I have had glandular fever for 5 months and don't seem to be getting better, what should I do?
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Hi, I am 23 years old and got diagnosed with glandular fever in my finals at university back in May this year. I have always struggled with extremely bad tonsillitis throughout school and university, however, was unable to get them out on the NHS because I did not meet the criteria. Despite, getting incredibly bad tonsillitis up to seven times a year and being ill for about 8 days each time, my doctor stated that I needed to have it 8 times with two throat infections in a single year in order to get them out. Last summer I was also diagnosed with extremely bad vertigo, therefore missed a lot of work and could not socialise with friends due too extreme dizziness and sickness. As the summer finished, I started to become better and felt like I was recovering, however, one month into my first university term, I took a bad U-turn and started to become progressively ill. Symptoms were: extreme fatigue, vomiting, bad headaches, achy muscles and the feeling of being a flat battery. It got to the point where I was bed bound, and could barely do my university work or socialise with friends. I was also in my finals at university, so it was a very difficult time. Eventually after many misdiagnoses from doctors over a 4 month period, I was diagnosed with glandular fever in May. Since my diagnoses, I have rested, not drank alcohol, not worked and eaten healthy, however, I just don't seem to be getting any better and ended up in hospital last week again and also had to cancel my holiday. I've started yoga and meditation to try and get in a more positive mind set as I'm slowly feeling more and more depressed due to the frustration of not getting better and not being able to do things. Is it normal to still be this ill after 5 months with glandular fever? Is there anything I can do to speed up recovery? I have also just got a job, however, I am unsure if I can start now as I feel so exhausted and my glands are back up again, its honestly just an ongoing nightmare. The doctors have also linked it to possible post viral fatigue. I just want to be a normal 23 year old who can work, socialise with friends and enjoy life again.
0 likes, 23 replies
kaymono jess14025
Posted
Hi jess,
Hope you feel better soon. I can assure you it is normal to still feel that way after 5 months. I am 13.5 months in and slowly recovering. I didn't start to see any real improvement until about 7-8 months in and there were many times after this when I felt I was back at square one. This illness has a way of giving you false hope one day and then knock you for six the next.
I only got a diagnosis 2 weeks ago so you can just imagine how horrible I felt and depressed/anxious not knowing what was wrong with me for 14 months.
I also get annoyed when I read some website that advise recovery should take about 4-6 weeks. My doc was straight with me and told me my results showed past infection and based on my symptoms he believes I contracted glandular fever in the past year or 2 and what I am experiencing are post viral symptoms. He also told me that he could not tell me when I would feel like my old self again as it varies from person to person and realistically it could take months or even years.
The last 3 or 4 days I have been feeling about 80% normal which to me is great progress.
lori93950 kaymono
Posted
I cannot imagine your frustration it took me 5 months and I’m still mad at the drs the hospitals for not picking up on this .... I may have been better months ago !
Finally I diagnosed myself and was right . You have to be your own dr nowadays I’m
Seeing.
Not only do we have to go through the virus then now it’s post viral symptoms .... never ends 🙄.
Hopefully we will all get there soon .... 🙏🏻
kaymono lori93950
Posted
Hi lori,
Yes I am abit annoyed also that I had to tell them after 13 months to test for this thing. It should have been them who were suggesting it to me ages ago. But what is done is done. If there's any consolation, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders in the past 2 weeks since I have become aware of what I am dealing with.
I also had plans to have a baby this year and due to the confusion of being sick and not knowing what was going on, I had to delay it.
lori93950 kaymono
Posted
Sorry you had to put your plans on the back burner but you need to be healthy FIRST before you make any long term plans . Especially bringing a baby into your life ... you need to be100 % !! It will all happen when the time is right !
kaymono lori93950
Posted