Persisting Temperatures
Posted , 6 users are following.
I am 37 and came down with mono about 4.5 months ago. I felt like I was turning the corner in December, with more regular temperatures and increasing energy, but January has been worse for me. Most days I have temperatures from 99 to 99.7 and have that weak, sick fevered feeling. I recently saw an infectious disease doctor who ran many tests. She said I am no longer infected with EBV. I have no other infections and other tests all look great. She said I should be encouraged and that the persisting fatugue and elevated temps may ne a result of my immune system having not calmed down after being in over drive for so long. Has anyone else had a similar experience? The temperatures ate so difficult to function with. I have three young children and often wonder if I am not resting enough. I'm having more anxiety and also started seeing a counselor.
1 like, 12 replies
lisa29739 denise37907
Posted
Hey there. I too got mono at 37 back in July. And like you around 3.5 months in I totally turned a corner. For 3-4 weeks I felt almost normal. I attempted exercise and had the worst relapse. Fatigue and weakness and sick feeling that made me bed bound again for a few weeks. Ever since I've slowly gotten to where I can manage the normal day to day activities as long as I don't physically exert myself. But I still knocked down with fatigue for a few hours and sleeping seems to bring on the terribly weak and tired muscles. I just hit 6 months and so ready for this to be gone. My blood work is always normal except I still have extremely high antibodies to EBV. Was thinking of seeing an infectious disease doctor as well so I'd love to hear your experience with them! My regular doc doesn't have a clue what to say except 'rest and eat a healthy diet.' Ugh.
denise37907 lisa29739
Posted
Hi Lisa, thanks for your reply. It sounds like we are feeling similarly. Most afternoons around 2, I start to feel the worst for either a few hours or the rest of the day. I try to rest, but I also suffer mentally, if I don't get out here and there or do some things around the house. The ID doctor was helpful in reassuring me that I am healthy otherwise. She also reccomended alpha lipoic acid for energy and sent me to a certain local vitamin store, where they also reccomended ashwaganda, a different multivitamin, vitamin d, fish oil, and a probiotic. Its only been a few days, so not noticing a big difference. I just wish my temperature would stay under 99. I feel like I could handle the fatigue much better, if I could kick the fevered feeling. I also keep stressing about all of this, so I know that is making me feel worse. I need to be more positive!
craig07920 denise37907
Posted
So hard to feel positive when going through it Denise I know, but you will get there I truly believe that still - yes it's so frustrating that stress makes it worse but the nature of the virus and its symptoms and longevity cause stress! A horrible cycle, but remember you will get there and get through this and get better
Craig
Mono_too denise37907
Posted
denise37907 Mono_too
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craig07920 denise37907
Posted
Hi Denise,
So sorry to hear you've been having such a tough time with mono. I really do want to reassure that after 4.5 months it is extremely normal still to be experiencing these symptoms, and also to have that experience of thinking things are starting to get better only for setback to occur - this is the way the virus often goes unfortunately. Some doctors I believe don't have a full understanding of the longevity of this virus and the post viral / fatigue effects it causes - but most definitely you WILL get better 100% and this most definitely sounds like still all the effects of the virus.
It took me many months to start to see improvement too Denise, but it does come eventually and you won't be stuck like this forever I am totally convinced of that. Things that really helped me included taking vitamins and supplements, a good strong multi vitamin per day really helped, as did B complex (great for energy levels and calming nervous system), high levels of Vitamin C (1000mg-3000mg per day), extra Vitamin D and immune boosting herbs like siberian ginseng and echinicea.
I was the same Denise struggled to cope physically and mentally with the virus, thought things would never get better at the stage you are at now. But by far the first 4-5 months were the worst for me, you won't have to experience anything as intense as that again, and although it may still take a bit of time (don't panic because that's normal), you will make a total and complete recovery from this. Just be kind to yourself and get plenty of rest (I know that must be so hard with 3 young children), but take time for yourself to do something relaxing that doesn't take lots of energy out of you if you can each day, even if it's just going for a short walk, or walking tv show you like, reading, having a bath, listening to music, or whatever.
Just take things slowly, getting through each day is a real achievement when dealing with these symptoms, and remember you ARE going to get better - it's a horrible virus but there is hope and recovery, without any doubt I believe that God will bring healing in your life from this. Hang in there Denise, and thinking about you. The forum here has some great people on it with some encouraging advice and info, which is polar opposite of most of the scare mongering stuff you read on the internet, so definitely worth tapping in to the forum here!
Craig
denise37907 craig07920
Posted
Thank you, Craig! Your words mean a lot to me. This has been such a confusing and difficult time. My 2, 5 and 7 year old children pray daily for "Mommy to get well, so she can spend more time with me," and it just breaks my heart. I used to be such a planner, but I am working on looking at life day by day. I need to keep reminding myself the worst is behind me. Thanks again!
craig07920 denise37907
Posted
Hey Denise,
Oh I really do empathise, it is heartbreaking when you feel like you can't do what you used to do, it's awful but remember it is only temporary and you will get back to those times again and to have those happy and playful days with the children - just so frustrating and it's not only children who don't understand how this virus affects I do think it's the majority of adults, and even sadly to sad, many general practitioner doctors too, who just seem to give the common recovery within 4-6 weeks or 6-8 weeks line, and anything beyond that is abnormal - I've learned through much pain like you and the others on here that in I would say most cases in adults that's not the case, and it is normal for recovery to take longer, but the key thing to note is that recovery does come, even though it takes longer than hoped.
Craig
Guest denise37907
Posted
I’m so very sorry to hear you’re going through this, but if it’s any comfort, my journey has been very similar to yours. I’m about three months in (although I’ve only been formally diagnosed about three weeks!), and I continue to have a temperature between 99 to 100.5 with that weak, sick fevered feeling and horrible anxiety. The body pains, test chest and GI symptoms are also making guest appearances, and it’s mentally exhausting. Living day to day is the opposite of what most folks are trained to do! I do really think the mental piece is almost the worst part - how heart breaking to hear your kids pray that way. I hope that hasn’t had you questioning yourself and I sincerely hope relief comes your way soon. We’re rooting for you!
Guest
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craig07920 Guest
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I think you’re defo right in that the mental part is in many ways the hardest, because you could cope with your physical symptoms if you knew that it was only going to last say another 3 weeks or whatever, if you had that guarantee that recovery would come at this stage. I think it’s unknown with this virus and the twists and turns it takes often during recovery that really weighs you down as well as the longevity, and trying to keep positive and optimistic as time goes on is so hard I know.
Just wanted you to know still thinking about you and rooting for you today, and to remind that there is still hope today because I believe you have come through the worst spell – the first 3 months – and that recovery is on its way, hang in there and still believing things are going to get better – one day at a time for now is the best policy (the only one for any of us!).
Craig
denise37907 Guest
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