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General health

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Original poster

Glandular fever

114 replies

SunshineCake · 18/09/2021 09:43

I'm about ten days on from diagnosis. Been in bed a week since home from hospital. Got up briefly yesterday. Feeling mentally worse than physically. I want to get up, strip dds bed and put a wash on. Dh is gone for the day dropping off dd at uni. The boys are going out. No one to walk the dog. I won't risk walking her but I'm worried about the risk to my physical health doing too much too soon, doctor said no running for six weeks but I didn't get any other advice, but mentally I'm in a rubbish place and running and getting the house clean would be my usual go to.I'm definitely not run until I'm allowed.

If you've had GF can you tell me your experiences so I can make a judgement please. Thank you.

OP posts:

Schulte · 25/09/2021 15:58

That doesn’t sound good, poor you. I think you should insist that they see you. I remember the terrible headache and aching all over for the first week, plus sore glands, but pain elsewhere doesn’t sound right?

SunshineCake1 · 25/09/2021 17:08

The doctor who is ringing was great with my son so I am hopeful he won't palm me off. I have had some pain killers which have taken the edge off. I know dh is fed up we can't do anything together like we would normally and I am worried about his health so all round it's a bit rubbish.

Dilbertian · 25/09/2021 17:26

When ds was recovering from GF he applied the 75% rule to everything: never do more than 75% of what you think you can do. In other words, stop before you get too tired, do not push yourself at all, in anything.

He returned to work part-time, and after he returned to normal work, he had to have a nap as soon as he came home.

Ds's spleen remained enlarged for at least 6w after he felt fully recovered. He wasn't allowed to do any contact sports, for example, but it did not affect him in any other way.

From diagnosis to complete recovery was about 2.5-3m.

It's a slow process. Take it easy. Give yourself permission to be convalescent.

NaToth · 25/09/2021 17:40

I developed symptoms in August, didn't go back to school until February, lasted a week and finally went back properly after Easter, so two thirds of my Lower Sixth year missed and my education pretty much derailed. The fatigue was unremitting.

I was never the same after that in terms of energy and then had GF again 9 years later with similar effects.

It took 40 years and a lot of my own research to find that the GF had actually damaged my pituitary gland and I had been running on half power for all that time.

Agree with a PP that we should hear more about this. When I had it I didn't know anyone else who had it and my family basically viewed it as a massive inconvenience and annoyance.

toomuchlaundry · 25/09/2021 17:47

I had glandular fever when a teen. Missed a term off school. Was in bed for a lot of that, although didn't need hospital treatment. Remember one day when my DM was out of the house I thought I would go downstairs, nearly collapsed and dragged myself back into bed. Didn't do that again when on my own

Not had any long lasting health impact

Choconuttolata · 25/09/2021 17:56

You must rest at this stage. I had glandular fever at Uni and didn't know what it was at the time, the symptoms were classic, but I just thought virus/tonsillitis. I carried on as normal, but then got really unwell, catching any virus going around and tests done by GP showed prior EBV infection. It took years to recover from the chronic fatigue because I pushed myself to continue with Uni and work.

Toddlerteaplease · 25/09/2021 17:58

I had it when I was 18, got over it very quickly. Was fine within 2 weeks. Got diagnosed with MS at 32 possibly triggered by the Ebstein bar virus.

CloudsOfCeonothus · 25/09/2021 18:05

Nodding with agreement at those who are emphasising this should be taken more seriously! If you rest, rest, rest & rest some more you are more likely to fully recover.

I didn't (probably because I didn't get the medical support or advice I needed) & now have M.E. I need a carer & a wheelchair .

As a woman, you will sadly need your family to be educated about this, to help you rest properly. Research post-viral fatigue. I kept getting up to help every other bugger & I really really wish I hadn't pushed on through 'the treacle'.

And yes I was a bad patient too & HATED being sick in bed. Had I known it would last this many years, I would have researched how to deal with it & stayed there til my body improved.

EvilPea · 25/09/2021 18:08

Rest rest rest. Baby food. McDonald’s milkshake and ice creams.
I had it as a teen and I still suffer the affects of it.
I hope you feel better soon and when you do, take it easy. Don’t try and spring back

user1471550643 · 25/09/2021 18:29

I had it when I was 18. This was going back a while. No advice from Drs at all .. just it was a virus and there was nothing they could give me. Nothing about resting etc. I carried on working … heaven knows how as I was exhausted. Downside was mine lasted a good 6 months I had the worst sore throat and I kept getting random temperatures for some time afterwards. Also lost an awful lot of weight . Please rest and listen to your body .. and you will feel better in time honestly

HeirloomTomato · 25/09/2021 18:39

I had it when I was 22, just as I was finishing college. It was pretty bad for the first month or so but then I was back to about 75% of my energy levels. I had to rest more than usual and just accept that I wouldn’t be able to exercise a lot and had to nap during the day. By about 3 months out, I was mostly back to normal in terms of physical energy levels and had no long term effects like chronic fatigue, fortunately.

