Dr. Shannyn's Blog

About 90% of people have been exposed to Epstein-Barr by adulthood. So why does one person never think about it again while another struggles for years? Here is what tips the scale.

Every fall the whole house starts passing something around. Here's why that matters if you're managing chronic Epstein-Barr, and what I do to get ahead of it.

Looking back, I had three signs my gallbladder was struggling and had no idea they were connected. Here's what I wish I'd known.

Strep and Epstein-Barr co-infect more often than you'd think. If strep kept coming back, it might not have been the whole story.

A sprained ankle reactivated her Epstein-Barr. Here's why stress, even the physical kind, can flare a chronic virus you thought was under control.

Fibromyalgia pain, dizziness, TMJ that won't quit... these mystery symptoms often share one hidden thread: a virus quietly irritating your nerves.

Random rashes, unexplained itching, skin that reacts to everything... for some people those histamine symptoms are actually a virus flaring in the nerves and skin.

If your ferritin stays stubbornly low no matter how much iron you take, the number might not be the real problem. What if a virus is quietly using it up? 

When most people hear “herpes virus,” they think cold sores or shingles.

But there are 8 human herpesviruses. And they live in the body for life.

These viruses can remain dormant, reactivate under stress, and contribute to chronic symptoms even when no obvious outbreak is present.

If you’ve lived with migraines for years, you know the routine.
Medications. Elimination diets. Hormone testing. Supplements. Stress management. Maybe even being told, “Your labs look normal.”

That was my story too.

One of the most important skills I’ve learned while managing chronic Epstein-Barr is this: catching a flare early changes everything.

EBV flares don’t usually hit out of nowhere. They tend to creep in quietly. A little more fatigue than usual. Body aches that move around. Brain fog. Anxiety. Trouble sleeping. When I notice my specific early signs and respond right away, I can often stop a full-blown flare before it takes over my body.

January has a way of making us feel like we need to fix everything at once.

New routines. Big goals. A “fresh start.”

If your body is already tired, inflamed, or dealing with chronic EBV, that kind of pressure usually backfires.

So here’s a much gentler way to start the new year....