Terrible brain fog, memory/learning problems, emotional emptiness post Mono/Glandular Fever

Thanks for your help along the way Craig. Your words are so inspiring. Still praying for that day of normal life!!!

Hope you're well.

Hi Georgie,

Thanks for your kind words, I want you to know that I am still thinking about you and still know that a lovely young lady like you has a bright and happy future ahead with good health again, that normal life will come back to you in time so just hang in there and thinking of you. Just focus on one day at a time and getting through the challenges of each day that's all you can do when feeling this way.

Craig

Great advice Jeffrey, also thinking of you and still fully believing in a great and marvellous recovery for you. Patience is very hard indeed but it is key for sure. Still lots to look forward to and there is light at the end of the tunnel for you and for Mono and everyone reading this today.

Craig

Thank you Craig. Your words have been instrumental in my recovery. Finding normalcy in this crap pushes me forward. Ive been making strides since last talking to you. I've finished some major personal projects and am being more social but instill feel very tired and foggy. Thanks again for your words and good luck to mono1996!

Hi Jeffrey,

Thanks for the kind words and I definitely believe in your recovery, it's good to hear you are making strides forward. It does take time so just take things slowly at your own pace. Remember even if there's a down day or period it doesn't mean all the progress has been lost - even a graph that goes upwards overall can have down dips, and that's what we want for you for the graph of recovery to keep going in the right direction - and it will!

The tiredness and fogginess is very normal, the same happened with me I really struggled for some time and thought I would never feel the same again, but eventually all that fades completely away and your full health and body resilience returns again. Hang in there and keep in touch!

Craig

Hey Craig,

First off I want to say a massive thanks for all the words of encouragement and advice you've offered to everyone on here! I really appreciate that you've take the time to offer reassurence to people on the forum considering that you've fully recovered and could easily just forget about mono and move on hahaha! I'm just curious as to what kind of experience you had with brain fog? It's just the fact that my fatigue has been gone for several weeks now yet I'm having problems with my memory and thinking which is making me concerned. I'm also having trouble finding words and often mix them up or have trouble pronoucing them, which again isn't like me as before I would have been fairly articulate and well spoken

Anyway sorry for harping on, I guess like everyone here I'm just looking for that extra bir of reassurence!

Thanks again once more, sometimes when I'm feeling low and need some encouragement I read some of your replies to motivate me to try and stick to my recovery, so you're genuinely making a difference!

Best wishes,

Eoghan

 

Hi Eoghan,

Thanks for your lovely message, I only like to come on and join in the chat because I remember how hard it was to go through glandular fever and how scary it was, especially when you don't know what path the recovery will take or how long it will take for you to feel good again.

I think that can be very normal to have brain fog and struggle with your concentration and things, remember this is a very physically demanding virus and draining your body physically also involves draining your mental resources and ability to cognotively function as sharp as always. That doesn't mean to say that will always be that way, that most definitely will go away - it just seems to be like this cycle of recovery where its ups and downs, good days and weeks and then bad ones, different symptoms here and there - it's an awful rollercoaster but eventually it starts to smooth out and you feel more like yourself again and will feel healthy and happy with normal levels of mental and physical function again - that is my experience and I believe that will come for you most definitely so try not to worry too much when feeling this brain fog is hitting you.

You most definitely will get through this awful virus, your body has great powers of recovery (with God's help) and there is plenty of hope - I went through the same and that was 10 years ago now and after the first year I was able to live a much more normal life and feel like myself again.

Take care and don't worry - recovery is on its way, rest assured!

Craig

Eoghan,

I will agree that the brain fog symptom was by far the worst aspect of this illness. I can deal with everything but like an athlete who prides themselves on their physical abilities, I have always been very quick thinker and doer. It has gotten me where I am professionally. During the illness, id have days looking at pictures of myself in Iraq (I'm a war vet) and felt like i was looking at photos of someone else. Or celebrate my child's birthday plans at the end of the day not being able to recall the days events.

Today however I am getting much better in that area. I still have trouble remembering the week before but the days are fuller.