In terms of mental health though, it was a stressful diagnosis and caused me a lot of anxiety. Mentally I wasn’t in a good place for a while afterwards, maybe a year or so. Looking back now, I should have got antidepressants or some therapy to help with that so that would be my only advice. Keep an eye on how you are feeling mentally as well as physically. The majority of people with glandular fever recover fully physically so I’m sure you’ll be fine but it does take time and it’s ok to feel frustrated about it while you recover.

beautifullymad · 25/09/2021 18:41

I had this decades ago. If you don't test now it will reoccur for years when you are run down. It took nearly 9 years to recover.

If I could give my younger self advice it would be to test completely, eat really well and sleep as much as possible. Do not feel guilty. It's nasty and lulls you into feeling you can do more as you are actively trying to do so in your head. You can't. Don't try.

beautifullymad · 25/09/2021 18:41

Rest! Not test

SunshineCake1 · 25/09/2021 18:53

You're all terrifying me ! Seems I'm old to have this.

Schulte · 25/09/2021 18:56

Wow. I sounds like you don’t get much medical support with it in the UK. Where I’m from the doctors make sure you know it’s a pretty serious thing and I was signed off uni for several months. Told not to do any work at all under any circumstances, and checked over regularly. Yes it is a virus that your body will fight on its own but you need to give yourself the time to recover properly. Please do rest OP and don’t rush it.

Schulte · 25/09/2021 18:57

And don’t be terrified! But get your family and GP to support you. I hope you feel better soon.

bozzabollix · 25/09/2021 19:04

@NaToth can you explain more about the pituitary gland issue?

I had GF which became ME when I was in my teens, due to me not resting enough (rest, OP, rest!) and still think I get tired easily. Could it be what you’ve experienced?

babouchette · 25/09/2021 19:07

Rest, rest, rest. I didn't and I ended up with tonsillitis 10 times in the 12 months that followed. Prioritise sleep and a healthy diet over pretty much anything else. Hope you feel better soon, I've never felt so rotten as with GF!

SunshineCake1 · 26/09/2021 12:51

I'm three weeks now since I got ill with the lovely GF. I have read it gets better on its own in 2-3 weeks....I am not hopeful. Speaking to doctor tomorrow. Just in case I only get three minutes can anyone tell me the most important things to ask please?

CloudsOfCeonothus · 26/09/2021 13:01

It's still such early days for you. I honestly don't think your Dr will be able to do much more at this stage. Just emphasise how weak you are & getting up that time, caused you to relapse. You can mention the spleen etc pain you've been experiencing.

The most important thing is not to stress, & not to get anxious (i.e. about your weight) or how long you'll be ill. I know it's natural but it's draining your limited battery energy. Just accept you're ill -for now- keep warm & take little enjoyable projects to bed with you. Maybe practice meditation too.

There is some excellent advice up there 👆🏻 Just take it gently. Your body is fighting a virus. Don't push it.

SunshineCake1 · 26/09/2021 13:04

Thank you @CloudsOfCeonothus. I think because I am struggling emotionally and mentally it is making the physical aspect difficult too.

CloudsOfCeonothus · 26/09/2021 13:33

You're welcome

We all understand. Totally. One day you were fine, overnight you can't get out of bed & now you're panicking you'll be there for ages & your family needs you.

The chances are you'll rest, then recover like many other people with post-viral illness 🙂

Please share this with your husband, so you have his full 100% support to rest properly. My husband is my carer & I would do anything not to have impacted on his life like this so badly

Check out advice for M.E. & Long Covid people. It all started with a virus (80% of M.E. starts with a virus) for us & these worlds have plenty of advice for resting & living gently.

I'm sure you'll be fine as you're educating yourself early on.

Dilbertian · 26/09/2021 14:24

@SunshineCake1

The active phase of the illness gets better on its own in 2-3w. Unfortunately it's the recovery phase that can take a long time, and you've got to accept it.

It's just like you can't do anything about the rain, you've just got to accept it. But you can put a raincoat on.

SunshineCake1 · 26/09/2021 14:51

I had covid last year then long covid. Not sure I ever fully got over it but I was able to live a relatively normal life. I could run and walk the dog which is all I wanted to do really. Thanks everyone. I know I sound like I am sulking but I'm just scared. My mh is really bad.

HeirloomTomato · 26/09/2021 16:50

@SunshineCake1

That’s understandable. You have had a hard time with your health and the mental health impact of that is inevitable. It’s hard being physically ill and it takes a toll on your mental health. Talk to your GP about that too. I felt anxious and depressed for a long time after I had glandular fever. Worrying about my health cast a cloud over my mental health for a long time. They are both connected and if you’re physically tired it can drain your mental reserves of energy too.

You have every chance of making a full recovery, especially if you recovered from COVID already. It shows your immune system is healthy. It might just take a while so give yourself the time you need and don’t feel bad about it.

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