Dry Eye & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[liz56]

Hi, Everyone.

I read an Op-ed in the NYTimes today about a retrovirus that may cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and it suggests that there may be a link between having the retrovirus, having CFS, and developing leukemia or lymphoma. My mom had Hodgekins lymphoma, and my great-grandmother had leukemia, so I was curious about it, as it may be in my family history. So, I went to the Mayo Clinic site to see if I could learn more about CFS, and I found that one of the symptoms is dry eye syndrome or changing visual acuity. Among other symptoms, it lists, "Visual disturbances, such as blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain and dry eyes."

I'm not in the medical field, and I don't even really know what a retrovirus is, but I thought that this tidbit might be of interest to the community, just in case.

Has anyone here been diagnosed with CFS?

--Liz

[rhad]

Perhaps this video will shed some light on what you are talking about....

The viruses/Mycoplasma Bacteria were genetically engineered in a laboratory by the U.S. Gov to be used for Biological Warfare. CFS, Fibromyalgia, etc. were unheard of until after the Gulf War....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...6843859172148#

rhad

[Gretchen]

rhad -

Fibromyalgia/CFS have long been documented in medical literature. In Victorian and early 20th century, the disease was known as neuralgia. Also there is much dispute as to whether the "somatic" disorders which plays a large part of the psychiatric canon, as can be seen in Freud's writing, were really what we now know to be dysregulation disorders such as fibro, cfs, IBS, IC, TMJ, the list goes on. Sorry to rain on your conspiracy parade, but it is patently not true that these things were "unheard" of before the Gulf War. It is true that Gulf War Syndrome has many overlaps with these other disorders.

The retrovirus (which is the type of virus that also causes AIDS) as a cause of CFS is astounding news. It gives real hope for all folks living with this chronic condition.

Gretchen

[rhad]

ok...sorry Gretchen, my words were not correct...although CFS/Fybromyalgia were heard of before the Gulf War, cases of these diseases were few and far between, after the Gulf War, CFS/Fybromyalgia along with many other Auto-immune Diseases have increased significantly. now a days these diseases are a lot more common among all populations. I do know that their could be other causes besides Chronic Infections with Viruses/mycoplasma bacteria, etc. For example, many people believe that with the introduction of Genetically Modified Foods, Auto-immune diseases or All chronic Diseases have increased significantly...so these are just thoughts....

The video I posted above is basically from a Microbiologist, who believes that most Chronic Diseases are caused by a Chronic Infection of some Kind, be it Viral, Bacterial, or Fungal.

rhad

[liz56]

Thanks to Gretchen for the good information! I was wondering what that term was!

Thank you, too, rhad, for the video link. I watched some of it and thought t was interesting. I'm not sure if I am on board with the idea, but it is hard to know what kinds of organisms are being manipulated artificially that then go to take on a life of their own.

--Liz

[Gretchen]

Sorry all - fibro and cfs in was known in Victorian times and early 20th century as neurasthenia, not neuralgia. Neuralgia is totally different.

Thanks, Amy

[RCK]

re: other disorders

I've been very ill this year with unknown disorder, multiple medical hospitalizations for dehydration, decreased potassium, joint pain/calcium deposits, adrenal insufficiency, sepsis, etc., etc. Am seeing a specialist in electrolyte problems, may be connection between adrenal difficulties, corneal dystrophy, dry eye, Sjogren's, adrenal issues, fatigue, joint pain, etc. I will let all know what I find out, I know they are considering a disorder know as Gitelman's syndrome, rare, can be treated by careful monitoring and balancing of electrolytes. Whew!
Rhoda

[rhad]

I am almost beginning to think that chronic Candida infections have something to do with dry eyes, meibomian gland dysfunction, etc.

a few people on this board have mentioned this, and i see a correlation with my self.

rhad

[liz56]

Hi, Rhoda.

It's good to hear from you again and to get an update. The problem of adrenal failure sounds like something I recently read about, but I got no conclusive understanding of it. It sure sounds like some kind of systemic problem that you have. Keep us posted on what you find out.

Thanks for posting,
Liz

[spmcc]

Re: CFS and XMRV (virus)

I know this is an old thread, but I just came upon it.

I wanted to elaborate a little on what I've read about xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and CFS.

In Science Oct 2009, US researchers published that they found a virus (XMRV) in people confirmed to have CFS (pubmed abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19815723).

Then British researchers tried to replicate the study but found no relationship between XMRV and British CFS sufferers (pubmed abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20156349).

Since then (and very recently... one still unpublished), two US government agencies (NIH and CDC) tried to replicate the study from Science 2009 and ended up with conflicting results. One found a relationship between XMRV and CFS, while the other didn't. (Here's the CDC pubmed abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20594299)

My naturopath emailed me last week to tell me that he can now test for XMRV. However, since the jury is still out, I'm going to wait to see what's published next.