Has anyone had glandular fever TWICE :-(

[CountessDracula]

This is just f**king great.
Have been feeling under the weather lately, first a tummy bug, then a chest infection then a horrible cold. Had some blood test before xmas at the doctors as I have to have them regularly for the drugs I am on for crohn's disease.

I had Glandular Fever last year (nov to april on and off) and for some reason I thought you could only get it once. Have just been back to the Dr who said she thinks I may have it again as my liver tests are awry again.

I have been very tired lately but not as bad as I was when I had gf before. Has anyone experienced this? Is it as bad second time round?

I don't think I can face it again - am supposed to be ttc, was going to last year but the gf meant I couldn't. If I have it again there is no way I can go ahead with it.

[SoupDragon]

bum

Sorry, that's no help whatsoever is it? Can you try boosting your immune system somehow to get shot of whatever you've got quickly?

[tortoiseshell]

I think it can come and go CD - my brother found this, and he was ill off and on for a while. Hope you're feeling better soon, and that it's shortlived. If it has just come back, it doesn't necessarily mean it will be as bad as last time, and may be very quick.

[CountessDracula]

Thanks soupy (that is you isn't it, I noticed a large soup contingent posting last night ;))

The problem is that the drugs I take are immunosuppressants. So taking something to boost my immune system would seem counter productive.

[mears]

I thought you could only get it once too CD. Sorry you are not feeling well. Have you googled to see what you can find out about GF?

[CountessDracula]

Really tortoiseshell - was his not so bad the second time around? If that is the case I would be soooo happy. Thanks xx

[CountessDracula]

No durrr I am so dim aren't I, thanks mears!

[FineFigureFio]

I think thats the problem when you are immuno-supressed CD, you poor thing IU think GF can stay in your system for a year anyway, and it can last for 6 months. My poor friend enbded up in ICU with it and was a waif of a woman when she came out....sorry you most prob dont want to hear this shite

[SoupDragon]

That kind of makes it tricky to boost your immune system then, doesn't it. What a PITA!

[FineFigureFio]

and as far as I know when you are immuno-supressed you can get things more than once. My sister caught chickenpox again and TB

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Sorry to hear this CD.

[CountessDracula]

actually fio i wouldn't mind the waif bit

Your poor sister I'm so sorry she had to go through all that.

I am seriously thinking about alternatives to these bloody drugs I am getting very sick of all this illness.

[CountessDracula]

Oooh Puff I always thought you and Soupy were the same person! Thanks xx

[CountessDracula]

just bumping this in case there are any other gf types who can reassure me

[expatkat]

Oh, CD dear, yes, I had it twice. For me, however, there was a 4 yr gap between infection 1 and infection 2. I, too, kept saying, "But I thought you could only get it once!" Alas, that's not always the case, though it's much more usual only to get it once.

Luckily the second infection was quicker. 7 weeks or something like that, whereas my first infection bore much resemblance to your first one.

Avoid things like alcohol & highly fatty foods--anything that taxes the liver. I remember drinking home-made vegetable broth, for example, and very simple vegetable-y type foods and fresh juice.

It will go when it goes, though, as you well know. Lots and lots of sympathy, CD. It will pass and one day you'll feel strong and this nightmare will seem like a distant memory.

[CountessDracula]

Thanks expatkat, 7 weeks I can deal with! TBH I don't feel that bad but have had a few bad days lately, dh said to me last night that he thought I may be getting it again and I pooh poohed him!

Now I must dig my juicer out - expatkat do you know which juices are best for not taxing liver?

I wonder if this has anything to do with my excessive partying and alcohol consumption over xmas?

[CountessDracula]

should I stop coffee too? I have been drinking a lot of coffee lately to keep me awake

[expatkat]

CD, I don't know the specifics of juices and which are best for this (though it shouldn't be too hard to find out) but I do think the good thing about juices in general is that your body can get all the nutrients of veggies (and fruits) while avoiding the vegetable matter, which I, personally, had difficulty stomaching, because I had so little appetite. Either you're a superwoman, or you (luckily) have a milder case than I did. I felt rather acutely ill for 7 weeks: on and off fevers, no appetite etc.

Bad news is that even after the 7 weeks passed, my system seemed fair game for every passing infection. I had 5 consecutive tummy bugs, with 2 weeks rest between each, and assorted respiratory stuff.

The most important thing IMHO is not to get too down about it all. Illness of any kind sets off the worst kind of anxiety in me. . .and the kind of anxiety I was experiencing did me, and the gf recovery, no favours at all, I suspect. Just keep remembering that it will pass.

[LIZS]

CD

[expatkat]

Don't know about coffee, CD; I'm not allowed to drink it because it bothers my heart, so I was off coffee throughout both gf infections.

[expatkat]

But this business of "trying to keep yourself awake" seems counterproductive. When your body is tired you should rest.

I do understand about your high powered job, though.

[SofiaAmes]

CD, GF is your body's way of telling you to slow down! If you are drinking coffee to stay awake, there is something wrong. If you are sleepy it's because your body needs sleep. I don't really know what's going on with you at the moment, but you HAVE to find a way to rest. You will only get more ill and it will take even more time to get better. I had a whole round of GF (2nd time...had had it in my teens already) and GF like things (swollen glands, tiredness, hives everywhere) in my early 20's and spent the better part of a year mostly in bed. One thing my doctor told me was that sunshine is one of the few things that helps....I was in nyc in the winter at the time and he suggested I pick up and go somewhere sunny for awhile. Perhaps you might consider that! I hope that you feel better soon as I know how awful it can be.

[PlainFlum]

Yep, as teenager I had it on and off for about a year and a half. Very debilitating. Sometimes so tired could hardly walk up stairs. Hope you manage to shake it.

[CountessDracula]

Thank you all!

Have been drinking coffee cos I didn't realise I had gf again! Though I have known something was wrong didn't want to admit it IYKWIM but I have been over tired and xmas though lovely and great fun was in retrospect a bit of a struggle, lots of feeling tired etc. I have been v ratty and easily crushed of late as well which I think is a sure sign of something wrong.


So... I am going to start juicing, give up alcohol, go to bed early every night and listen to my body a bit more.

It is hard to rest with a full-time job and a 2 year old though. Luckily I have a cleaner and f/t nanny so if I am off work I can rest. DH is magnificent too. I was feeling really grumpy with him the other night as I felt he was giving me a hard time but actually I know that he is just trying to get me to slow down.

[Prufrock]

Ooh Cd - what do I not know about liver problems
Best thing you could possibly do is go and see the wonderful homeopath I used to use when I was in London. Her website is here and she does consultations at London Bridge 6-8 on a Tuesday (amongst others). One of her main areas of interest is liver problems and she is really really nice.

In the meantime. First thing in the am drink a cup of boiling water with lemon juice.
Other juices which help the liver are any citrus fruits. Also radishes (try carrot, radish and parsley) sage (my recipe book recommends carrot, celery, sage, thyme parsley and rosemary mix), fennel, and finally this monster- which also claims to revitalise your libido!
3 spears asparagus, 3 carrots, 3 radishes, 2 sticks celery, 1 small beetroot, 1 clove garlic, 1 medium spring onion, handful of spinach.