Possible mono like virus?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hi folks, 

so here is my story:

throughout the end of 2017 and beginning of this year I started to get symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety and heart palpitations, which I found out are most likely linked to low iron levels. I had the blood test done a month or so ago and I have been taking iron supplements and the dizziness and heart palpitations, shortness of breath, etc seemed to have started to go away. Anyways, this doesn't have to do with mono really but I started to notice these symptoms worsen when I had a terrible bout of the flu at the beginning of march. This was really the worst flu I think I've ever experienced, I NEVER get this sick. The anxiety got really bad during the flu and i also felt so depressed. Even though I guess I recovered from this supposed flu, I haven't felt like myself ever since then. Even though I have been taking iron supplements I still get anxiety and panic attacks that I've never had before. Just recently I have now begun to feel very weak. I thought it was just me and my anxiety imagining this symptom but usually going for a walk would clear my head and reassure myself I am okay. Well not this time, I went for a walk yesterday in hope of feeling better, but I felt so weak while walking, I came back home and I was afraid I was going to collapse. This whole time I'm thinking that it must be low iron and I might be anemic, but all my other low iron symptoms seemed to have cleared away. As I'm writing this I'm laying in bed, feeling quite weak, depressed and anxious. I can't eat anything as I have no appetite either. I seem to be exhibiting similar symptoms to my sister, who is still recovering from a mono like virus that started for her around October/November 2017. Is it possible I could have caught this from her? The sudden anxiety, depression, weakness? plus, just a week/a week and a half ago I had a sore throat and felt more anxious/a little weak when walking. I didn't pay much attention to this when it happened. But throughout that following week I definitely noticed an increase in anxiety. Just the fact that I had this horrible flu and I have been feeling strange and having odd symptoms makes me think I have some post viral thing. I just really need some reassurance! I posted something in the anemia section yesterday because i kept thinking it must be anemia but I'm really not sure anymore. 

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Oops also, I signficantly remember having very a very plugged ear that I couldn't pop around the time I had the sore throat 

  • Posted

    Hi Dominika,

    So sorry to hear you've been having such a hard time since last year, you have really been through the mill by the sounds of it! I do want to offer some hope and encouragement, that you will get through this and will get better, no matter what's been the cause, God heals and I believe He will for you Dominika.

    If you've not already done so best thing would be to get blood tests to check for mono, that should hopefully be able to tell you if either you have it currently or have had it in the past at some point. The same for iron levels too have you had that confirmed as anaemia? If not would definitely do that too, as you say it may not be that and may have been a mono type virus. Hopefully if your doctor runs some blood tests they can give you a definitive on the anaemia at least and hopefully put your mind at rest.

    If it is mono, really do want to reassure you that the kind of thing you're going through is normal, it really is horrible to deal with and the post viral effects can go on for months, but they do get better with time and you get back to full health again. Things that helped me included taking vitamins and herbs, a good strong multi-vitamin per day, high levels of Vitamin C (1000mg-3000mg per day), B complex (for energy levels and nervous system) and immune boosting herbs like oregano, siberian ginseng and echinicea.

    Really hoping you feel much better soon Dominika and remember there IS hope today and I believe that you ARE going to get through this and return to full health again - even though I know it must not feel that way at times at the moment - hang in there and do keep us posted as to how you are doing. Just take things a day at a time, don't look too far ahead and get plenty of rest, be kind to yourself.

    Craig

     

    • Posted

      Hi Craig, 

      thank you so much for the kind words and advice. At the time that I posted this yesterday I was obviously feeling super unwell and I had never felt so weak in my life, so it was very scary. Luckily i feel much better since late last night, not 100% but miles better. I have been taking iron pills for almost a month now and I thought that for sure they must be working, but it seems my body might not absorb the pills very well. Last night I tried taking some liquid iron supplement and noticed within 10 minutes that I suddenly had more energy and my limbs didn't feel so weak. I will take this supplement from now on and see how it works for me. My doctor didn't say that I am anemic but I really am on the border. My ferritin level was 15 when I had my blood tested last month and below 15 could be considered anemic. I will still take it easy for a while and I will probably get my blood tested again for extra reassurance. I did get tested for mono last month too as my mom and sister wanted to make sure I didn't have it then either, and nothing came up on my test. I have been taking some vitamin B and D for a while and I will definitely check out the oregano and other herbs as my sister also recommended this to me 

      once again thank you for your reply, I appreciate it so much smile 

    • Posted

      Hey Dominika,

      Oh I'm very pleased to hear that you have been feeling a bit better today after taking the liquid iron supplements - sometimes it can just take a change as small as that from tablet form to liquid form to make all the difference in absorption and really hoping this can mean you feel much more settled and normal on this - hang in there and most definitely thinking about you still and believing in your recovery.

      Remember take things slowly and don't overdo it - I don't know much about anaemia and things like that but I do believe that is it something that can be well controlled once on the right supplements / medication, and people can live normal and healthy lives with it - so hoping very much that can be the case and that things settle down being on the liquid form.

      Craig

  • Posted

    Hi Dominika,

    when your taking iron supplements you should also be taking it with Vitamin C as the Vitamin C helps the body to absorb the iron.  When I was younger I also had problems with my ferritin levels and had to take Ferrous-C which combined both.  Hope this helps.

    Amanda smile

    • Posted

      Hi Amanda, 

      thanks for the reply! I have been taking my supplements with some orange juice every morning, and the liquid iron I am taking now also has vitamin C in it, so hopefully my body is absorbing as much as it needs smile 

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