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

Hi everyone,

I've had a pretty rough few weeks with no good days. I'm sure i had a mini relapse because my progress halted and took a couple of steps back. I feel like im coming out of it now and am having more "OK" days and one "good" day just this Saturday passed which was nice.. first one in 3 weeks. I do have to say though that my bad days used to be a lot worse and consisted of me wasting the day in bed being miserably depressed and totally out of it. My bad days now i usually try to relax on the couch for a bit and i feel a bit moody but no where near as bad. The mini relapse was just hard because i felt like i was improving every week with less anxiety and more confidence with ability to work so it was a huge blow to my confidence to have that new found health taken away.

I hope you're all doing well. Xx

I also had a mini release last week. I had several migraine headaches which caused me to be in bed. The medication I take for migraines makes me tired and dizzy. So add that to the mono symptoms and it caused me several days of depression and feeling ill.  However, yesterday and today have been OK days.  I am thankful for that. I go back to the doctor on Tuesday. It will be interesting to check the EBV level. I will let you all know when I get the lab results back.  

I totally understand Gerbear. I was prescribed xanax for my anxiety but i choose not to take it because of its sedative effects when i already feel sedated and out of it due to mono. Feel like i can't even form a sentence when i take it! Hope things keep improving for you.

Hi Craig,

Thanks for checking in!

I've had up and down days. I had a couple of days last week where I was able to do a few things before I crashed. Then I had a couple of days feeling fairly miserable. I did find out that I've been approved for disability, which is a huge relief!

What disability can you get?  I have not worked since December and money is getting tight.  I live in the USA.

Hang in there Andrea,

Want you to know I'm thinking about you and I totally understand how frustrating and disheartening this virus can leave you feeling, when you feel one minute you're making small progress and feel sometimes later that it's going backwards again.

It won't always be that way, it really won't. There is a great recovery for you ahead and just getting through each day when feeling the way you do is an achievement. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, just allow yourself time to recover and take it easy, in the safe knowledge that although it's unpleasant at the moment it will pass over and a normal life will resume again not too far down the line.

Take care and thinking about you today.

Craig

I also live in the U.S. It is long term disability offered through my employer. 

If you think your illness will continue to keep you incapacitated, it might be worth it to look into social security disability.

Thank you Craig! Your words are comforting and encouraging and much appreciated! 

 

Thank you for replying.  Good news--I was happy yesterday!  That is the first time in 2016 that I actually felt happy.  I was sitting on my deck planting carrot seed(easy to do) and I realized that I was humming and feeling content.  Going to kick this virus out of my life eventually!

Thats great news Gerbear! I've had snippets of happiness too. The depression has been pretty relentless for me since March. Never felt anything quite like it. My ability to handle any stress is non existent so i find myself worrying about things going wrong and me not being able to cope. But i have happy days... i live for those days! I can't wait until this is all a distant memory. I've started a journal to record all of the things most important to me that i took for granted before getting sick. I don't want to forget these things.. I vow to be a better and happier person than i was pre illness. It's been a good wake up call. I spent 2015 very stressed and focused on work..

Yay!! Being happy is huge! You will kick it!! 

Aquin - what a good way to look at this unfortunate illness - a wake up call! 

Hey Aquin,

Just wanted to reassure you that the happiness will return. I felt the same as you that my body was unable to handle any stress and it became so fragile, I thought i was always going to be that way. But my body got stronger again (I attribute that to God) and it built up resilience again, even though it feels like it will never get better let me assure that you it WILL. You will recover and although this is a nightmare of a time, it passes and you will be so grateful for your good health again when it returns - believe me!

I have real hope and faith and belief that you will recover and I don't doubt it in my heart Aquin. Hang in there I know it's hard. The manifestations of recovery will appear - that goes for you Andrea, Gerbear, Rolane and every single person reading this message today.

Take care and thinking about you - just take it easy and give yourself time to recover.

Craig

 

Hey Andrea,

Just wanted to send you a quick message of encouragement for today, to let you know I'm thinking about you and still believe that you will recover from this difficult period and glandular fever. Things will get there, it's such a frustrating virus I know, you get to a stage when you never feel there will be an improvement - but there will be, it WILL happen and you WILL get back to normal again. 

