I was diagnosed with glandular fever 4 months ago. I am still exhausted.

Hi Craig,

Thanks for checking in. Started having some good days scattered among the bad days. Overall I feel my mood has improved a bit (i felt very depressed in march and april) but i still feel disconnected and unable to be very social. Anxiety is still there and a bit of fatigue and general malaise. Very over it but feeling a tiny bit hopeful with the slight improvement.

Hi Aquin,

I'm glad to hear your mood has improved a bit. I can understand why you felt and sometimes still feel depressed, it's very understandable in the circumstances. There is hope and encouragement, Things will come back to you gradually again, the anxiety will fade away as the fatigue and the physical symptoms fade. Hang in there - I really believe that you will see manifestations of improvements soon. I sometimes think that it can be seasonal and cyclical, once you go through all the seasons of the year and come back to the first one again, it's almost like your body is ready to kick it out and control it as it has experienced it at that time of the year. I don't know if that's true or not it's just a feeling or perspective I get. 

Anyway, want you to know I'm thinking about you. Message anytime - you will be okay I really believe that.

Take care

Craig

THANK YOU. I too am getting there but slow. Going to take time. Trying to be patie t. Dizzy and brain fog the worst of symptoms.

Hi Rolane,

I know it must be so frustrating, being patient is not at all easy. Endurance is a hard lesson, just want you to know that I'm thinking about you and I do believe there is a great recovery on its way for you, most certainly! I have no doubts about this at all, even though I know right now is not the best time for you.

Just take it slowly, listen to your body, get plenty of rest mixed with some fresh air / light exercise (walking, etc) if you can too. Try to avoid any extra stress or pressure, because glandular fever is very heavily linked to stress. The more you can reduce stress and feel calm within yourself, the more likely your recovery is to be speedier.

Hang in there - it will be okay in the end.

Take care

Craig

Hi Aquin,  your symptoms sound exactly like mine!  I am in month 6 of this nasty virus. I have "good" days once in awhile. But so far more bad days than good.  My doctor advised me to have weekly and monthly goals so I have something to look forward to (to help with my emotional malaise).  In the last month I have been having lunch with my sisters once a week.  Being out and around people is exhausting but the emotional support and encouragement I receive makes it worth it.  This last Sunday, after lunch, I had to take a 3 hour nap.  Another goal I have is that I have started coloring and doing an embroidery craft project.  A month ago I was not able to do any crafts so this is an improvement--but at a snail pace. I still get dizzy, nauseated, have head aches, weak when walking, not working or doing household chores, and that exhausted feeling.  The thought of doing anything, like going to church, causes me overwhelming anxiety.  Most of my social connections are over FaceBook.  People do not understand this lengthy recovery.  Glad I have this support group!

Hi Gerbear...Yes to all your symptoms. I'm at 8 months and still dizzy..weak but working half days. It is a snail's pace. You are not alone!!!

Hi Gerbear,

I understand exactly what you're going through. Everything is so overwhelming for me. Even catching up with friends is a big strain. I work two days a week in a cute little retail shop which is great but i work by myself. It's been very challenging especially when i have a shop full of customers. It bothers me that i never know what tomorrow will bring. Its scary when im out of the house and begin feeling weak and anxious. I can't wait to get back to normal it's made such a huge impact on my life. I miss my friends and i miss feeling capable. We'll get there though.

Aquin, Rolane, Gerbear - want you to know that I'm thinking about you today and really hoping and believing in some real improvements and steps forward soon for you guys.

Your comments really hit home Aquin, about how much the illness affects your life. This is soo true and I know how weary you all must feel because it grinds you down when it goes on for so long, it's awful. There's going to be a great recovery for the three of you though - I absolutely firmly believe that will come - just hang in there and thinking about you today.

Craig

 

Thanks so much craig. YES I'm at the stage that I have good moments and bag moments in the day. I am sleeping a bit better as I have had insomnia on top of all this. Brain fog is the worst and focus is not always there. I get dizzy at times during the day as well. Some other symptoms are getting better in general like nausea and some times I get hungry. I do have odd joint pain shakeiness and k scale twitches still. Anxiety still there at times but less than beginning. Hope....baby steps. ♡ Rolane

Yes, baby step!  The anxiety I am having is thinking that I do not want to get well because I will not be able to handle it--totally weird thought process.  Because I will be able to handle life once I am well.

i am still getting headaches with what I call the "mono flush" Almost everyday I get weak, dizzy, nauseated, have a head ache and then my face turns bright red.  This lasts an hour or so and then passes.

However I have been able to plant a little on my back deck container garden.  I have sugar snap peas blooming, strawberries turning red and planted carrots yesterday.  Being able to do small "normal" things helps my mental status

You mentioned k scale twitches, what does that mean?

Oh that was probably autocorrect. Muscle twitches, wave like tingling, yes on nausea and anxiety. I feel foggy and tired as well. Headaches a bit less...one day at a time. Dizziness almost daily and worse in stores.

Autocorrect is so funny!

Don't give up. I'm at 8 months and just starting to see the light. What has helped most is eating no sugar...no processed foods fresh juiced veggies daily (celery cucumber carrot ) supplements and vitamins. U will get better. I had bad set back too. Heal adrenals they are weak. Hang in there

Thanks for your quick response and encouragement!

Hi Andrea,

I'm so sorry to hear of how you have been feeling, you must be feeling so weary and exhausted it's just an awful feeling and I'm definitely thinking about you.

