Been diagnosed with mono and really scared and depressed.
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hello, I've recently been diagnosed with Mono. The lead up to it all began when I felt I wasn't able to recover from my workouts. I thought , hey, no biggie, maybe I've been pushing myself a bit at work and gym more than usual. A couple days went by and I noticed upon getting home from work I felt like my head felt a little funny (floaty). Then, upon waking up in the morning I felt as if I hadn't gotten enough sleep. My eyes felt heavy. This continued for a few days and I started to get a little suspicious. Despite this, I did my best to shrug it off. I continued work (I'm a mechanic btw). So, then I started noticing muscle fatigue at work. Although it was slight it was still noticeable . Being an Industrial Mechanic is very physical job. I started noticing my muscles would get fatigued doing tasks I would normally have no problem with. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried at this point. One day it hit me when I woke up. I felt very weak and fatigued. I was very worried at this point and decided to go out to dinner to get the heck out of the house. I remember being at the restaurant and wanting to fall asleep at the table I was sitting at. At this point there was no denying something was up. My legs felt weak and tired just walking a few steps! I started feeling this fatigue/weakness in my shoulders back and chest not long after. Bad. I then developed this lump type sensation in my throat that made it slightly difficult to pass food. I Would eat but felt like nothing would stick. Tasks became too difficult at work and I ended up taking time off. Over the next few days I developed night sweats and occasional headaches. I became very scared, sad, and depressed. Really depressed. I immediately made Drs. appointment. The first Dr suspected anxiety but proceeded with blood work. The tests came back negative. I wasn't convinced. I ended up making an appointment with my primary after he had come back from vacation. I gave him a full list of my symptoms. He listened and ordered some more blood work. Sometime went by and I checked back online for my results. Turns out I tested positive fir mono. Sorry for the long post I've just been having an extremely difficult time dealing with all of this. I stay strong in front of people but the reality is I cry behind closed doors. I hope I can find people to relate to here. I continue to experience the same symptoms. Fatigue/weakness, sweats, weightloss despite eating, sleepiness, headaches, trouble passing some food. I'm just in a state of fear. I have no one else to go to I feel like. I hope to hear back from you all soon.
0 likes, 29 replies
gill86678 Jaycee192
Posted
Hi Jorge,
I can relate to your story a lot & want to let you know that things will get better. I caught mono in Sept 2018 from taking a sip of my friend's drink & within a month I was exhausted & generally felt unwell. It took a while for my doctor to diagnose me too & it made me feel so anxious, when the blood test confirmed it was mono I was so relieved. Like you though, I had a lot of fear & anxiety so I totally understand how you are feeling.
Get plenty of rest, drink water & listen to your body. If you feel tired then rest.
Unfortunately none of my friends or family have ever had mono so I felt so alone but Craig & many others on this forum are a god send & simply reading their experiences & advice helps a lot.
Hope you start to feel better soon.
Gill xx
Jaycee192 gill86678
Posted
Thank you for the reply Gill. I definitely need the support from the people on this forum. I was desperately looking for people with that had similar experiences. I had no one to go to. Anyone that sees this comment and has reached out. Thank you. It does not go unnoticed.
craig07920 gill86678
Posted
Thanks so much for the kind words Gill, I do appreciate it. It's so important we encourage and help one another during this virus - I know how lucky and fortunate I was and am to have good and loyal family and friends to help me through low times such as mono, and very much hoping and praying that you have some good people around you too Gill that are helping you and encouraging you as you continue to get better - which you will!!
Hoping for a good and settled weekend and period ahead for you.
Craig
gill86678 craig07920
Posted
Absolutely Craig, the support on this forum is so important & has lifted me in times of anxiety. I am suffering with fatigue again & the painful & swollen glands continue, primarily on one side of my neck. I am due to go on holiday next Sunday so I am hoping the fatigue passes before then.
Hope you're having a good weekend & are doing well health wise too Craig.
Gill x
craig07920 gill86678
Posted
Thanks Gill,
I do hope that the fatigue passed and that you can enjoy your holiday. The painful and swollen glands in the neck can be so annoying and frustrating, it will settle Gill truly it will. Hang in there and remember just keep looking after yourself and rest up when you need to, that's so important.
