1. Community
  2. Infections
  3. Infectious Mononucleosis

Lack of Sleep

Posted , 7 users are following.

ebvreactivated
ebvreactivated

Who is suffering here from lack of sleep? I sleep 9-9 hours a day. But it's no a quality of sleep. I see dreams and I'm kind of half asleep half awake. It's called REM sleep I think.

I've never had issues with falling asleep and staying asleep during the night. The lack of sleep ruins my health. 

Any advice? or just share your thoughts.

Thanks

Christine

 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Emma110674
    Emma110674 ebvreactivated

    Posted

    I also feel this way! Like Im half asleep and awake I wake up off and on all night! And when Im asleep I feel like Im awake the whole night.
  • kelly75312
    kelly75312 ebvreactivated

    Posted

    Before GF I was always in bed at 9pm, asleep by 10! Now I’m still wide awake at 2-3am. I really struggle falling asleep, but once asleep I sleep through til morning. 
  • ebvreactivated
    ebvreactivated

    Posted

    I feel like the lack of sleep affects the lymph nodes and my mouth too. I have so much pain under the jaw. And my gums started receding too, so strange. I wish I could sleep as sound as before.
  • craig07920
    craig07920 ebvreactivated

    Posted

    Hi Christine,

    So frustrating when you can't get a quality of sleep, sleep is so important as it is when you heal and your body relaxes. I know you probably (and rightly) be reluctant to go down the line of medication, I take amitrypyline (an tri-cyclic anti-depressant which is often used for nerve pain) which really helps with my sleep, always worth thinking about if feeling you really need something.

    Craig

    • ebvreactivated
      ebvreactivated craig07920

      Posted

      Hi Craig, thank you for your reply.

      Yes you’re right I’m generally reluctant to take medicine mostly because the side effects make me more harm. 

      I also wonder if it’s the virus that doesn’t let me sleep well or my swollen lingual tonsils choke me at night.

    • craig07920
      craig07920 ebvreactivated

      Posted

      I know Christine it's so strange because I remember when I had the virus my sleeping pattern was unusual, I used to wake up during the night and stay awake sometime for hours, even though I knew my body was tired and exhausted and needed sleep.

      Just hoping things settle down for you, even doing calming things at night, sometimes taking a soothing herb at night like passion flower or st john's wort (check with st john's though as can interact with some medications and stuff) can be helpful. Even just small things like breathing exercises in bed before sleep or listening to relaxing music or relaxation app on phone or something as you nod off.

      Craig

    • ebvreactivated
      ebvreactivated craig07920

      Posted

      Thanks Craig. I need to write down all your recommendations. I'm looking for Siberian ginseng right now. Hope to find it in the stores.

  • brent_83487
    brent_83487 ebvreactivated

    Posted

    This is a very important stage with mono. I had the same problem. Try to get as much rest as possible. I started having trouble sleeping last summer and it has affected my recovery because I continued to work even when I only had a couple of hours of sleep. Sleep is very important. I am still struggling because I didn’t make it through this stage very well.
    • ebvreactivated
      ebvreactivated brent_83487

      Posted

      Hi, Brent, what month are you in? I'm struggling for almost a year. I have no problem with falling asleep. The thing is that I don't get quality of sleep, I wake up couple of times and don't get a sound sleep. 

    • brent_83487
      brent_83487 ebvreactivated

      Posted

      I got real sick December 2016. Probably got infected several months before that. I am just like you. I can go to sleep, but I wake up 4-5 hours later and can’t go back to sleep.
  • Lecasco
    Lecasco ebvreactivated

    Posted

    Hi Christine, i think i missed a question you had about how my mouth and throat look? (Very rough couple days & eye so blurry i couldn't read much) but my throat and roof of my mouth look exactly as you described! Red and purple lacey or spider like veins..I don't see any white on my tonsils tho..As for sleep, I'm with you! I wake up several times a night and have some strange dreams! Very frustrating as many times I wake up feeling exhausted but cannot get back to sleep! I sometimes take a melatonin (5mg) which helps some...also, i think i mentioned when i took a small teaspoon of Manuka honey at bedtime I slept better than ever but i think it possibly caused "die off" and i felt extra horrible for 2 days afterwards..(I've read you need start with tiny amount and work up to a teaspoon or 2 a day..also, if you can take benadryl it can help too..take care..lecasco

    • craig07920
      craig07920 Lecasco

      Posted

      It's so hard for folk to understand how many different and debilitating ways this virus affects you, I just want you to know I'm still thinking of you guys and standing strong that recovery, including more settled and restful sleep, is going to come your way. This virus does it's best to rob you of your strength and health both physically and mentally, but remember it may seem like it has the upper hand temporarily right now, but it WON'T and CAN'T succeed in the long run. Your body has amazing powers of recovery, sometimes it just needs time and unfortunately for some extended period of time just to find balance again.

      Remember there is a key difference between post viral and chronic fatigue too. Doctors try and write too many peopel off with chronic fatigue after 6 months of this virus, but in NO WAY is that the case for most people, post viral, where your body is still in recovery mode from the nasty virus,is still happening then for a lot of folk with mono and they do go on in most cases to make a full recovery.

      Thinking of you guys and just hang in there.

      Craig

    • ebvreactivated
      ebvreactivated Lecasco

      Posted

      Thanks for your suggestions. I tried manuka honey but then I got more swelling. I'm not sure if it was from honey but I try to avoid any allergens. And it makes the recovery road very long and difficult as I eat limited food only. I also came upon an interesting article today. And it surprised me as my primary concerns were autoimmune stuff. Here is a small piece of the article.

      A far-reaching study conducted by scientists at Cincinnati Children's reports that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) -- best known for causing mononucleosis -- also increases the risks for some people of developing seven other major diseases.

      Those diseases are: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes. Combined, these seven diseases affect nearly 8 million people in the U.S.

    • craig07920
      craig07920 ebvreactivated

      Posted

      Hi Christine,

      It's so hard not to read and think about these other things that it says EBV can contribute to when going through it - I was exactly the same and it terrified me at times.

      Just remember that 90%+ of the population have been infected with EBV at some stage, and the vast majority of these people have made full recovery (most get it when young and haven't had to go through the awful virus symptoms I think) and are fit and healthy and not got these other conditions. Remember that it is normal for the virus to take such a long time to get over and then to be fully healthy again - that's far more then norm that developing any other conditions, it really is.

      Hang in there and still believing in your recovery!

      Craig

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.