My One Year Since Getting Mono Update
Posted , 14 users are following.
Hello all! I wrote a post about a week ago but I had intended on doing one on this day for awhile now, so here goes.
Spring and Summer 2017 I had been pushing hard. I rock climb, its my passion (I currently work at a gym doing instruction and other things.) It is a very demanding sport, but I love it. Anyway, I was climbing about five days a week, often outside, in increasingly hot conditions. In July I started experiencing a weird sensation in my throat once every few days. A weird, vibrating feeling that almost felt like I was gargling. I'd never experienced a sensation like it. Thought, maybe its a muscle spasm or maybe I'm getting sick. Now I think it was the virus incubating or something.
August 1st, 2017. Its hot, there are wildfires messing up the air, I'm out playing disc golf before work. As I get to work I feel like my heart is beating faster and more noticeably than normal. I go in the cooler to cool off (grocery store) and feel slightly better. Over the next few days, I get dizziness, flu-like feelings, a sore throat and occasional bouts of a brief racing heart. Tacking it up to the flu or something, I press on. I go on a trip to Canada that I'd scheduled months before that I'd been looking forward to. Climbed for four days despite frequent bouts of dizziness, faintness, exhaustion after climbing. August continues on and I continue to experience intermittent symptoms like this. I go to a Naturopath and he thinks I have a combination of allergies and a low grade virus. I get essential oil blends for immune health.
September, sick feeling at times but still taking climbing trips and going to the gym frequently. October is the same. End of October I get a racing heart at work and feel panicky, fluey, unwell. Halloween I drag myself to the local climbing spot and manage to do my most difficult route ever, knowing it'll be rain for months after that day. It takes so much out of me I'm severely exhausted. I make an appointment to a GP and get tests done. At first all they can find is my blood pressure reads a bit high. I insist I get tested for mono because after scouring online its the only thing that roughly matches my symptoms and duration. A few nights later I wake up feeling very flu-like, heart racing, feel panicked and unwell. That morning I go to an urgent care, who have me go the the ED. I get my chest x-rayed and get an appointment with a cardiologist. I eventually get to wear a holter device for two weeks that takes readings of my heart. That came out normal, they said. Chest x-ray normal. They prescribe me a low dose medicine for blood pressure which I take for two rounds and then stop. A few days after the ED visit I get the results that I have a recent EBV infection and I have mono. I am relieved to have a diagnosis. I am granted a week off of work and then reduced hours for several weeks after.
The next few months I experience all manner of symptoms, I make it to work all but a handful of days, and I experience gradual, cyclical improvement.
On New Years Eve, I go to a movie with my girlfriend and almost have to leave because the dark room and loud noises from the theater overwhelm my system.
Mid February I wake up weak and lethargic, yet manage to get myself to an endurance climbing competition at my local gym and get second place out of over 100.
March I go on a five day trip to Bishop, California to climb. I am nervous to be away from my girlfriend and be camped out in the desert in case I start feeling ill out there. I feel very flu-like on the long car ride over and have visions of asking my friends to drop me off and let me catch a plane home. But it passes and I commit to the trip. I am weaker than I used to be outdoors but I still have fun and stick it out.
April I get engaged. I have mostly good days in April.
May I go on the Whole 30, eat very healthily for a month. I also quit my old job and started at the climbing gym. I feel mostly good this month too, just a few moments in a few days a week where the flu-like feelings come into my head.
June I eat crappily after all the diligence of May. I feel like my climbing performance is almost back to where it was the previous year. The one big bummer is I'm noticing I have a mysterious allergy in my living room of my apartment. We try everything, carpet cleaning, dehumidifier, expensive purifier, fans, cleaning every inch of the wall. Landlord swears we shouldn't have mold, its not an old building. No sign of major water damage really, and no one feels anything but me. I lived here for almost five years without this sensation. Its like mono exacerbated my allergies.
Then July. Fresh off another four day climbing trip, I continue the high pace. Its summer, its heating up. On July 4th, after ten days straight of climbing, I start feeling rather bleh. I try to take it easier, but it seems like my high pace and lazy diet is catching up with me. One night I wake up middle of the night with the malaise, which hasn't happened since like December or so. We have a heat wave mid month, and one day after work I'm driving home, its so hot and I feel so stressed, and I get the racing heart feeling again for the first time since November or December. Needless to say, I'm discouraged. I'm worried I overdid things and in combination with the heat suffered a major relapse. I call in sick one day in July, and barely make it through a couple others. As I realize the potential severity of what has happened, I scale back my climbing like crazy. I know it sounds crazy to you guys, but the longest I had gone without climbing this whole year was 7 days back when I first got diagnosed. The doctor had checked my spleen and said I was okay to exercise. So I'm back on the horse of eating healthier, and resting more from climbing than I have all year. The last two days I've felt a lot better than the previous three weeks. I'm rally hoping its just a bump in the road.