Absolutely want to take this opportuntiy to let you know there IS plenty of hope and that I fully believe you WILL get better even though it feels like it's dragging on for so long. It sometimes feels like one step forward and two back with this illness, but if we can get it so that it's two steps forward and one step back that's the key.

Be kind to yourself, try not to put too much pressure or stress on and get plenty of rest and take some good vitamins (immunace from boots is a good one). Hang in there and let me assure you that with this illness I felt exactly the same, that I would never get better, and then it just happened. Hopefully it won't be too much longer, just hang in there but the one thing I can almost certainly guarantee is that you won't be feeling how you do now this time next year - not much comfort I know but I believe you have already weathered the worst of this - the first four months is definitely the worst and easier days are ahead.

Hang in there and there is hope - don't be discouraged and don't stop believing - and even if you don't feel able to, take some comfort in the fact that I believe you will recover without any doubt in my mind.

Thinking of you

Craig

Thanks Craig! Yes, 1 step forward and 2 back is what I've been telling people, though about a month ago it did seem like 2 steps forward and 1 back, I'm not sure what I did or didn't do to slow the healing process down.

Are you back to health? I hope so and very much appreciate your story and words of encouragement.

I'm taking many vitamins and supplements, vitamin b12 shots and adrenal glandulars.

Its hard to not feel discouraged especially when family, friends  and poeple from work wonder if you will ever get better.

 

Hi Andrea,

I know it's hard not to feel discouraged. Doctors don't help much they just tell you it takes 4-6 weeks or 6-8 weeks which is not really true at all for most adults who get it (maybe as a youngster that is the case). Keep up with the vitamins then, maybe try some immune boosting ones like Siberian ginseng would highly recommend that one.

Yes I fully recovered Andrea and that was about 10 years ago since I had it. But I still remember the horrible feelings of how it made you feel physically that's why I want to come on here and let you know that there is hope. It probably took a good 9 months for me to start to feel more normal again and please don't be discouraged by that because I got a better little by little within that. And for everyone it seems different so you could recover much quicker hopefully.

It sounds like you and your family have already been through a lot so you will also get through this! I know it's worrying when not as young as before but you're easily still young enough to recovery fully from this illness so don't let that worry you.

You will get there Andrea, I'm willing for good health to come your way and it most definitely will! Try to still do things you enjoy and find as stress relievers like seeing friends or having nice baths or whatever. Anything that removes stress will help because there is a real link with stress.

Hang in there! You will get there even though it's hard to be patient I know.

Craig

Thank you again for the encouragement! Your words are very helpful and much appreciated.

Glad you are back to health.

You will be back to health too Andrea. There is good things ahead for you, hard as it may seem right now. Patience is hard and it's a very draining illness both physically and mentally, but you will emerge the other person a stronger and more resilient person. Thinking of you.

Craig

I can relate to everything you are saying!  About 6 weeks ago, I remember saying to my husband "I don't think I will ever be well again". But now I have improved a small amount--enough to at least see a little hope.  Us "mature" people have a long recovery. I also, had to quit work. That made me cry because I had a fantastic job for 14 years.  They are keeping a part time possibility open for me.  However, I don't know when I will be well enough to think about work again.

I don't know anything about an antiviral.  My doctor just keeps telling me rest and eat healthy.

It is discouraging when people say things like "are you still sick?"  That is what the young receptionist at my chiropractors office said to me and then she went on to tell me about having mono last year which only lasted 4 weeks.  No one can really understand the fatigue that goes on for weeks and then months.  

I am keeping a journal of the things that I can now do. I spent the winter laying in bed or on the couch.  But now I can take a shower and fix breakfast without resting.  I can sit outside to get fresh air and a little sunshine for several hours now.  I started out with only being able to sit outside for 10 minutes before I was exhausted.  I no longer have pain over my liver area.  I am back to sleeping a regular 8 hours instead of 12 hours.  I made a dessert last night--which I enjoyed very much!  I am doing some crafts like embroidery,  for months it was too much effort.  There is 

Still much my weary body cannot do but I am trying to focus on the baby steps I am able to take.  I have learned how important it is to space out my activities so I do not get stressed.

THere is hope of recovery, so hang in there!  This is a nasty virus and needs to be respected.  Listens to your body and take everything easy!

Today I am sitting outside watching my 6 chickens, answering emails, posting on Facebook and listening to baseball on the radio.  Later I will brown hamburger for taco night.  Other than doing a load of laundry, that is probably all I will get done today.  But that is OK, I have made peace with my new reality and am waiting for my body to heal.

I am 61 years old.

Thanks for your response.

So glad that you are able to do and enjoy a few things. It's amazing how grateful that can make you feel after not being able to do anything for months. About a month ago I started sketching the tree outside my window and felt inspired, which was glorious! But then I had a set back and really discouraged.

My last pay check was June 2nd and I've applied for disability hoping that in a couple of months I will be able to be back to work. I will receive a decision next week and if I don't get the disability, I'm not sure what I will do! I'm praying that the universe will provide and whatever is best for my next phase of life will occur, though that is very hard for me to do. I'm used to working hard and pushing through, being responsible!

Anyway, I'm glad that you are able to enjoy fresh air and your chickens!

Making peace is really the way to go, though its difficult when worries and anxiety rear their ugly head!

Take care and enjoy taco night!

Thanks Craig! Maybe at the end of all of this, I will be able to help others as you do.