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Original poster

Long term effects from Glandular Fever?

48 replies

MsMarvel · 11/01/2020 19:11

I had glandular fever when i was at uni (so about 10 ish years ago now) so a long time ago.

Since then ive noticed that if im run down or stressed, i get very very tired. I vaguely remember ny doctor at the time telling me that this could happen, and said that because the virus stays dormant in your system so can flare up.

But when i try to google this, i cant find it anywhere!!

Currently very stressed and am extremely tired all the time, been going to bed at 8pm, not up till 9am and having naps during the day. Also got very sore throat and swollen glands. No other cold symptoms.

Is this a thing or am i making it up?? Anyone else suffer long term side effects from glandular fever?

OP posts:
Original poster
MsMarvel · 11/01/2020 19:34

A very tired bump...

OP posts:
CustardT · 11/01/2020 19:35

Could you have it again?

I had glandular fever. And while it takes a long time to get over I don’t think I’ve ever had what you’re talking about.

PhannyMcNee · 11/01/2020 19:37

My mum is convinced that I have never been right since I had GF at 15 - over 30 years ago! I was hospitalised with it at the time though - the only time I've been in hospital apart from having babies so she may be on to something!

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General health
Onceuponatimethen · 11/01/2020 19:37

No personal experience but there is a section on prolonged fatigue in this resource www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/g/glandular-fever/complications-of-glandular-fever.html

Onceuponatimethen · 11/01/2020 19:37

Really sorry you are feeling like this!

MollyButton · 11/01/2020 19:38

It could be - but it could be something else entirely. It is worth going to see your GP and requesting blood tests. Tiredness can be a result of all kind of things, and the white cell count gives an indication if it was a recent infection of some kind.

OnlyToWin · 11/01/2020 19:39

My brother had it.
It took about 10 years before he was fully well. Day to day he was fine but for example on nights out he would flag and need to go home long before anyone else.

MusicToMyEars800 · 11/01/2020 19:39

I had glandular fever when I was 11 am
Now 28 going on 29 and I notice that that my glands swell up quite often and I get a lot
Of coughs and can get very tired too with no other symptoms of cold etc

elephantoverthehill · 11/01/2020 19:44

Yes this is a thing. I had GF when I was 17, all through uni I had recurrences, even now at the grand old age of 55, I still have to sleep for 36 hours to get over some sort of bug. at least I don't get the hallucinations now. Sorry you've had it too.

StillMedusa · 11/01/2020 19:47

My dd2 had it at 17, and the after effects have lasted ever since..she's 25 now. The exhuastion was awful for the first few years and even now , slightest virus and her glands swell like golf balls.

jeremypaxo · 11/01/2020 19:52

Yep, I had it ten years ago and the fatigue still comes back when I am ill.

nordstrom · 11/01/2020 19:56

Dd (now 15) had it 2 years ago. She was very poorly and hospitalised for several days. Hard to say how much is being a teenager, but her energy levels have never really been the same since. She does sleep a lot when ill too.

SaintGarbo · 11/01/2020 19:57

They reckon GF (or having GF) is linked to the onset of Multiple Scolrisis later on.

Any other symptoms?

Welshponyslave · 11/01/2020 19:59

I had GF three years ago and it has left me with Chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia.
I seem to get sore throats and tonsillitis a lot as well.

Original poster
MsMarvel · 11/01/2020 20:01

The main thing i have is the tiredness, its not often that my glands get this sore but its not uncommon either.

I know ill bounce back once im over the stress ( which is already improving) but it makes work etc very difficult. Early starts during the day then reports to write in the evening, but the last few days, reports havent been getting done because im sleeping. And i find it difficult to justify why.

It helps to know its not just me though!

OP posts:
thaegumathteth · 11/01/2020 20:11

I had glandular fever at 19 and I'm now 38. Ever since I had it I always get a very sore throat and swollen glands and exhaustion when I'm tired or stressed. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not. I was really really ill with GF...

Original poster
MsMarvel · 11/01/2020 20:15

@thaegumathteth sounds exactly like what i experience! Im the same where although i feel its connected, it could also just be coincidence i suppose.

Maybe im just really lazy...

Currently having a lemsip to try and take the edge off it.

OP posts:
randominternetperson · 11/01/2020 20:16

I got it as an adult last year (nearly 40). I'm bloody knackered all of the time. Bed by 9pm type of knackered. Then when I get a cold I laid so low with it I can barely function. It's madness.
I sincerely hope I'm not still like this in 10+ years!
I'd go to your GP for a check, could be anaemia or a number of things.

Original poster
MsMarvel · 11/01/2020 20:19

@randominternetperson oh dear, i really feel for you, its supposed to be worse the older you are Flowers

Hopefuly you recover from it well and dont have any lingering issues!

I give blood fairly regularly, so the test before that would show anemia etc wouldnt it? I know it checks iron levels and things like that.

OP posts:
Duvetdweller · 11/01/2020 20:23

I’ve never really thought about this but I had glandular fever when I was about 13, so about 30 years ago. Am very rarely ill- touch wood - but if I am the only thing that helps me is to go to bed and literally sleep for about 15 hours. I’ve had no antibiotics for must be 20 years and sleep seems to be the only thing that heals me

Missillusioned · 11/01/2020 20:24

I had GF in the summer. I have never felt so ill. I still have fatigue and the glands in my neck come up any time I'm tired or stressed, although they're painless.

Witchend · 11/01/2020 20:24

Fraid I'm similar after GF over 20 years ago.

I could go with very little sleep before I had it.
Now if I don't get 8 hours at least I feel rotten and ideally more. I often feel thoroughly exhausted during the day in the way I did with GF.
If I catch any bugs then my glands still come up, and I get a temperature which gets worse in the evening. Beforehand I would always feel worse in the evenings.

A numbef of years ago, they found the GF was more common to lead into ME than other similar illnesses. I wonder sometimes if I had a mild version of ME. MEcan certainly last years, my Godmother had it for a very long time.

Witchend · 11/01/2020 20:26

Correction before I had GF I felt worse in the mornings.

BonnesVacances · 11/01/2020 20:28

DD had GF when she was 14 and developed ME. She still has it 4 years later, aged 18, is pretty much housebound and never made it back to school. GF is a serious virus and it will have left you depleted, however long ago it was. If you're feeling tired etc now, just listen to what your body is telling you and go to bed/rest for as long as you can get away with. It's not being lazy, it's looking after yourself.

randominternetperson · 11/01/2020 20:32

@MsMarvel yeah the blood drop test they do should mean you're ok but I'd still ask to be checked - I once gave blood every few months and by the 4th time I was thoroughly anaemic! You could be vit b12 deficient etc.

This is an old article that seems to suggest a link between GF and chronic fatigue - but isn't conclusive. Might be worth digging into that a bit though to see if any further studies have taken place?

academic.oup.com/jid/article/196/1/4/843612