So as you can see, I've lived a pretty functional life this year, though I've had at least some symptom of this virus almost every day. It hasn't kept me from living life, but it has given me a lot of suffering and stress. I think I'm finally understanding the need to take it slow and look into the future, that I will have years ahead to give things my all, but I need to scale back if I want to be rid of this thing for good. I believe that I will get over this thing for good. I appreciate all on here who have given me encouragement. Anyone who has a question or comment I'm happy to talk to.
Thank you,
Nick
0 likes, 68 replies
chris44315 MonorailNick
Posted
Hey guys/gals
just an update and looking for help....its now february, I got the symptoms back in june so im thinking i contracted it back in april. i have been dealing with some serious stressors in my life, particularily the mother of my child. i deal with anxiety now which isnt too bad, i am not waking up out of my sleep anymore. however, i am an airline pilot and havent worked in over 6 months dealing with the virus as well as my own stressors. i am just wondering if anyone else had anxiety associated with this virus or has anyone else had chest pains almost a burning sensation when they had this virus? i want to know if the chest pains are caused by the virus or from stress in my life. any help would be greatly appreciated
chris
josh46287 chris44315
Posted
I was ducking hunting in Arkansas doing something which i love when it hit me. My chest started hurting i got dizzy was already tired from lack of sleep and hard hunting but i was still very relaxed until the chest pain. I have always been a laid back person i didnt even know what anxiety was. I had lost some much energy and was tired for so long and the lack of sleep from hunting must have started the virus. I had diarrhea a few days and a sore throat for a day maybe two before this day but what i had in the field was an anxiety attack. I was by myself which made it worse. I had no idea what an anxiety attack was or what it felt like. I had 3 more episodes like this chest hurting felt like i couldnt breath hands tingling chills and since they told me i had mono i have not had the same issues i guess it calmed me down. The chest pains i do not believe were from mono but from me not knowing why i felt so bad and felt off. Try not to stress it.
lori93950 chris44315
Posted
yes the major symptom of this apart from fatigue is the anxiety ive had ebv twice in 12 years and both times bad anxiety . the first time around i could not leave the house but this time i make myself but stay close to home.
and stress is not good for this virus it feeds off adrenaline .
craig07920 chris44315
Posted
Hi Chris,
So sorry to hear things have been so tough for you still and just want you to know I empathise having went through a tough time with mono myself many years ago. When it goes on so long it is so hard and I suffered with some real anxiety and worry and depression during it too. I wouldn't wish it on anyone Chris and just hoping and praying that things can pick up and a turning point and breakthrough can come very soon.
I also want to encourage you that it can be a very normal course for things to go on for as long as you have been dealing with it - after 7, 8, 9 months I was still in a very desperate way and finding it so hard to cope with improvements only being minimal and various setbacks / relapses. But after 10 months I really started to feel a change and things started to get so much better after that. Please hang in there Chris, this thing does get better and you will make a full recovery, it just takes time sometimes and I know it was only down to God I was able to get there and I truly believe you are going to get through this and back to full health again with a little time.
Taking vitamins and herbs really helped me during recovery - a good strong multi-vitamin per day (I take Immunace Extra here in the UK), a B100 complex vitamin per day (GREAT for nervous system and energy levels), higher doses of Vitamin C (1000mg-3000mg per day) and immune boosting herbs like siberian ginseng, echinacea, oregano. Of course I'm no expert in these things and it's always wise to check for any interactions with other medications / conditions before taking anything, or seeing a naturopath can also be a really good thing and helped me too.
Hoping so much things improve soon Chris and that the pains and all the horrible symptoms settle - and remember you ARE going to get through this and back to full health again - I strongly believe that given my own full recovery after such a long and awful period with this virus and the reading the full recovery stories of many others on the site who had went through similar battles and struggles with it. Thinking about you and hang in there Chris - one day at a time with this thing is all you can do.
