9 Weeks into Glandular Fever & Struggling! Looking for some reassurance
Posted , 20 users are following.
Hello everyone,
This is the first time I have ever posted on a forum but having seen some of the lovely kind words from others sharing the same issues with this horrible virus, I feel as though I could do with some of your kind advice also.
I am a 26 year old male who up until recently was in very good health, I eat well , don't smoke, drink a fair bit and exercise regularly.
I was diagnosed with EBV / Glandular Fever which started after a heavy night out on April 10th 2017 (approx 9 weeks ago) , it started with the typical sore throat with white dots on my tonsils , extreme fatigue, headaches, swollen glands etc.
Being self employed and running a very busy business with 5 employees it has been a real struggle to take anytime off work so after the initail 4-5 days of being very ill I went back into work to get things done but whilst feeling very dizzy, disorientated and generally unwell.
My role at work though is more mentally straining than physical so I didn't push myself too hard and mainly sat in my office keeping an eye on things and doing e-mails etc.
This cycle continues for the past 8 weeks and I have led a pretty normal life but just feeling constantly tired and slightly nauseous all of the time until the past couple of days where everything has seemed to have got promptly worse.
My throat has swollen right up again, I have terrible headaches and muscle aches, bad anxiety and extreme exhaustion. I have been at home resting for the past two days.
Next Thursday, I have a weeks fishing trip planned to my local lake where I can camp out and relax but I don't even think I have the energy to do that. I desperatly want to feel even 10% better just so I have the energy to go fishing but I really do not know if camping for a week is going to make me feel even worse.
My thoughts are that I will be able to relax on my comfy bed chair in my tent and do pretty much nothing for a week so surely that will be equally , if not more relaxing as being at home but the way I feel at the moment I do not know if I can bring myself to even do that.
What do you guys think I should do and does anyone have any idea how long it may take someone of my age / fitness to regain my health?
Thanks for listening,
Sam
0 likes, 159 replies
Kliffy Samsick
Posted
I'm entering my 6th week with this virus. I'm so glad to have found this website as I've felt isolated with the extreme fatigue, swollen spleen, disorientation, joint aches, sensitivities to light and fuzzy head. I'm a 47yr old female and used to being active with work, exercise and socialising. I started feeling off in November 2017 and mid January could not get out of bed one morning. My blood test came back positive for GF, my doctor has told me to rest as it could be weeks or months for a full recovery.
I'm starting to have occasional days where I can go without a sleep but I have no energy and anything I do is for a short amount of time. Then other days I still need to sleep regularly.
My work has suggested I come in for a couple of hours or half day when I can and I dont know when I will be able to. I don't know what sort of signs to be aware of that I am recovering. I don't want to push myself and end up with chronic fatigue or worse.
I have been shocked to find out how common GF is as I had heard so little about it prior to contracting it.
-Karen
craig07920 Kliffy
Posted
Hey Karen,
I felt exactly the same when going through the virus about 11 years ago, it was such a frightening experience and I was shocked too at how badly it affected me. I do just want to reassure you that it does get better, it's just so frustrating that it takes time and the symptoms are so intense. What you are going through right now is BY FAR the worst phase - you will recover and get your energy back again Karen, don't panic if it doesn't come right away or still takes a bit of time, that is normal, but it definitely will come again. Thinking of you.
Taking vitamins and herbs really helped me, including a good strong multi-vitamin per day, high doses of Vitamin C (1000mg-3000mg per day), B complex (great for energy levels and settling immune system) and immune boosting herbs like siberian ginseng and echinicea.
It took me a long time to get back to work after it - don't push yourself too hard and listen to your body, you're being wise taking plenty of rest, don't worry about chronic fatigue it won't happen it's just the post-viral phase takes such a time for most people with this - hang in there and you will get better - be kind to yourself and be assured that you WILL make a full recovery Karen, I really do believe that, trusting God to help you through, He did for me and I do really truly believe you are going to get through this.
The forum here is great, there are so many scare stories on the internet and it frightened me to read them when going through the virus, but the forum here is far more encouraging and people with real knowledge and experience of the virus encouraging and helping each other!
Craig
Kliffy craig07920
Posted
Thanks so much for the encouragement Craig. How long were off work? I'm still having a sleep through the day and have a constant sense of disorientation which varies and my mental concentration is very short. I'm considering trying a few hours of work soon but concerned I may set myself back, as my insurance payment is 5 weeks away and I really need the income so feel I don't have much choice atm.
craig07920 Kliffy
Posted
Hi Karen,
It took me quite a while, I only got back to work part-time after 5 months and even then after that I had a setback and had to be off a few weeks more and it took me another good while to get working full time again. My confidence had been really knocked too then though, and it's not the same for everyone. Yes it's understandable to be worried about setbacks if you do too much, I get that too as having a hard time having to be off work with back pain at the moment as well.
It's not easy Karen I really do empathise. You will get there though and will experience a full recovery, I do totally believe in that. B complex and/or co-enzqyme Q10 can help with memory / concentration. It's wise to have a rest / sleep during the day, your body needs that right now. Really hoping that a sleep pattern that is more settled comes soon. Hang in there Karen, you will get there and thinking of you.
Craig
Samsick
Posted
UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 28TH 2018 . ALMOST 18 MONTHS SINCE GLANDULAR FEVER FIRST DIAGNOSIS.
Hello Everyone,
It has been over 8 months since I last posted an update so here goes.
It has now been almost 18 months since I first contracted Glandular Fever. It has been by far the worst thing I have ever experienced and without a doubt the worst 18 months of my life.
