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Original poster

Glandular fever in teenagers, any experience?

25 replies

Crabacus · 27/04/2023 19:50

My DC has glandular fever, they are in y10 and missing lots of school. We're nearly 2 months in and trying to build back up the number of lessons they attend but
2 or 3 a day just completely wipes them out.
I've no experience of glandular fever at all although I've been told it can take months to recover from.
It doesn't seem like we're getting anywhere at the moment and trying to balance their need to rest with trying to attend school wherever possible is very difficult!
if you've been through this, how long did it last and was there anything that helped?

OP posts:

HeavierThanHeaven · 27/04/2023 19:52

I had it in year 9 and had about 3 months of school. I remember trying to do schoolwork before I was ready and just feeling so horribly exhausted. I had minor relapses for a couple of years afterwards too.

Smashinglady · 27/04/2023 19:56

Like pp I had it in year 9.
I remember missing the first month of school, then gradually building up attendance during the next 2 months. So I think it took until Christmas to be on full strength again. Good luck, it’s not easy to work through it.

windowtothestreet · 27/04/2023 19:59

I lay on the sofa exhausted for three months after my GCSEs and lost a ton of weight as didn't want to eat - then one day felt normal again was v weird and haven't had it since, 30 years on.

OhMaria2 · 27/04/2023 20:06

Do not make them exercise until they are a hundred percent better. Disown anyone who attempts to convince you that they need to. The fatigue from this can bed in and become permanent

Mobilephonesputmeninmobilehomes · 27/04/2023 20:10

Please find a doctor who understands the illness, push for help. 40 years ago aged 12 I got glandular fever, by 16 I was on pain medication, I struggled in school, struggled physically, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and have suffered ever since, I managed to study and get a good job but ended up forced to retire in my 30's. I'm 52 and reliant on opiates for pain control, my life has totally changed as a result of glandular fever, when covid started I said early on that people were going to have life long problems as a result because of what I've been through. Think of it as needing similar care to those being treated in long term covid clinics. Push for help please.

RandomMess · 27/04/2023 20:12

My DD had it 18 months ago as soon as she gets at all unwell the exhaustion comes back

NeverMindTheBuzzkills · 27/04/2023 20:15

I had it at 17. Needed 2 months off school and about 3 months before I felt normal again. I collapsed on the bus when I tried to go back after 6 weeks. It's not something you can push through and just get on with things, it's genuinely debilitating.

Bluebells1970 · 27/04/2023 20:20

I had it at 18, just a few months into my first job. I had a 6 full weeks off, and then my GP signed me to go back part time which I did for another 6 weeks. It was horrendously slow to recover from and I'd say it was probably 6 months before I felt properly OK again. If I pushed too hard, it knocked me right back again.

I had pneumonia a few years ago and that was exactly the same in terms of recovery. Two steps forward, one back.

Costacoffeeplease · 27/04/2023 20:21

Had it twice, aged 14 then again early 20s. I’ve had ME/CFS ever since (late 50s now)

The first time I was off school around 6 months, with staged return.

I still have to pace myself, and my glands come up with stress or if I overdo it. I still nap every afternoon

Mischance · 27/04/2023 20:28

My DD had it at about 13. My GP husband failed to diagnose it and only agreed to examine her when I threatened to take her to his partner. He prodded her tummy and she had a massive spleen - he did a bit of a double take and proceeded to wrap her in cotton wool for months, concerned that any exertion or rough-and-tumble might rupture her spleen. Thankfully she got through it all - but it was so slow. She has gone on to be the "sickliest" of all my children - she gets everything that is going; and she suffers bouts of exhaustion. It is a horrible illness and slow planned return to normality is to be expected.

SinnerBoy · 27/04/2023 20:29

I had it when I was 16 and remember being ill and very lethargic, which went on for months. I didn't get any sympathy, my dad said I was lazy and staying up too late. Yes, going to bed at 7pm.... They eventually let me go to the doctor, who didn't help much, even though I had lumps the size of tennis balls in my armpits.

I went from being very energetic to struggling to walk for 15 minutes or so. Eventually, the exhaustion got less and I got back to normal, I don't know if they give antivirals these days, but it must be worth asking?

BabbleBee · 27/04/2023 20:33

I had it in Yr10, missed loads of school (almost a term I think), did a phased return only going for a couple of hours a day building up to full time. I still did well in my GCSEs.

I also have ME/CFS and Long Covid too. Don’t rush recovery, rest is absolutely vital- that’s not just physical rest but also reducing stress / anxiety and not over stimulating the brain.

Violinist64 · 27/04/2023 20:38

Would there be any possibility of your DC starting year 10 again in September? It may take off some of the pressure of the GCSEs and once they start not playing perennial catch-up they will be able to relax and their health will almost certainly improve more quickly. It would give them time to be fully fit for the rigours of GCSEs and they could do as much as they are able to in the meantime without exhausting themselves and pushing recovery further away.