Craig
ashley44325 chris44315
Posted
hi chris, ive now had a year off work. i too have a lot of stress in my life and around the time i got sick i remember it was incredibly stressful. i really think this is what let the virus take over.
ive always been an anxious person but this virus seems to have amplified the anxious feeling 100x ! i get all sorts of chest pains and palpitations i am very aware of my heart beat. it is slightly better than it was and im sure it will go eventually , it just seems to take a long time in some people. try to relax as much as you can 😃
lori93950 ashley44325
Posted
hi ashley
have you at least seen some improvement ? are you back at work now ? im in month 10 now and still feel awful
ashley44325 lori93950
Posted
hey lori, yes i think so. its really hard to tell if there has been improvement as i still feel terrible but when i look back a few months im able to do more now than i was then. im still off work and i dont feel well enough to drive yet.... i struggle to even be a passenger. im amazed how long this thing can last! so looking forward to a normal life again. try and stay positive and stay calm , it will go eventually
josh46287 ashley44325
Posted
I am not having such dramatic issues like that just the main feeling bad headache some and foggy head. I can still drive and stuff though i did walk around my yard a few times today and am slightly tired from that but already seems to be getting better to me so maybe it will be better for you soon also. Im not an anxious person but all of a sudden have anxiety with this has to be part of the virus. I am with everyone else i think anxiety makes it worse so be positive and do stuff you like without over doing it physically. I am actually enjoying puzzles at the moment if my cat would stop stealing pieces so i could actually finish one that would be nice. lol
lori93950 ashley44325
Posted
yes same here ....i still feel like crap most days but when i look back too im doing better ..its so slight that we dont notice it !
sorry you cant drive i dont know how ive made it to do errands some days literally dizzy and faint but i live alone so .... i must .
lori93950 josh46287
Posted
yes i wasnt too bad the first 5 months tired and dizzy but then got really bad in september .so make sure you rest alot now and keep stress to a minimum as it can get worse.
josh46287 lori93950
Posted
This slight shaking and trembling i n my left hand it starting to aggravate me im not sure of the side effects of being week or the mono but its just my left hand nothing else. Kind if weird i have never noticed it until the past week or two.
craig07920 josh46287
Posted
Hi Josh,
I hope that you are feeling okay and thing are stable today. Really hoping that the trembling you been getting in your hands settle down - want to reassure you that as Lori says this thing really can give your nervous system a right whack and these kind of weird and frightening systems can occur and can be normal with mono, and that in the vast majority of cases it is a symptom that will settle down and pass as things improve. I remember when I went through mono almost felt it was like my body when through a cycle of different phases of different symptoms, so hoping very much this is just a short-term phase and that things settle down soon.
Hang in there Josh, still believing that you are going to make a full recovery with a little time and even if things are not great today or at the moment, remember that this is temporary and that you will get over this and back to good health again - just so frustrating it takes time but do just listen to your body and rest as much as you need to and keep trying to eat health / take vitamins / herbs if you can. Thinking about you and hoping for a better weekend ahead.
Craig
chris44315 craig07920
Posted
Thanks everyone for the quick responses and words of encouragement. Its truly appreciated!
Its crazy because I've gone back to the doctor and test negative for mono but somehow just haven't gone back to 100%
For those of you that had the anxiety with this virus, does the anxiety go away when then virus leaves?
I also notice the chest pains are more pronounced when I try to sleep since I sleep on my stomach.
Praying for everyone, GOD bless!
~BREAUX
lori93950 chris44315
Posted
i know that if ive had a 'good day' which has been only a couple in the last few months my anxiety is less. the times ive tried to go out at night maybe for an early dinner i get very anxious as im now out of practice and so used to being at home . it does take a while for the virus to go dormant so give it some time and im sure youll be back to your old self soon.
jenna26081 chris44315
Posted
My virus seems gone but still anxious. I am in therapy bc of it and my therapist is a trauma specialist. She said mono is a trauma. It effects every system of the body. When she went thru her 6 month intensive trauma training, she said there was a whole section on treating people who had mono!
lori93950 jenna26081
Posted
yes when i had ebv ( without mono ) 12 years ago i had bad anxiety and it really never left me im sad to say ...now 12 years later have ebv again this time with mono .