The first 10 months were the absolute worst, in around May this year I also got a nasty urine & prostate infection which set me back causing me bladder trouble which is only just starting to get better.
Around June 2018 I started to feel much more like myself again and was able to take up old hobbies and go out for longer periods of time without feeling completely exhausted. In August I managed to travel abroad by car for the first time since GF started and upon my return I fell ill the same day due to the exhaustion of over doing it.
Although I feel generally better, I still get this constantly aching neck , joint pain, nasty headaches when over doing it and this constant feeling of being tired. Sure, I am a lot better than I was and don't always feel completely exhausted like I did before, but that slight fatigue has always lingered and I do not feel anywhere the person I used to be prior to GF.
It has been 18 months and I am still not recovered fully, I want to start doing some light exercise in the gym as I am convinced that by exercising I may be able to jump start my body into life again but I am still so unsure.
I just want my life to be how it used to and it is so incredibly frustrating still not feeling completely normal after so long.
Alcohol makes things ten times worse, If I have a couple of beers, I feel great! Until the next morning when I have even worse symptoms equivalent to a massive hangover I used to get when drinking ten times that quantity. I have therefore given up alcohol completely.
If anyone has any advice or experiences to share who is in a similar situation to me after such a long time this would be really helpful. Good or bad,
Much love,
Samsick
rhonda21886 Samsick
Posted
Hi Sam....you ask for advice
Do not start going to the gym or exercising other than going for walks... until you can do normal activities.....like trips....and they do not leave you exhausted or with symptoms for at least 3 days afterwards. Hang in there life will continue to get better faster if you don't push to get there
Rhonda
Samsick rhonda21886
Posted
How are you feeling now and how long have you been ill for?
Thanks,
Sam
craig07920 Samsick
Posted
Hi Sam,
Just want you to know I'm thinking about you and really empathising reading your post about still struggling 18 months on. I am going through a tough time in my life at the moment too which has been going on for almost 18 months and it's so wearying and hard I know.
In terms of mono, my story was similar in many ways to yours - the first 10 months for me was the absolute worst, and I did start to see improvement after that but it still took time Sam and after 18 months I was still in quite a fragile place too. I also had a phase later in the virus where I had terrible joint pain as well as the other symptoms and it got me so down, but this actually proved to be a turning point because after a few tough weeks of that things seemed to change and start to improve and move towards full recovery, thanks to God only.
It was 12 years ago since I had the virus now Sam and with the benefit of hindsight in those years just want to reassure you that your body resilience will return over time. At two years I felt better than at one year, and at three years I felt better than at two years, etc. It's that kind of thing, but generally you get to a stage where you just feel yourself again and your body is able to cope with stressful things again without suffering for it. I know when going through it you never think that will be the case and that you have to get used to a new normal, but want to reassure you that even after 18 months things will continue to improve over time, there may be a few blips and setbacks but that's all they will be - temporary things and God willing in no way will you have to go through the same kind of pain and suffering as this first 18 months again and that better times are ahead.
Thinking about you Sam and hang in there - God is there and is the great healer, Jesus is our man and is going to pull you through I truly believe that. One day at a time is the only way!
Craig
craig07920 rhonda21886
Posted
Hey Rhonda,
It's great to see a post from you. Just want you to know that you're still in my thoughts and so grateful for all the kind words you have given me over such a long period. I hope you are keeping well and that life is going well right now.
I've had a tough couple of weeks Rhonda, hit a bit of a low again last 2 weeks with sciatic pain and just whole situation I'm in of being off work and everything - just everything taking its toll a bit. God has been helping me though and had a better weekend and feeling a bit more positive. Still up and down though and any prayers for me right now always appreciated!! Will keep you in my prayers too Rhonda and take care.
Craig
Samsick craig07920
Posted
Hi Craig,
Sorry for the late response. I really appreciate your words of encouragement as after so long it feels as though there is no hope.
I am generally a lot better these days but I have dreams to travel the world and at the moment even an hour on a train or in the car gets me so tired and achey that I just want to lay in bed.
I get this horrible sensation throughout my neck and pain in my upper back / neck joints. I also get so incredibly tired in the evenings that I literally have to sleep at 10PM without fail.
On the plus side, I am able to get through the working day which is mainly in the office and live a kind of normal life but I am nowhere near recovered. I just long for the feeling of normality where I can jump on a plane and go away for a few days. I am just hoping that one day this will happen for me but for now my life is on hold.
Thanks again,
Sam
craig07920 Samsick
Posted
Hi Sam,
Thanks for the kind words, oh I know it's such a long and drawn out process the recovery from this thing. I do remember feeling that way too into the second year, that whilst I was feeling better I still didn't think I could do 'big' things like holidays abroad and things like that. But it does come Sam, you will get there, and it is good that you have made progress, things will continue to get better as you hit the next year and things - it is a gradual thing and you eventually just reach a stage where you feel 'normal' again. Hoping that can be much sooner than later! Thinking about you, my life feels a bit like on hold just now with things going on too, I do understand and just hope we can come through the other side of tough circumstances right now!
Craig
Dodge81 Samsick
Posted
I'm not in the same position as you as in I've only been ill for 7 to 8 months, but from what you are saying sounds like your body is still recovering, so don't try and push through it. You can't do that with a physical injury or another type of virus...so my advice is treat it the same. Take it easy and you will recover quicker. Whilst 18 months is a long time, most people seem to struggle 1 to 2 years.
Samsick Dodge81
Posted