Mono Symptoms

I never got the white spots in my throat. This is why I worry because some the symptoms are so "typical" of what you read on Google. And the muscle pain is really concerning me now. Every morning i hurt a lot and throughout the day but more so in the morning. Has it been like this for you all the way through or did it start later?

My throat was also not my most prevalent symptom, while muscle pain was. I tested for HIV as well, which came back negative.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It helps to ease my mind through this worry. Online sites do not share what this seems to really be like.

They do not, indeed. From my experience, EBV/mono can have many forms with many different symptoms, which also differ from person to person. I also worried that it might be something else, but I noticed that this elevated stress also had an impact on my healing process.

The chance is big that it is EBV, try not to worry too much, but go to your GP if you really don't trust it anymore. Hope you'll recover soon!

I will be going back to the doc's because of course I'm still worried but it is some relief to hear other's stories and experiences. This has been the most stressful thing I have gone through and just want to have resolution and not go through it again.

How long ago were you sick? How long were you sick for? What were all your main symptoms?

I am trying to stay relaxed and not stressed through this so I can heal better and quicker but it's hard!

Thank you for your replies!

im in month 21. i still rest alot most of the day actually and still get some bad days . but nothing like the first 15 months which was HELL ... i was seriously suicidal !!!

i still dont go out at night to dinner etc otherwise i relapse. and just being with other people is too much sometimes.

i am able to do gentle workouts a walk and light weights now .

i was stable sept oct but with thanksgiving at a friends and a night out to dinner . i relapsed . they dont last as long but still awful .

i would say keep up with blood tests the virus has now attacked my thyroid and my liver and my blood tests were perfect when i first got ebv .now i have to deal with that .... it is such a powerful virus . the most scariest thing ive ever been through .

You should, even if it's just to get some reassurance from your GP. It's for me also one of the most stressful things I have to go through in regard to my health.

Right now, I've been sick for almost 8 months, and I'm not healed yet. I currently have a relapse, but it's not as bad as it used to be. My main symptoms are: general malaise/flu like feeling, muscle aches, muscle twitches, blurry vision and floaters, nausea, headache, and when waking up feeling like I've been hit by a truck every morning.

Around 6/7 months in, I began feeling a little better and didn't need painkillers everyday anymore; although I have a relapse now and take painkillers again, need more rest and can't do a lot. But, it's less intense than it was.

That's what the doctor told me about it being too early so after 10 days of symptoms (7 days after first test) we retested and it was positive. I am feeling better in some ways but the muscle pain is worse and the night sweats aren't better. Those two symptoms are what worry me most. All I've read is that it isn't that easy to catch. Not Knowing I was sick I shared food with my son several times ans luckily he didn't seem to get sick but that makes me worry too if it is mono and if it is so easy then why didn't he catch it. I really don't share food or drinks at all beside with him and that's also why I am so baffled.

I got mono in oct 2018 & had night sweats until Dec 2018 so think this can drag on. Aside from the night sweats I didnt have any fever either.

I was also worried about giving it to my son but he didn't catch it or if he did, he didnt show any symptoms. I have read that a high % of the population get the virus but only some present with symptoms.

Its a hard time for sure & your mind plays over time. I went to my doctors multiple times as I was worried. Over time you will feel better but it can be a zig zag recovery.

That is a while for the night sweats. They aren't every night for me and they aren't drenching but they have been most nights now for a few weeks.

It's so hard because there is such conflicting information online about this. I also read many children don't have symptoms or if they do it's like a cold. I don't know what age they define as children and mine did have a cold a few weeks before I got sick so I don't know if that was it.

This is such a confusing and stressful illness and the timing of it for me has made it worse. Thank you for sharing your experience as that offers reassurance and added knowledge that is real vs what so many medical sites say. They don't mention all these symptoms and they say it should be gone within a couple weeks and that's obviously not the case so it makes one panic and stress which I think makes the virus worse.

I hope you have recovered well!

I completely understand, the wide range of symptoms cause stress & it is terrible. My GP told me 4 weeks to recover but I later learned that is just for the acute symptoms. It dragged on for months after that but my GP said that was post viral fatigue. I learned so much from this forum & during stressful times when I'd over think it helped me more than anything.

I swore when I was better I'd return & give people reassurance so I come on here now & then.

It's been 14 months since I got mono & I'm fully recovered & have been for a while. The first 6 months were hard & recovery is gradual. After 6 months I was back to normal but had occasional set backs with severe tiredness & sore glands.

Hope this helps & feel free to ask any questions.

Hi, I've just created my own post above but was wondering how long were you off work for? My acute symptoms started 6 weeks ago and I know it's different for everyone but I just want to understand others experiences.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, I was off work for a month but I went back in way too soon & I also work from home 3 days a week. If I was working in an office 5 days a week or doing manual work there is no way I'd have managed to return so quickly. I think I'd have needed around 3-4 months off if that was the case.

