Anyone had Glandular Fever/Epstein-Barr Virus in later life

[Gingernaut]

After taking antibiotics for two weeks, for what was thought to be Strep throat, a doctor in an urgent treatment centre told me it was more than likely Glandular Fever

As far as I can work out, it's a bit like Chickenpox, lying dormant until something triggers it, but all the advice I can find says it's a disease for teenagers and young adults. I'm 56!!!!

I've had every cough and cold this winter and have been permanently cough/cold/flu-ey since Christmas, so I understand that I'm run down and immune compromised, but GLANDULAR FEVER!!!

At my age??? Come on!!! Give me a break!!!!!

No one?

No adults have had Glandular Fever?

Did you get a blood test to confirm it’s GF/EB?

As the above poster said, did they do a blood test to confirm it? I had it age 15, but not as an adult. Spend a week of the school holidays sitting around at home, but never any long going issues.

A cousin had a form of EB in her 40's which presented with unusual symptoms- numbness in her hands/feet, fainting episodes and generalised joint aches. By the time they'd ruled out MS and other serious issues, her symptoms were resolving.

No blood test but the 'safety net' of "If symptoms persist seek further medical advice"

I had it but when I was 21 and I was told that this was only something that affected under 40s with regards to being contagious. My diagnosis was confirmed with a blood test which confirmed both Epstein bar and glandular fever. Glandular fever was horrendous, I was completely bed bound, could not talk or even roll over in bed. It took me months and months to get back to part time hours in my job down the road and it affected me for a long time afterwards. Very different to being run down or having concurrent colds or coughs.

They can't diagnose it without a blood test. I was 18 when I had it and like @Sophie3003 it was horrendous. I was in bed for months.

My husband had glandular fever when he was 27. He was really unwell. At 40 he was diagnosed with MS.

Yes I had it when I was 20 and then in my 50s. I was really poorly on the second occasion but only really got the diagnosis after I had been unwell for over 2 weeks (the locum GP thought it was mumps!). The glands in my neck were really swollen and so was my spleen. I had blood tests and EB present. I later found out that my dad was a carrier. But I probably caught it the second time from one of my teenage sons... who went to the GP and was told it was stress!
To give you an insight, I was incapacitated on the sofa for 2 weeks after I had staggered down the stairs. I had to put ice/cold flannel on my eyes and be served drinks/food... marked time between Ibuprofen and paracetamol and I carried on getting sweats for some time afterwards and had to be very careful with alcohol thereafter I had very low energy for 6 months.
Marginally worse than covid #1 but only by a whisper.

I'm wrecked

Not so much run down, as run over

I'm dragging myself to work, giving it my all and then dragging myself home

I'm going to bed at reasonable hours (not like me at all) and getting plenty of sleep

My grandmother had it when she was about 60! She was really unwell but not bad enough for hospital - it was her gp who said what the heck let’s test for GF!

I had it at 31, I was off work for 6 months and part time for another 6 months. It took years to feel anywhere near normal and every cold or any virus since hits me hard

I’d ask for bloods- or get a private one if an option. DD was tested at a&e -GP sent her as they thought it was quinsy. Tbh she wasn’t too bad but was pretty run down afterwards and she had some liver readings which were off so had to be retested twice. Couldn’t drink until liver was back to normal function (was not best pleased).

OK

Been to GP who has confirmed that what I thought was a throat infection is in fact...

<drumroll please>

The remnants of my tonsils

Apparently, the surgeons from 50 years ago didn't get it all out, a little bit of tonsil tissue decided to grow back and the little fucker got inflamed when I caught cold after cough after sinusitis after laryngitis after cold

Instructions are to rest, recuperate, eat better food, try to lose weight (morbidly obese) and take better care of myself

Hope you are better now OP? How long did it take you to recover?

My dh had glandular fever (hepatitis?) in late twenties. He was really poorly, jaundiced and it’s affected his health ever since.

I had GF last year at 51. One doctor was almost laughing as not common at my age. I wasn't impressed with him. I was poorly again last month and it felt the same but blood tests said no, after I'd been on antibiotics though so I'm not convinced it wasn't GF.

Did you have fatigue with it @BirthdayRainbow ?

I had glandular fever. It wasn’t diagnosed but gp said similar sort of comment. After I had it I had the world’s worst immune system for a few years. Was never really the same again actually I guess.

Yes. I was exhausted for weeks. From start to finish I was poorly for about 12 weeks. Two weeks more or less in the house then a week in hospital then back to bed.

I had it at 24 when at University and a GP later told me that it can kind of re-surface. Throughout my adult life I have always been very tired/ exhausted. Not sure if what this GP said is true.

One of the millionty blood tests I've had this year was for Epstein Barr virus. It was positive. Sure I'd had it as a teenager but that was a very long time ago! Was unaware that it could reactivate in times of stress and mine popped up after having covid for the 5th time.

I've since been diagnosed with long covid but GP said it may actually be chronic fatigue from the EBV as much as from the covid.

Just wondering regarding EBV can positive blood results show up that you have had the virus at some stage of life but doesn't necessarily mean it's active?

I appreciate this is an old thread, but I've been under investigation due to a load of symptoms I thought might be related to peri menopause, but I've been told today that I've had glandular fever 'at some point in the past'. Reading up online is eye opening and explains a lot of incredible fatigue I've had over the last year.

Does anyone know how long the virus stays in the system? I'm trying to work out how far back I might have had it.

I'm still asking the same question!
Also wondering if the virus stays dormant in the system, a bit like the chicken pox virus?

When I had a positive test for EBV the GP stated it would have been within 6 months of testing. Although I can really only recall being poorly approx 15-20 yrs prior to testing but have always struggled with debilitating fatigue & fibromyalgia symptoms ever since!

Sorry to read your struggling Op.
Epstein-Barr virus can cause severe symptoms in some people, although most people will pick up the virus before adulthood, often without even knowing and without consequences. However, after severe infections it can become chronic - a blood test would show this 'reactivation'.

My adult dc ended up in ICU a month after 'tonsillitis' with obstructed breathing, seizure, hepatitis and severe anemia. A spinal tap showed glandular fever. Five years later they are still not 'well' and have developed multiple food intolerances and chronic fatigue.

I would definitely advise getting a blood test to see if you have antibodies so you know what you're dealing with.