I had worked so hard on three projects 1997 that it knocked the gas out of me. It was a mystery to the medical profession, but you can test positive for Epstein-Barr and not have it. When you get a post-viral syndrome, for some people it causes chronic fatigue or hearing loss. For me it became light sensitivity.

In this quote, Dennis DeYoung, a member of the band Styx, is reflecting on the toll that his intense work in 1997 had on his health. He mentions that he had worked extremely hard on three projects, which led to a physical and mental burnout. This exhaustion was so overwhelming that it "knocked the gas out of him," leaving him feeling drained and depleted. His experience highlights how the stresses of intense work can sometimes lead to health issues that are difficult to diagnose or understand.

DeYoung goes on to discuss how his symptoms were a mystery to the medical profession, as he tested positive for Epstein-Barr, a virus that can cause fatigue, but he notes that it's possible to test positive for it without actually having it. This highlights the complex nature of diagnosing illnesses, especially when symptoms are not straightforward or easily linked to a single cause. His experience underscores the challenges in understanding and diagnosing conditions that don't always present with clear or conventional signs.

He mentions developing post-viral syndrome, which can cause long-term health issues like chronic fatigue or hearing loss, but for him, it manifested as light sensitivity. This reference to post-viral syndrome reflects the broader concept of how certain viral infections can have lasting, often unpredictable effects on the body, leading to new symptoms that can be difficult to explain or manage. DeYoung’s personal experience with this condition reveals how health problems can develop after an initial infection and how they can vary from person to person.

Ultimately, DeYoung’s quote highlights the complexity of medical conditions and the mystery that can sometimes surround them, especially when symptoms don't fit into traditional diagnostic categories. It also speaks to the impact of stress and intense work on one's health, and how it can trigger underlying conditions that may not be immediately recognized or understood.