Remember take a good multi vitamin and B complex if you can, something also to boost the immunne system like echinicea / siberian ginseng too. Going for walks and getting fresh air helps too, but remember don't overdo it - key thing is to avoid stress and be kind to yourself and allow your body time to rest and relax, things will come good again - do things you enjoy that don't take a lot of energy if possible, but keep seeing friends and things you enjoy too.

Thinking about you and everyone else.

Take care

Craig

 

Hi Craig,

Thanks for the words of encouragement, they are much appreciated!

Today was one of those days where I woke up feeling pretty good. I cleaned up the kitchen, made a salad, showered AND washed my hair and even after all of that activity, I still felt ok.  Then it hit me! I was driving and felt dizzy and so exhausted! It's frustrating not being able to be sure of myself and my health...... It's hard to plan much of anything. I guess to be thankful for the little things.....

I totally relate to what you are saying.  I was feeling quite good yesterday so I dusted the living room. Then my husband asked me to help him hold a board--he is building our 6 chickens a new run--so of course I wanted to help!  I held the board over my head for 2 minutes, which should not have been a big deal, it was not heavy.   But as my arms started shaking I realized that I have not had my hands over my head for 6 months.  The mono part of my body then got sick--dizzy, weak, shaking and nauseated.  Such a easy task sent me into a downward spiral and I ended up going to bed at 6:30pm. 

I am feeling better today.

Except now the 4th of July fireworks are loud.  We live outside a city in the county where fireworks are not controlled very well.  Neighbors up the street are firing guns into the air as well as fireworks.  In my weakened mono emotional state this is upseting me.  Other year it has not bothered me.  I feel so fragile and incapable of handling stress.  Think I will shut all the windows and turn up the TV. 

I am continuing to improve--these are just the things I am struggling with as I recover!

Gosh Andrea and Gerbear it's funny how much i can relate to that. If i try to do anything strenuous i feel weak and wobbly afterwards. Things that i wouldn't have even given a second thought before i fell sick. And also the sensitivity and inability to cope with stress. I am EXACTLY the same in that regard. My brain is not itself at all. I miss me!

Hi everyone,

I totally relate to the comments you all make, I remember it clearly from when I had glandular fever. I would try to do something and feel like I was making progress by doing it even though I wasn't feeling so good but then afterwards the exhaustion or the increased feeling of rushing fever or sweat or throbbing glands would hit me, making me feel worse than I did in the beginning again.

It's so frustrating, at the time I remember thinking well this is me improved and I'm still like this, so this is what life will be like now just need to accept it. Let me assure you that definitely isn't the case though, because slow as it may feel the improveemnt does keep happening and coming despite these moments when you feel you take a backward step, and your body eventually does recover so that it is strong and resilient again - you will be able to handle a full day's activity again and not feel terrible the next day, you will be able to live life as a good pace and not feeling weary - it seems to go on forever when it's not that way, but I really believe that for you Aquin, Andrea, Gerbear, that you have all weathered the very worst of thing and real tangible improvements to how you are feeling will start to manifest very soon.

Take care and hang in there - restoration and recovery is coming

Craig

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to see how everyone was doing, just to let you know I'm thinking about you and hope that everyone is coping okay and remind everyone that they will get better - fully 100% better - with a bit of time.

Hang in there, it's certainly not easy I know, but a great recovery is on its way from glandular fever for those reading this message. It will happen for you, even if you feel weary and tired and exhausted and unsure of where to turn at the moment. I felt the same and at the end of my tether but there was a turning point and you can and will recover.

Good luck everyone, just take it easy and give yourself time and space to rest and recover.

Craig

Im struggling greatly i was doing so well up until 2 weeks ago. The emotional effects have been the worst this time. Its so hard to keep hope. October will be 1 year for me which is when many people say they get better but i feel worse than ever. Sorry to be such a downer everyone. Whenever i feel like im getting somewhere i get knocked back ever further it feels like.

Hi Aquin,

So sorry to hear you've been struggling so bad, I can understand why you feel so disheartened when you feel like any small hint of progress gets washed away.

My cycle was similar to yours in terms of timing, I took unwell in October, and struggled from then right through until the summer the next year with only small glimpses of progress without feeling like I was making much progress. Very similar to you, and I remember it very clearly, July was a bad month. I took all sorts of pains in my joints and just felt everything was getting worse again, I felt just like you so down and in despair that I had come such a long way and felt like I was back at square one - it was terrible.

