To be freaking out about glandular fever?

[erja]

I've found out this morning that I 'probably' have glandular fever. When I asked if I needed blood tests to confirm it, he said 'nah'.
There's been all sorts thrown at me, that it could last for months, that I need bloods to check my liver, that my spleen will be swollen so don't take any knocks, that I need to be signed off work etc etc.
I'm freaking out, I'm on my own and I'm really scared!

@Bryjam yes but antibiotics haven't helped and the doctor at A&E said it's 100% not that and he has no idea why she prescribed antibiotics. When I questioned if we need to confirm it he said 'nah' and when I pushed he told me he'd been doing it for 25 years so knows what's what, and he said that tonsillitis doesn't last 9 days and keep getting worse without antibiotics and the severity of my sore throat (struggling to swallow, not being able to sleep) points to it.

I had it when I was 15. Had a month off school (and in bed) and Mum wouldn't let me go back for another week until I put some weight on.

I remember my throat being so sore I couldn't even talk.

Never heard anything about it affecting the spleen though.

It affects everyone differently, but it's not fatal (although it is unpleasant). So don't freak out too much. Get better soon.

I had glandular fever as a young teen and I was bed ridden for over 5 months. Some people recover quickly, for some it takes ages. I really really struggled! The worst thing for me was the fact that they refused to diagnose it for months, once you have a diagnosis no there isn't much you can do but at least you have a reason for the way you feel and being off work. I had to literally pass out in my GPS surgery before they'd even blood test. You do need to be really careful about your spleen bursting but it depends what kind of work you do as to whether that will be a risk for you. There will be some days where you feel better and some where you feel horrendous. I also have chronic fatigue resulting from it (And another illness which has made it worse) but I have been told this is worst case scenario, some people don't even know they have GF before it goes away. Sorry not too much advice, just not to wordy too much - I wish you the best!

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy thank you - I'm struggling with the talking thing too!

Tonsillitis absolutely can last that long, 25 years experience should have taught them not to hand out 'probable' as a diagnosis. That's awful. Please contact your GP surgery and speak to a doc.

Meant worry, not wordy!

@erja out of interest what antibiotics did she give you?

@kitkatsky penicillin!

And do you have any form of a rash? Because back in the olden days they used to diagnose GF by prescribing Pen V and seeing it the patient developed a nasty rash. So it sounds unlikely given you haven't mentioned it?

@kitkatsky no, no rash. Spoke to GP who said she'd like to confirm it so about to go and pick up blood test forms now!

I'd be hopeful then? Trouble is, even with blood tests it only shows up for a relatively short period. I was lucky to get mine diagnosed

I had this when I was 18 and sorry to say but it absolutely wiped me out! I did develop sepsis from the infection in my tonsils being left too long which obviously didn't help but I have never felt so ill in all my life and I've had Pneumonia amongst other things

From what I remember, it's also something that doesn't show up on blood tests until it's too late and you're right in the middle of it. As PP have said everyone will react differently, but all I can recommend is take it easy and try to get lots of rest. Also be prepared to feel tired for quite a while afterwards as the after effects can last a long time

I had glandular fever 2 years ago and I only felt a bit off to begin with. Went to drs suspecting uti but after some rather excessive (drs orders!) Tests and them fearing i was on deaths door thanks to liver function, it came back as glandular fever. Because I did contact sports I had an ultrasound of my liver and spleen in case there was any damage already done. After that it took another week to wipe me out for a month, then I was exhausted for the next 4. Banned from sports for 6 months and 12 for high risk sports (think horse riding,skiing, team contact sports). If I'm honest, 2 years later I'm only just starting to feel as energetic as I used too. It's hard to do a lot in a day and not have a headache and feel wiped out the next.

I had it when I was 18. Blood test confirmed the doctors diagnosis. The worse pain and discomfort I've ever known. At it's very worse I thought I was going to die as my throat had almost completely closed up. The morning after the night I thought I was going to die I woke up feeling so much better.

I was off work for a month and was exhausted for a good six months afterwards.

Ever since having it ( 20 years ago!) I still get swollen glands and a swollen throat when I'm under the weather or run down.

Husband had it when he was 23 and got over it in two weeks although he still said it was worse illness he's ever had.

The spleen and liver thing isn’t overly dramatic.

I had the same talk from the doctor when I had GF a few years ago. In my case it caused hepatitis and I had to have regular liver function tests until I recovered.

Some people seem to be talking about it being a bit rough when they had it as a teen. Bear in mind that the older you are, the worse GF affects you. I was 38 and I know how bad I felt...

OP, don’t worry too much about it. Despite the complications I was up and about after 3 weeks and almost back to normal after 3 months.

Antibiotics wouldn't work on GF as it's a virus! My DSis had that at 16 and it completely messed up her GCSEs. It can be really debilitating. I hope you don't have it too badly.

Just realised I wrote that I had it 20 years ago when In fact it was 30 - still seems very fresh in my mind so it must have been bad!

I never understand why GPS don't test for it. Dd had it,it took 3 months of illness and eventually she was hospitalised on a drip. Then they tested her and she had it. Of course it's important to know- some antibiotics are contra indicated and yes,your spleen can swell. We needed to know this as she rides and if she'd fallen off and knocked her spleen she could have died.

My friend had it. Was in hospital. Floored her.
My brother had it and didn’t know until his bloods came back weeks after! Didn’t bother him much, he thought it was a cold

I had it when my 2nd DD was about 6 months old. Started off with a sore throat and I got sent to A & E by our GP on the 10th day as my tonsils were so swollen. I'm allergic to penicillin, so it took 4 different courses of antibiotics to find one that knocked it on the head. I was so so tired, and felt absolutely dreadful..... think it took around 3 months to feel properly well again. Eat as well as you can, lots of painkillers and give in to it and rest. Hope you feel better soon.

I had it when I was 37, 8 years ago.

Diagnosed with tonsillitis first, then the antibiotics didn't work, so I had a throat swab & blood test. It was GF and strep throat at the same time. Hideous.
I was bleddy ruined and off work for 6 weeks, then I went back on reduced hours for another 6 weeks.

To be honest I don't think I've ever got over it properly and I'm still having tests now as I'm permanently exhausted. It feels like my 'battery' has never been fully charged since. Sorry OP.

I had it in my first year of university. I had been unwell with a run of things when the gp reckoned it was GF. He gave me the liver chat and suggested I was signed off from exams. I wish I had done that actually as the impact on my whole degree was notable.

I felt properly unwell for a few weeks then absolutely wiped out for a few months. I couldn’t drink alcohol or take paracetamol for months. I would say on reflection it took a year for me to feel 100% recovered but maybe three months of it having a noticeable effect on me to others.

It’s unpleasant so take it easy. I had a school friend who had it at the same time and she was really very unwell with it indeed. She kept drinking and carrying on as before (I don’t know how she could stomach it actually) and I am sure that very much prolonged her illness

@Ragglesnaggle that's how it was with my DSis. She was diagnosed as having tonsillitis first, too, then tested for GF when she didn't get better. She had the most horrendous sore throat, and couldn't eat for about 10 days because of it.

It knocked her out, and it took a very long time for her to get her strength back.

I've had it. Was ill for a week and tired for a week after then fine.

ah the kissin disease yes i had it when i was a teenager along with a lecture from my mother who was certain i had been playing tonsil tennis with someone which i had not not a nice thing to have