Good luck and keep in touch!

Jeffrey / Eoghan,

The cogntive function will return and brain fog will disappear for both of you, without any doubt in my heart and mind so I don't want either of you to worry too much about this (easier said than done I know) - remember this virus is capable of bringing on all sorts of weird symptoms and they do disappear in time, there's lots of hope still today, hang in there.

Craig

Hi Emma,

Just want to give you a bit of hope and reassurance, this virus can take a looong time to kick into touch, so don't be discouraged that after 9 months you are still feeling so poorly, it won't last forever and it does go away. By far the period you have already went through is the worst, you won't have to experience anything as bad as that again I really believe, and I really believe you will get better in time, and don't panic if it doesn't come right away, for some it takes longer than others unfortunately but it definitely does and will come!

I can understand how it must be so hard especially with children, rest when you can and try and remove stress. I know it's hard to give up caffeine, but if possible if you can even cut down a bit because that really is like a fuel for the virus. Though I know under periods of stress it's hard to give something like that up. Are you taking any vitamins or herbs? Would definitely recommend a good strong multi-vitamin, high dose of Vitamin C, B complex and siberian ginseng every day.

Thinking of you, and remember there IS and end to to this - I felt exactly the same and thought I would never get through it - that was 10 years ago and after the first year things really started to get better and was able to live a much more normal life. Hang in there, there is hope and you WILL get better, no matter how bad you feel today!

Take care

Craig

Thank you for you encouragement as I wake up hacking up a lung! Did you ever experience rapid heartbeats? I used to before this be relatively healthy after a coughing fit or feeling tight chested it can jump to 85 to 100 and stay like that for a while before dropping back to "normal" 76. At 42 I feel like I'm 72 and about to have a bloody heart attack!

Hey Emma,

So sorry to hear you've been struggling so much with coughing and rapid heartbeats, it could maybe be a chest infection on top of the glandular fever itself which will hopefully settle down. Any kind of breathing issue or infection could possibly cause the fast heartbeats, certainly worth seeing a doc anyway and getting checked out.

Just hoping you feel better soon and that the horrible symptoms can ease off and you can get some respite. Thinking of you and remember you will get there and feel better again.

Hang in there

Craig

Hey Emma,

I hope to offer you some reassurement when I tell you that I'm fully recovered! It was a long battle with plenty of ups and down but now I've finally put this dreaded virus behind me! Craig is right when he says it often manifests itself with plenty of strange symptoms that appear as if they'll never go away. I know how difficult it is to take on board when people are telling you it will pass, yet you're seeing no improvement yourself, but you gotta just run with it and give yourself the best possible chance to get better as soon as possible. I've been back to my full health consistantly now for over 2 months and I can feel my fitness gradually coming back too. I'm in a position now where I can go to the gym, head out with my friends and focus on my studies, things that I genuinely felt I'd never be able to do again when I was at my worst. The best advice I could give is

Try immuno boosting supplements, I took this powder called "revive" daily and I definatly helped my energy levels and focus, I also took a zinc supplement daily. Make sure to drink plenty of water too (I know, everyone says this and you're probably doing it anyway)

When the time comes that your starting to feel better, please please please do not try over do things. I first started to feel myself before christmas and egar to get stuck into life again I stupidly volenteered for a charity christmas day swim in a baltic cold lake, daft right? Sure enough I was back in the doctors office within days with a fever, headache chills and bone aches and back to square one! Don't make this mistake.

Finally something to consider, my doctor prescribed me lexapro for the days when I was feeling particularly bad. It's tough to focus on your recovery when your mind has no interest in doing anything, so I viewed it as a crutch that I could use to back me back on my feet. Maybe ask your doctor about this!

Let me know how your recovery is going and if you've anymore questions or just need to talk don't think twice about getting in touch!

Take care! 

Hey Mono,

Great to hear you are feelinga good bit better, that's good news! Remember just take things slowly first few months after you feel better, phasing things in and not overdoing it even when you first feel well again definitely a wise approach and leads to quicker and stronger recovery!