The reason I'm bringing this up is because there is hope - what happened next was something I didn't really expect and helped me so much. After July had passed, once we got into later August and September, I really started to feel a bit differently. I was still not my old self of course but the harshness of the illness seemed to fade and I felt more human somehow. I can't really explain it too well. But I really believe the virus goes through this cycle and that after you get through the first year, you definitely will start to feel a difference. It still did take some time after that to build up to normality again don't get me wrong, but I was able to lead a fairly full and active life again in the second year like I hadn't been able to anywhere near do in the first year.

Please hold onto this hope - it definitely will come, don't be too hard on yourself - it's just circumstances and not your fault - it's hard to be patient I know, but I believe that you will start to see some difference soon - it's different for everyone I appreciate, and for some improvement happens a bit quicker than others, but it's definitely on its way - healing angels are coming your way Aquin - I can feel it! Hold onto that hope!

Take care and hang in there

Craig

Craig i could just cry reading that. Thank you thank you <3

Oh I can understand because it's such a traumatic and draining experience both physically and mentally going through it Aquin so just want you to know I'm thinking about you. I really believe you will get better so just hang in there a bit longer and hopefully you will see light at the end of the tunnel.

Craig

Hi Aquin,

Just a quick message to let you know I'm still thinking about you and hoping very much that things are able to improve soon for you. I still believe they will and that you will have a marvellous recovery - hold onto that hope and belief, because it will happen. Hang in there.

Take care

Craig

Thank you Craig. I appreciate that. I had a traumatic panic attack last week brought on by the relapse and am only just feeling like i'm coming out of the bad depression that followed. 

I've been doing meditation daily as well as listening to anti anxiety hypnosis every night before bed. It have helped tremendously. If anyone reading this is interested I use the Insight Timer App for guided meditation and i downloaded a Joseph Clough hypnosis to fall asleep to during the night. I can't explain how much this has helped in such a short period of time. Gerbear you might be interested in this.

I've been reading about depression and meditation. Stress can actually change the shape of the brain.. leading to depression, and meditation can reform it. My main problem is the constant banter going on inside my head, all the stress and what if's with this illness. I could never shut my brain off but i feel so much clearer now even after only 1.5 weeks of daily meditation. I will continue this indefinitely! 

Hi Aquin,

That's good to hear that meditation and hypnosis are helping, I will take note of those things it's always great to know about techniques that can help.

It sounds like you've had such an awful time, I'm just hoping and willing things to get better for you soon. You certainly have been through the wringer and hopefully you will see a real change soon. I still believe you will get better by the way, without any doubt in my mind, no matter how hard it feels today. There's still plenty for you to look forward to once you get by this.

Take care and hang in there

Craig

Just thinking about you and want to thank you for the advice on the meditation and anti anxiety hypnosis. I have not checked the one you mentioned out yet, but I've been doing an online 21 day meditation that Oprah and Deepak developed. They offer a few free 21 day meditations a year, this last one was about getting unstuck, very good and calming.

ive had a lot of anxiety also, just last week my husband wondered why I was so anxious, I'm not working! It's so hard to explain, everything is so much more difficult to do with the brain fog and when your life has been turned upside down, I guess it's not unusual to have anxiety, right?

Anyway, thinking of you and everyone on this forum. Sending healing energy around the world!

Thanks Andrea great to hear you've discovered meditation helps too. Today i did my first unguided one and really enjoyed it. I've been feeling terribly depressed during this relapse but the meditation brings me out of the dark hole somehow.

Will be thinking of you too and hoping for the best for all of us.

Hey guys,

Andrea, thanks so much for the kinds words, they are also appreciated. It's a scary virus for definite, it plays all kind of tricks but I have no doubt at all still in my heart and mind you WILL recover. This is normal what you're going through even at this stage for you, frustrating as it is, and by NO MEANS does it mean you have Chronic Fatigue or anything - the virus can take a fair amount of time to recover from (not just 6-8 weeks!) and I believe that you will recover, even if it takes a little while longer (which it may not - different for everyone).

Aquin - still most definitely thinking of you as I know you've had such a hard time. Keep up with the meditation and techniques that help. It's understandable to feel so depressed during a bad spell or when you feel this virus is taking forever and a day. It will LEAVE your body forever though and not bother you again - hang in there, that time is coming.

Thinking of you both and everyone reading this!

Craig