Sharp pains with mono
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi all,
First, I just have to say that I found this forum around 3 am in what I believe to be 2 1/2 weeks into my struggle with mono. I was only diagnosed about a week ago, but before that, had so many tests run without real answers - blood and urine tests, abdominal CT scan, chest x Ray, ekg... I continued to experience side and chest pain, and a fever that yo-yo’ed from 99 to 102 at random times, for two months. The anxiety it has created (and I’m already an anxious person) led me to anti anxiety medication and antacids before testing positive for mono.
Anyway, finding this forum has been so helpful for me to feel a little less crazy for seriously feeling like I’m falling apart at 28. The one thing I did want to specifically get feedback on is whether or not anyone has sharp pains.
When I brought this up to my doctor, she said mono doesn’t typically cause localized pain, but rather muscle aches. I can said that one calf and one arm have been particularly tender, but I keep getting sharp pains in my abdomen, chest, back, and left leg. Does anyone else have this? My sister is convinced I’ve punched a sciatic nerve, my doctor seems convinced it’s anxiety... I can’t tell what I think anymore.
Thanks in advance for your input!
0 likes, 14 replies
Guest
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vancityraincity Guest
Posted
ALSO
unless you truly believe you have anxiety or depression DO NOT LET YOUR DOCTOR TELL YOU THAT YOURE DEPRESSED. I had a quack of a doctor at emergency tell me that I'm depressed. I said doctor, I'm a 25 year old woman who loves her job, loves going to the gym, puts effort in my appearance wear makeup and heels to work... I don't feel depressed or anxious. Do you know what he told me? "You probably don't know you're depressed. You can be high functioning and depressed."
..........................
Just a warning.. I've found that doctors are quick to jump on the "have you gone through anything difficult in your life recently" path.
Guest vancityraincity
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pathtonowhere2 Guest
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I can't tell you what to do, but I didn't take them except for a few days, I felt they were making it even harder for me, inter-dose withdrawal and other problems...
vancityraincity Guest
Posted
Okay, so I either have mono or a “mono-like virus” as my doctor put it (blood tests inconclusive, been sick for 2.5 months with mono like symptoms).
Like you, I had tons of tests done (X-ray, CT, another CT, EKG, comprehensive blood work at least 10 different times) and apparently I’m healthy as a horse (and yet incredibly ill with what doctors just ended up calling a virus, potentially mono).
ANYWAYS. Yes, I had sharp pains in my chest and abdominal area. The chest pains were sharp and on and off throughout the day, I would also get a weird sensation as if my heart stopped or squeezed for a second too long. The sharp pains have since subsided for me, I am now left with fatigue, breathlessness, and sometimes nausea.
This is a great place to check in to because it’s hard psychologically to be sick for as long as you and others have been sick. Hope you feel better soon.
Guest vancityraincity
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vancityraincity Guest
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Glad to make you laugh! I've been laughing at the most terrible things too I think that we are so exhausted from being unwell that our bodies are just DYING to feel good and have a laugh (get it? bada-boom).
Don't worry about your chest pain (easier said than done). If you had tests done, and you're an otherwise healthy individual, I think it is part of the virus. I have read chest pain questions on some other topics on this forum.
Cheers.
craig07920 Guest
Edited
Hi Bjams,
I think the symptoms of mono can be so wide ranging and varied, the virus can seem to affect different people in so many different ways. If you have pains in the upper abdomen area, groin area, armpits or neck, that is quite normal as these are prime areas for glands in the body, and it's your immune system reacting to the virus. These are quite normal for going through the virus. It did cause problems with my muscles and joints at various stages of the virus,more so in the later stages.
The virus does that to you Bjams where it makes you feel like you're falling apart, I really do just want to reassure that things will get better - hang in there these first few weeks are by far the worst. Full recovery will come, don't panic if it takes a bit of time because that is normal for a lot of folk, I know it was for me. Getting plenty of rest at this stage is extremely important and will make recovery quicker, a key mistake many make is to keep on pushing through and it is the kind of virus that doesn't respond well to that unfortunately.
Taking vitamins and herbs can help too, a good strong multi-vitamin per day helped me greatly, as well as B complex vitamin (for energy levels, nervous system function and brain function), high doses of Vitamin C (1000mg-3000mg per day) and immune boosting herbs like siberian ginseng and/or echinicea.
Thinking of you man and feeling your pain, it really is a horrible thing to go through - but remember you WILL get better, just hang in there just now when going through the worst of the symptoms and remember it will pass over in time.
Craig
Guest craig07920
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pathtonowhere2 Guest
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I've also had stings of pain in the chest and belly and even the back of my head at the first stages of the problem. I think the immune system attacks the nerves throughout the body because of the virus. That has passed though, but the fatigue, malaise and other problems still remained for now.
craig07920 Guest
Posted
It's totally understandable Bjams, when you're in pain and feeling awful it's only natural you start to think this or that, it's what I did too and it's a horrible experience. Just want to reassure that the virus itself does cause all sorts of strange symptoms that make you think other things are wrong, I was at the doctors nearly every week with it thinking there was other things going on, but if you're able to get the doctor to keep a regular check by doing blood tests as you're recovering and that can hopefully reassure that it's just the glandular fever and not anything else.
Craig
Backtome Guest
Posted
Mono can cause anxiety. Not sure how or why but I know many of us here have experienced high levels of anxiety during the early stages of the virus. For me personally anxiety was really bad about 5weeks after contracting it but I also think it's normal to feel anxious when you feel so sick but don't know what's wrong.
It can also cause inflammation in the ribcage or cause stomach upset etc
For me personally it affected my spleen, liver, stomach, balance, caused pain everywhere but I also have recently been diagnosed with a painfull condition similar to rheumatoid arthritis. It's called ankylosing spondylitis. I had symptoms of that long before mono but mono made it much much worse for awhile.
Anyway this virus can defo cause a lot of problems. I wouldn't accept anxiety as the diagnosis. Anxiety is a side effect, not the cause. My doctor put many of my symptoms down to anxiety for 3years instead of trying to figure out what was wrong with me. And I can honestly say during those 3years I only had bad anxiety once for about 2weeks.
Push for tests. Mono attacked my liver and thyroid, depleted some of my nutrients, caused horrible gastric symptoms and very severe fatigue for a long time. I'm still having unexplained chest pain 14months later. And I'm finally about to see a cardiologist hopefully to rule out any heart issue.
This virus is horrible and many of the things your experiencing are part of it but don't take chances either with it and put everything down to the virus. Get the appropriate tests even just for peace of mind and if your having localised pain get an mri, x-ray or ultra sound etc
I believe mono can kill some of the good bacteria in your gut which allows bad bacteria to thrive. My advice is to eat super healthy to give your immune system a boost to help you fight this virus. Cut out the things the bad bacteria feeds on like sugar, starch, carbs, gluten and dairy. I know it's really difficult to do that but it helped me get my life back after 9 long horrible months. I also saw a naturopath, had acupuncture and started taking supplements. I feel 80% better. And that remaining 20% is likely due to my other health issues, Not mono.
Good luck ?
Guest Backtome
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Might I ask, what tests do you think I should push for? I know it sounds silly but my doctor seems ready to throw her hands up and say it’s mono and anxiety, and let me suffer.
craig07920 Backtome
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Great advice Back to me!! Definitely can relate to most of what you are saying, taking a probiotic can be good to help settle down stomach if that's causing issues. The anxiety is totally horrible, but very understandable so remember it will pass and it's normal to experience this as your body is put under so much stress by the virus.
Craig