How have you been feeling now? Still dealing with acute symptoms?

I took a couple days off work only. At rhe beginning it seemed my symptoms were more mild. I work in an office at a computer all day so I think that was more tolerable although getting through the second half of my day was hard and by the time I got home I was done. I don't think I could have done manual labor at all.

Luckily right now because of the holidays my office has been closed this past week so I can rest more. I have been sleeping a lot now though and am worried about getting back to work in a couple days.

Hi Gill,

There is no way I could have gone back after a month but I work in an office 5 days a week and also conduct 1 week training courses throughout the year with me as the trainer. That coupled with a one hour commute in each direction (8 miles each way by bike) is what finally sent me over the edge. You're very lucky to have the WFH option, sadly my company can't do that. They are being very supportive though which is good.

I hope you are well and continuing to get well as time goes on.

Wishing you a bright and healthy 2020!

Hi Justmehere,

My acute phase is definitely over; I'm able to eat well again, get dressed and not rely on pain killers.

My main issues are the tingling all over, severe fatigue and hip pain leaving me walking like an old lady (not someone who in her commute cycles 80 miles a week, enjoys exercise classes, tough mudder type obstacle races, tennis lessons, recently took up rock climbing and for holidays enjoys things like the Inca Trail!).

I really don't think I could manage a full working day yet but luckily have discovered I have the option of a temporary relocation to a closer office and reduced hours which will help when the time comes.

I hope to keep a positive mind set on this, accept I have it; I find the whole thing absurd and find it incredulous I have such a debilitating virus but hey ho, I need to deal the hand that has been dealt.

I've found lots of positive stories sifting through here so will keep them as my focus.

Wishing you better health for 2020 and let's hope we all kick this things butt (and have a good old rest!)

It is so great of you to be here offering support to those of us dealing with this now. I sure appreciate the information and sharing your experience with us. While this seems to affect everyone a little different there are many similarities and the different stories offer extra reassurance that this isn't a clear cut, cookie cutter type of illness. Since so much of what you read online describes a typical set of symptoms and timing but it's not the full reality. I am glad to hear you are doing well now! I look forward to healing and being around too so I can offer support as well. These forums are what has kept my anxiety from going through the roof right now. I am so glad to have found them.

I hope you get better soon too! I am glad to hear your acute symptoms have eased. It's great your work has been understanding and works with you. I completely understand the being active part. I am supposed to be training for a marathon but haven't been able to run much in weeks. Sometimes I feel better and I do a couple miles but then I pay for it so I have tended to not even bother or try. That only adds to the stress.

I think you are so bright and correct in keeping a positive attitude. That is all we can do. I'm trying to stay on that track too plus not think about it too much either. I'm tired of focusing on it but it's hard.

Here's to a better and healing 2020 for us! God is with us regardless and we will heal.

JustMe,

I would drop the idea of a marathon. You need to focus on resting. I was determined to run a half marathon 7 months after getting mono, but I am on month 8 and can still only run occasionally. In fact, I ran 3 miles today and had to stop. It is frustrating, but I know from this forum and friends who have had mono that it will take around a year to feel normal again.

yes i ran for 5 months with ebv and mono as i didnt know what i had . i felt tired and dizzy but fine once i got blood moving and endorphins going . plus i was kind of addicted to my workouts and my amazing fit body.

had i been diagnosed and RESTED i may be over this now . so REST !!!!!

Hi Ellie,

Glad your company are being supportive. I'd have certainly had longer off work if I wasn't able to work from home.

Thanks for your kind words, I am fully recovered now & I am proof you can get over this awful virus. Key things are rest, good hydration & a positive outlook.

Wishing you all the best for the new year with full recovery ahead!

Exactly, I believe there are different strains of this virus & immune systems also react differently. Doctors don't know a lot about it & so these forums really help.

I wish you all the best for the new year, here's to you fully recovered very soon!

I understand! I ran for the first few weeks through this as the pain and fatigue didn't really hit me. Then once I got past the sore throat I developed the muscle pains and tiredness. That's also when I began having more of the night sweats. This is what worried me that I was now feeling worse than the first couple weeks. I wonder if it's because I ran through the beginning of it that made it worse now. I didn't know until almost 2 weeks in what I bad but still did run a little more after that but haven't done much of anything of the last couple weeks now. I'm almost through week 6 of this and hoping to start feeling better soon. I miss working out and feeling better. I hope you can heal well soon too. I can't imagine going through this for so long. I have read about how it can attack other organs and systems of your body. I know it will pass eventually! I'll be praying for you. Thank you for sharing of your experiences.

Where were your muscle pains located? Did they happen daily?