us:
Once upon a time, this viral entered your building.
It does not suggest that the infection in active or current.
It is noteworthy that:
- 53% of the population will have antibodies to herpes simplex virus
- 98% of the population have herpes zoster (chickenpox)
- 90% of the population will test positive for epstein barr virus (EBV)
However a positive result for IgM can suggest a reactivation of a latent virus or a current infection. This may also be observed alongside other blood test markers such as:
- Elevated White Blood Cells (WBC)
- Increased Lymphocytes
- Elevarted Monocytes
All of the above being measured in a Full Blood Count which is a standard blood test that your doctor can run for you or you can also use a private testing company such as Medichecks.
Additionally, positive bloodwork should be interpretted alongside symptoms such as fever, fatigue, sore throat and muscle aches.
Support For The Immune Compromised
When someone experiences viral reactivation or their healing is taking a detour due to constant infections, this can be a clue that the immune system may need more love and support.
Supporting a compromised immune system begins with the foundations. The good news is that these foundations are not separate to supporting Chronic Fatigue, ME/CFS or Post-Viral Fatigue, they are part and parcel of rebuilding your health and resilience as whole – with some attention to a few immune system specific details.
I refer to the foundations as “The Foundational Five”. Four of which I feel are most relevant here: These include:
Nervous System Stability
Living in Chronic Stress or Flight, Fight and Freeze – which many of us have done for decades – means that resources are directed towards survival instead of healthy immune function. We can use somatic nervous system tools to help the body shift out of survival physiology and find a relative sense of safety again. This is something that is taught in depth in the Nurturing Resilience Membership, you can find out more here.
Blood Sugar Stability
Ups and downs in blood sugar is a stress on your nervous system and overall threat to your energy levels on a daily basis. When blood sugar is well managed in a narrow range, your body has a stable and constant experience of energy availability and this acts as a safety signal. I have written more about this here and we also cover this in detail in the Nurturing Resilience Membership.
Pacing
Pacing refers to managing your time and energy around periods of doing and periods of recharging. Many of us have come from a history of pushing too hard for too long, ignoring body signals and over-extending without adequate time for rest and recovery. Pacing can look different for each person, yet ultimately it allows us to find a rhythm where we can engage with life from a place of regulation and learn and honour the body’s limits and “stop signals” that were previously ignored. Finding a rhythm of life that supports our well being is another way we send messages of safety to our nervous system.
Sleep
Sleep is essential for healthy immune function and, if you struggle with viral reactivation or recurrent infections, you want to find a way to get enough sleep. My experience is that when people support their nervous system, pace well and eat in a way that supports blood sugar stability, sleep gets better. Certain supplements (such as magnesium glycinate, glycine, L-theanine, lemon balm and 5HTP) can have their place as sleep aids and of course, we want to have a good sleep environment and wind down routine.
Managing Inflammation
Managing inflammation is the fifth of the foundational five. However, for this blog, it is too broad and too general. However, there are some immune specific focal points that are worth considering alongside the previous four foundations. These are:
- Macro-nutrition; High quality diet with adequate protein intake (1g per pound of ideal body weight) and intake of essential fatty acids (omega 3 fatty acids)
- Micro-nutrition; vitamins ADEK, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Vitamin B and Vitamin C
- Optimal digestive health which we can encourage with things like probiotic, saccharomyces boulardii, short chain fatty acids and mucosal membrane support
If you are wondering if this all sounds a little too simple you would be surprised how many clients I see on complex supplement protocols who have not addressed these basic concepts. Just eating better, sleeping better, pacing better and supporting the nervous system can go a long way to improving immune function. I have seen many clients improve just from eating more protein.
Additionally on a case by case basis we may want to consider:
- Adrenal Function
- Sex Hormones
- Chemical and toxin exposures (e.g. mould mycotoxins)
- Other ongoing infections e.g. bacteria, parasites, yeast and mould
- Overtraining
- Smoking
- Drugs and alcohol use
- Eating disorders due to the likelihood of nutritional deficiencies and macro-malnutrition, especially protein and fatty acids.
Specific Support for Viral Infections
Sometimes the Foundations are all that are required, however in some cases additional supplement may support the immune system. Supportive nutrients may include: Once the basics are in place we can use the following to support the immune system further:
| Natural Killer Cells & T Cell Support | B Cells |
| Astragalus Echinacea Lemon Balm Beta Glucans | Grape Seed Extract Adequate Protein Green Tea Pine Bark Extract Resveratrol |
Big Take Aways
When someone experiences a chronic health condition, it can feel overwhelming and confusing. There can be a sense that the solutions are either unavailable or overly complicated. What I see time and again is that this isn’t the case. Recovery is built one step at a time with simple actions done consistently. This is where the Nutruring Resilience Membership can be supportive. Learn the Foundational Five within the container of a supportive community.