Craig x
jen83382 Jaycee192
Posted
All your symptoms and issues sound familiar. It will be a rough few months, but you will get better. Remember its important to support your immune system to get back to good health.
Jaycee192 jen83382
Posted
Thank you. I will have to start research on how to develop a strong immune system through diet and supplementation. Thank you Jen.
dominika20801 Jaycee192
Posted
Hi Jorge,
I'm so sorry that you have to go through this! When it hits you it can be so shocking and not to mention scary. However, you are definitely not alone. I went through a very tough time starting around this time last year up until a couple months ago. debilitating weakness that kept me in bed for weeks. Could barely do anything except sleep, sit in a chair and eat small meals as my appetite was non existent for a couple weeks. Horrible brain fog, couldn't concentrate or try to catch up on any of my schoolwork. Took me a long time to form thoughts and actually speak them. And to top it all of, the worst feelings of anxiety and depression. The bad news is, you just have to wait it out. Get tons of rest, eat as well as you can, and really try to relax. This virus is already stressful enough, but additional stress will only prolong it. the good news is that these symptoms are typical and almost everyone i have seen on this forum has gone through it all. It feels horrible in the moment and sometimes never ending but trust me you will get there and you WILL feel like yourself again. be patient, give it time, and try not to let worry consume you. I really hope you make a fast recovery, hang in there.
Dominika
Jaycee192 dominika20801
Posted
Thanks Dominika. I will return to your comment whenever I start to feel down about this whole thing. You have lifted my spirits.
craig07920 Jaycee192
Posted
Hi Jorge,
So sorry to hear that you have been going through this terrible time lately, I can definitely empathise and relate to it having went through a tough time with mono myself a number of years ago. It was about a month or so for me of all the strange feelings and not feeling right and well at all, feeling drained and fatigued and just feeling 'stunted' and wiped out before I got diagnosis too, that was a scary time because I just didn't know what was happening to me and I truly remember it being a horrible time Jorge and definitely empathising with what you went through before you got that diagnosis.
I really want to reassure and encourage you that you will get better from this. It truly is an awful virus and I remember in those early weeks after diagnosis how tough it was just to get through a single day when feeling so unwell and fatigued. The fatigue and low grade fever were the worst symptoms for me. I cried a lot too wish I had a pound / dollar for every tear I cried during mono! The symptoms and feelings can be so intense and the longevity of it makes it so hard to cope with not just physically but mentally and emotionally too.
Absolutely though you will get better from this Jorge! Even though it's a blow try take it as a positive that you have a diagnosis and explanation for how you have been feeling so unwell lately. It is a nasty virus but it does get better! As the guys have been saying here, it's so important to get plenty of rest and to take time out to give your body time and space to recover. I had to take an extended period off work too and please put your health first at this time, especially if your job is quite physical. It's so important to remove stress as much as possible too during this virus, I know that's much easier said than done because the virus in itself is a terrible stress and burden when going through it I know. It's natural to keep trying to push through like you would with a regular cold or flu, but this virus really needs respect and recovery truly can be much smoother if you rest as much as you need to at this stage.
Even though it's a horrible virus and how you are feeling right now, truly Jorge this thing does get better. Don't panic if recovery isn't immediate or overnight, it can take a little time to get fully over this nasty thing but absolutely you will get there Jorge. I remember thinking when I was going through it that I could never see my body being resilient or strong enough again to cope with normal or physical levels of activity again, but it did and it does come with time - hang in there Jorge, you WILL get better. I am a believer in God and I know it was only down to God that I was able to get through it as I felt so unwell and was so frightened and down when going through this - God truly is the great healer Jorge and I believe He is going to heal you completely from this and that you are going to be FULLY well again with time.
Taking vitamins and herbs helped me a lot during recovery, including taking a good strong multi-vitamin per day (I take Immunace Extra which is on sale here in the UK), a B100 complex vitamin and / or Co-enzyme Q10 supplement per day (great for energy levels and nervous system), higher doses of Vitamin C (1000mg-3000mg per day), and immune boosting herbs like siberian ginseng, echinacea and peppermint. Of course I'm no medical expert or anything, just going on things that helped me from my own research / knowledge, and it's always important to check for any interactions with other medications / conditions before starting to take any herbs / vitamins / supplements, and to check in with doctor / herbalist. I found seeing a good herbalist helped me too during recovery and gave me some good advice on supplements to take too. These things can really help boost your immune system and to cope better while fighting this virus.