Oh charity Christmas Day swim in baltic cold lake, hope you have recovered!! Well done though on giving it a go!

Craig

Hey Craig I appreciate all your help, kind words, prayer and support throughout these fourms. I really helps keep me going through this time of suffering.

I am waiting for bloodtests to come back that I had done for EBV since I have not yet been tested for that and have been showing symptoms for the past 8 months with extreme fatigue, dizzyness, brain fog and various other strange symptoms that come and go.

Anyway, I started feeling a little better for the past couple days as far as fatigue goes and I thought I had finally started to break through. Unfortunately today I woke up and have been feeling just like I use to. Very weak, fatigued and brain fog.

Is this just part of recovery? Does this mean I am getting close to finally kicking this virus?

I will follow up tomorrow with the results from the labs. I was tested for both Lyme and EBV.

Thanks so much for your care and support.

Hi Nic,

Thanks for your kind words I really appreciate them, most important thing is want to see you feeling better again and for this horrible period in your life to end. I still truly believe it will Nic and that you WILL make a full recovery still (sooner than later also), even if it doesn't feel like it sometimes.

Well if it is glandular fever / mono that has been caused by EBV, it's quite normal that after a few months it won't show as positive in your system, but it will show in your blood test that you have previously had EBV (well that's my understanding from my limited knowledge of medical things anyway). But the thing with mono is that the symptoms / fatigue / horrible feelings / brain fog, etc can continue long after the blood test shows normal again. But of course do explore all options with the doctor and you're doing the right thing getting blood tests done for sure.

It certainly does sound like a mono type virus as it can be common with this to feel a bit better and then feel like you're back to square one again and go on this up and down kind of path until a full recovery comes. In my opinion (and please don't take mine as read over experts or anything), the kind of situation you describe is like the mini flare ups and set backs that happen during recovery, and the way I like to look at it is that each one of those mini set backs means your body is getting to grips with the virus more and more and means you are taking steps towards full recovery. I do believe that!

Thinking about you anyway Nic, remember take some good vitamins and herbs, etc, and hang in there because I do believe that you are much closer to getting better than it feels right now! God will heal! This virus or the candida or whatever it causing you to feel this way will be kicked out for good!

Take care and hang in there,

Craig

 

Hi Craig,

Do you know the level range that the EBV should be at? I was told I had it and it was 800 points. Is that high or low or does it matter? After another crazy set back where I couldn't get out of bed for 2 1/2 days I'm on my feet again. It will be a year in May.

Thanks again Emma

Hey Craig, 

Thanks again for all the great info! Unfortuantely, I got my blood tests back today and am positive for Lyme disease. I am meeting with my doctor to discuss everything tomorrow but am pretty scared because I don't know whether or not its treatable and what damage has already been done, etc..

Hi Emma,

I'm afraid I don't have any knowledge about medical stuff like that about particular EBV levels or anything. Just so sorry to hear that you've been struggling with a set back, remember every set back doesn't actually mean you're back to square one it means you're body is getting to grips with it bit by bit.

It took me the same length as time as you Emma and I wasn't sure about recovery many times but God pulled through and healed and I do still believe you will make a full and complete recovery to full health! Without any doubt! There is hope today, hang in there. 

Thinking of you and hope things settle down v soon

Craig

 

Hi Nic,

I'm so sorry to hear about this, what a terrible time you've been through with this. It must be a terrible shock. I don't really know much about Lyme disease Nic but I do know and believe that for you in your current circumstances there IS still hope and a fully recovery ahead. There is always a higher power and more influential factor than doctors and that's God - He will heal you Nic I truly believe that and I will pray for your recovery my friend.

The good thing is at least they can start to give you treatment now and there is an explanation for this horrible period. Hang in there Nic and remember no matter what they tell you that you WILL make a full and complete recovery still, I have no doubt about that whatsoever no matter how far away that might seem right now. Hold onto that hope and keep in touch let us know how you get on with the doctor.

Thinking of you and remember you will get better

Craig