Glandular fever - any experiences or advice welcome x

[VanessaM87]

Hi ladies. I'm currently in hospital (being discharged today) having been diagnosed with glandular fever. I was being treated for tonsilitis last week but antibiotics were having no effect and throat pain and swelling became unbearable to the point I couldn't eat and was even gagging on water. I've been warned I need to rest up at home and basically do very little. I said I have a 16mo DD at home. Doctor just said oh dear that's not good, you'll need someone to look after her. It's upset me a bit. I do feel really appalling but the main problem is still the throat and struggling to eat. I'm not sure what to expect once that clears. Doctor insists on at least 2 weeks off work which is fine but says I will feel unwell for weeks and can have no alcohol for 3 months. Does anyone have any tips or advice or just experiences to share really? Thanks

Hi Vanessa. I had this as a teen and was reading up about it last night, as I have an awful throat thing at the moment which I wondered if it could be reactivating.

I remember feeling utterly wiped out, the swollen neck and fuzzy head. It took me several weeks to get over it. If you search EBV or mono you might find more info as American sites don’t call it glandular fever, it’s Epstein Barr virus.

Do an online shop, get in really simple soft food, soup, ice cream, soft bread, yogurts etc or maybe some of those milkshakes so you don’t even need to worry about eating? I lived on Slimfast when I was pregnant and couldn’t eat due to morning sickness. At least I knew I was getting a bit of nutrition.

Don’t feel guilty about your dd watching tv or sitting in front of the sofa playing by herself while you rest, you need to take care of yourself. Do you have anyone who can help out with her for an hour or two a day? Or if she goes to nursery could she do a couple of extra sessions if you have someone to drop her off for you?

I do feel for you.

Thank you for your reply. I didn't actually make it out of hospital yesterday. There was also some swelling on my windpipe and vocal chords.... anyway I appreciate your comments. I do have help with DD from family and she goes to nursery 2 days a week. I'm just a bit apprehensive because they've made out I'll feel dreadful for weeks. Based on how I feel right now I can believe it I just don't know what to expect. Soft foods are a must. Milkshakes are a good shout. Hope your symptoms don't develop into this again. X

I had GF at 27/28 when I was teaching in a sec school.
I felt dreadful- I couldn't walk up the stairs at home without resting and had to be 'collected' from my then house and taken to live with my parents for a month (off work of course.)

I went back to work after a month but it was too soon but I was under pressure at the time to go back.

I only coped by going to bed at 8.30 for weeks on end.
It took me a full year to feel back to normal and was very gradual.

Now look I'm not saying you will be the same, but you will need help and to take it easy. The no booze is because your liver is under pressure for the illness and you can also get an dodgy spleen if things deteriorate.

Everyone is different - some people bounce back, others,it's a slower recovery.

Good luck! If you can afford to, I'd suggest a cleaner or some kind of help for 6 months.

My son had an allergic reaction from the antibiotic he got to treat tonsillitis as it reacts with gf so have some antihistimes in the house just in case. His reaction came up about a week after he was treated.

Bless you OP! I super struggled with this when I was 16/17. I actually ended up on a drip in hospital unconscious because it wiped me out so bad (I think that is an extreme case?). School allowed me to come and go as I needed (on basis of Dr's note) before I fully recovered, took me about 6 months before I felt totally back to my usual brightness.

Certainly make sure you rest lots and don't feel guilty about it because it really is super horribly wiping!

I had GF 2 years ago at the ripe old age of 41 (As did my then very fit and healthy 25 yr old). It hit us both for six. Neither of us got out of bed for 6 weeks. My family dropped over daily to deliver chocolate, fruit and ice cream - and filled our water bottles up.

Went back to work after 7 weeks. I've never ever felt so ill.

I’m sorry but I agree with everyone here. I suspect that 2 weeks off work is the very minimum you will need and you won’t have the energy to look after a 16 month old all the time.

Is your child’s father around ? He will need to see what he can do about sharing childcare with you - taking unpaid leave, adjusting his working hours around when he has family support. He needs to speak to his employer as he has a legal entitlement to ask for flexibility.

Please don’t think that you will just cope as long as someone else does the washing or you have a cleaner 3 hours a week. You probably won’t and it will delay your recovery.

Thank you for everyone's replies. Needless to say I'm feeling a bit bummed out over what lies ahead. I clearly still feel absolutely dreadful. Looks like I'm in it for the long haul. My DH has been great and quite rightly stepped up to the mark and I've had lots of offers to help which I will say yes to. What a nasty virus this is.

I also had this as a teen and it’s just horrible. You have my sympathies OP. I would say it took me about 6 mts to feel back to myself but tbh it’s a virus that never truly goes away once you get a really bad dose of it. Fast forward 30 years and there have been many occasions ( esp during stressful times) that my glands have swelled up and I am floored with tiredness. My only advice is rest as much as you can. for you.

I had it at 30 weeks pregnant.
You need to sleep as much as possible.
Take ibuprofen and paracetamol constantly and any vitamins you can too.
Could nursery have lo an extra day a week for a few weeks?
By 38 weeks I was feeling lots better and had baby at 39 weeks. When got colds for about 6 months after they made me feel really week