It's so hard going through this Jorge, I just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you and just to reassure you that you truly will get better from this and to hang in there right now - if you can talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling, be it a family member, friend, counsellor, doctor, minister, etc. I was so lucky to have amazingly supportive and patient family and friends around me when going through this, dealing with the emotional and mental side of this on your own is so tough so if you can talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling that can really help - it certainly did for me and I was and am very lucky indeed to have people who put up with me despite my moans and complaints and tears at various times. Praise God for that.
It's a really good and supportive forum on here Jorge, there's so many scare stories just searching the general internet but the people on here really know that it's like to go through this dreaded virus and understand where not everyone does what it's like and are great at offering good advice, support and encouragement. Message any time you are feeling down or just want to chat, either privately or in the main forum. AND remember - you are going to get through this and get well again, I truly believe that in my heart of hearts given my own recovery after such a tough time with this and reading the recovery stories of so many others who went through a tough time with this and got back to full health again - hang in there, things might not be great just now but better times and good health are ahead again with time. Thinking of you!
Craig
Jaycee192 craig07920
Posted
Thanks for taking the time out to reply to my thread Craig. Its been really tough. I'm 6'2, was 240 plus pounds and was as strong as an Ox. Very fit I might add. However, ever since mono hit; it hit hard. Very hard. I have stopped weightlifting for quite a while now since I started experiencing symptoms. I'm losing the strength I once had on top of the fact that I suffer from extreme muscle fatigue and weakness. My appetite is great but my body can't seem to hold onto any of the weight from the food I eat which scares me even more. At times I feel like the walls are closing in on me so to speak. All these symptoms are getting to me. More mentally than physically. I will more than likely be posting more threads in here. I need the support now more than ever. If there is anything good I can pull out of this situation is that I have stumbled upon this forum. Again, I really appreciate the time you put in writing me a reply. It has helped boost mg spirits. Also, thank you very much for offering to be a pillar to lean on at this very difficult time for me. I will for sure reach out to you Craig. Hope to hear back from you bud.
craig07920 Jaycee192
Posted
Hi Jorge,
Thanks for such a lovely and warm message back, I really do empathise with the horrors of mono / glandular fever, it was 12 years ago since I went through it, I was a young adult aged 25 at the time and fit and healthy too, I did a lot of long distance running and played football (soccer) and various things. But this thing really brought me to my knees and it was life-changing, thanks only to God was I able to recover fully but it did take 10 months for me to see a real breakthrough with it, but living through that time was so hard and painful and that's why I really want to come on and encourage you and others than even though this is a horrible virus and can take a little while to get over, you truly will get back to full health again and there is good health and a full and active lifestyle after mono - truly there is Jorge!
Please don't panic at me saying it took 10 months for me to see a breakthrough, everyone is different and by far the worst and most intense part of that time was the first few months which were so intense and awful. The intensity did lift for me as time went on, but it was frightening and it did take a bit of time. And everyone is different with this - some people seem to recover much quicker, but just want you to know not to panic if recovery takes a little time because that is normal and absolutely your body strength and resilience will return again.
Just hoping so much that things with your weight and muscle fatigue settle down, these things certainly can be common during the virus and of course always wise to check in with the doctor though regularly and to discuss any concerns, and hoping they can put your mind at ease. Although I know for me and a lot of others on the site there is a real frustration that doctors don't seem to often acknowledge the intensity and longevity of this virus, I was told that I would get over it in 6-8 weeks but in reality it certainly took longer.
Mentally is so hard Jorge, it really dented my confidence this virus and took me a while to rebuild again and I went through some real anxiety and depression during it. It is so awful and I know words can't describe how painful some of those low moments and periods are.
But please know you will come through the other side of this Jorge - I truly believe that and believe that God is our great healer. He has good plans ahead for you and you will get through this!!
Thinking about you and message any time - yes the forum here is really good one, it wasn't until many years after I had mono that I discovered it but it's been a real God-send to me too because I've had other issues besides the mono which people here have been so kind to support me and encourage me with - there are some really genuine and lovely people on here, and I believe there the people together here are a strength in helping people during the terrible time of mono and the recovery process - and remember you will recover!!
Craig