Aslanplustwo · 27/04/2023 20:46

Wow - reading these replies makes me realise I must have had a really mild case of it when I was 17. I had three weeks at home then went back to full-time work. I might have got tired easily for a few months afterwards, but was fine overall.

Original poster

Crabacus · 27/04/2023 20:49

thanks, a lot of this really confirms what I've been thinking I think, which is basically to write off the rest of this school year to probably very part time lessons and hope summer will give a nice long recovery time. DC is at private school so in total only 7 more weeks of school this year then a 10 week holiday.
weve got blood tests at GP next week because the first lot indicated liver damage but then don't have another actual appointment for 3 weeks, maybe I need to try to get back in sooner for that.
I suffer from an illness myself that causes profound fatigue so am very much on board with the rest as much as possible strategy. DH needs more convincing, he's very concerned about school.

OP posts:

DinosApple · 27/04/2023 20:59

I had it aged 17, I was unwell on holiday and had to cut it short. Rested for the rest of the summer holidays and took it easy at school for the next term.

From the sound of it I was pretty lucky.

At 21 I had an awful bout of flu that lasted for 6 weeks so it may have effected my resilience to other things. The Covid exhaustion is very similar.

FishFlaked · 27/04/2023 21:04

This sounds awful. From long Covid experience I would agree that stress or complex mental tasks or concentration can be equally as exhausting as raising your heart rate by exercise and can really set you back.

blahblah23 · 27/04/2023 21:12

I had it at 17, in my final year of school. I was pushed to try and get back to normal after a few weeks, but really it took my 18 months to feel something resembling normal. I have suspicions that the catalogue of health problems I've had since then are somehow connected. The stupid part was that I had the unconditional offer I really wanted af that point, it wouldn't have mattered if I've not bothered trying to get to school.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 27/04/2023 21:14

I had it at 19, in the 70s undiagnosed for almost a year, doctors thought I had chronic tonsillitis, couldn’t eat much due to ulcerated mouth and throat. After tonsillectomy the exhaustion, spiking temperatures, insomnia and raging thirst started. Dr said it was post operative infection, then mum took me in to a locum one morning after soaking the bed through with sweat and drinking three litres of water in a night. He rushed me n to hospital where I was barrier nursed for weeks. My white cells were almost gone. Long weeks of care and nursing and doing utterly fuck all. Waves of exhaustion , but luckily after 3 or 4 months I was ok.

CC4712 · 27/04/2023 21:24

I had it aged 16. I put it down to a school camp where the cups were dipped in soapy water then into clean! No actually rinsing/scrubbing of said cups 😡

My throat felt like I was swallowing razors and I've never had such a sore throat. I was tired, but far from bedridden or to the point of not doing most day to day things! I had a confirmatory blood test which coincided with 2 weeks holidays. I slept slightly more than normal, but as said, far from bedridden, nor needing further time off school.

Panda368 · 27/04/2023 21:31

Had it at 17. Missed about 2 months of my first term of A levels then went back after Christmas. I don’t think I felt “right” for about a year but the fatigue did gradually fade. I remember walking the mile uphill to the drs in the village a few weeks after I had it and it took nearly an hour and I was bathed in sweat.

I remember asking the dr about the risks of depression/chronic fatigue and was fairly briskly told to just keep gradually trying to do more. Was told basically to get outside and carefully get on with it and not wallow in the fatigue waiting until it went.

orangelotus · 27/04/2023 21:32

i had it when I was 22. I remember going to a very wild party in a squat and just sitting on the floor fir the whole night while everyone was having a great time.
next day my mum called an ambulance I was admitted to an infectious disease hospital and spent one month in hospital with an enlarged liver etc.
i was a student nurse and had to take my exams after the rest of my set.
it was quite an experience. Made me a better nurse definitely but don't underestimate the exhaustion it's horrendous.
hope it all goes well just take time to recover

Hoppinggreen · 27/04/2023 21:35

I had it in what would now be Y9. I ended up in hospital
My brain was fuzzy for months, I recovered eventually and did well in my GCSEs but it was a hard 6 months or maybe more

Lemonademoney · 27/04/2023 21:36

I had it at 13 then a slight relapse in my second year of Uni… the first time it knocked the stuffing out of me, I then sort of recovered (but was very easily tired) for a few years then had a smaller relapse where I’d struggle through lectures then come home and sleep for 12 hours. My housemates were quite worried about me at one point. It did eventually ease although I don’t think my energy has ever been quite what it should be since.

bellocchild · 27/04/2023 22:10

Had it in Lower Sixth and managed to get back to school and carry on to A-level. But my immunity was shot, and I caught every virus going for years. I also had really terrible mouth ulcers, and spent a lot of time at the university dental hospital. I still get the mouth ulcers in my 70s.

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