hope the therapy works and yes she is right its a BIG trauma im 11 months in ...cant wait to feel better. its a real b*tch
jenna26081 lori93950
Posted
I really had no idea. What she said to me yesterday really stuck with me. She said mono attacks every cell in our body and every system of our body and knocks it all out of whack. She said every client she gets who is recovering mono ALL say one identical thing "I don't feel like me anymore." And when I started therapy that's exactly what I told her. She said it messes with the central nervous system. I felt bad like how could my life get turned upside down from just having mono!? And she was like you cant say its just mono. It's a serious debilitating illness that makes your entire body think it's under attack. She really validated me. I was doing remarkably better and really starting to feel like myself ...and then my dad passed away yesterday. It has really set me back. I'm so anxious all over again on top of this overwhelming sadness.
craig07920 chris44315
Posted
Hi Chris,
Just want to reassure you in respect of the blood tests and testing negative for mono at this stage, that is absolutely normal - it is usually only at the beginning of the virus, the first numbers of weeks / couple of months, that a positive test is likely to be picked up - that is when mine was picked up and after that I had several blood tests which showed negative for mono in the months after that, even though I was still feeling so unwell and going through the illness. So please be assured this is normal and that it will almost certainly be the post viral effects of mono you are still going through, as I say it took me the best part of a year to start to see a difference, but that difference and change did come thanks to God and things do get better with this thing eventually though it frustratingly takes so long sometimes unfortunately - so hang in there.
Absolutely my experience was that the depression and anxiety started to lift as my body started to recover. It really does knock your confidence this virus, especially when you are not able to do the things you enjoy doing and find everything such a struggle and so draining and tiring. But Chris as your body starts to recover, which it will, your resilience and confidence will come back again - it just takes time, it took me time to feel back to myself and just so grateful God pulled me through as I know I couldn't have done it without Him.
Anxiety and chest pains are such an awful thing Chris, but it is very understandable when going through this virus because it's such a dreadful and intense experience. Hoping and praying for a breakthrough in your situation soon, and I believe this is going to be the year where things turn around and that full recovery starts to manifest and can be seen in your life - hang in there and message any time! And remember God is a God of hope and healing - He's looking after you and is going to pull you through I do believe.
Craig
craig07920 jenna26081
Posted
Hi Jenna,
I'm so so sorry for your loss, sending deepest sympathies and condolences to you and your family at this time. I know words can't describe the sadness and pain you must be going through with everything right now.
I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you and will keep you in my prayers. And of course message any time feeling down or want to chat, either in the forum or privately.
Craig
chris44315 craig07920
Posted
Hey all,
I'm praying for all of you dealing with this. I'm very thankful for you Craig coming on here and helping us to remain positive. Praying for you as well.
SO....
I'm still dealing with the anxiety, having the chest pains. I typically wake up kinda sad in the morning knowing that I'm still not back to 100% yet. However, after I get up and get my day started I'm ok. The situation with the mother of my child is still rough but I'm trying to keep my stress level as low as possible. Also making less money than before has its own added stress.
I've noticed that in the gym and in the shower I Feel 100% back to normal. Is that normal? sorry for the silly questions, after months of being down i'm just looking for answers as to how much longer i'll be down.
I've definitely been able to do a lot more than back over the summertime when I was stuck in the house. I drive every day, I workout, I'm able to go long periods of time without eating compared to over the summer feeling like I had to eat every 2hrs.
I really wish the chest pains would stop and the fear of leaving my hometown would go away so I can get back to work.
Again I am praying for everyone,
CHRIS
craig07920 chris44315
Posted
Hi Chris,
Thanks so much for the kind words, it means a lot and encourages me too, I've been going through some up and down times this last while myself and still need God's help with things a the moment too so very grateful for your support and kind words.
Hoping so much these chest pains settle down, it sounds like an awful time you've been through Chris. It's just terrible when a lot of things hit you at the one time, so hard to cope with and this virus in itself is just the worst.
Even if the progress seems slow Chris it for sure sounds like you have made some progress, and don't panic if it's slow at the moment because there comes a time in this, in my experience anyway, where the progress really starts to accelerate and a breakthrough in recovery comes. So hang in there Chris, you will get through this and get better.
It sounds a good thing that you're feeling well in the shower and in the gym, just make sure you don't overdo it. Sometimes it can be the case you feel not well when doing things and it's not until afterwards when you stop and rest it catches up a bit, so just be careful and manage your activity levels right now and get plenty of rest when you need to - you WILL get there Chris, truly you will overcome this thing and get back to full health - I truly truly believe that for you, trusting in God with that.
Hoping for a good and settled week ahead for you - hang in there, better times ahead...
Craig