What is wrong with me? Glandular fever again?

[GingerHat]

I've had cold like symptoms since early Feb - cough, runny nose, fatigue, occasional shivers. Not had a fever apart from in early Feb. At first I thought it was the flu. I got better for a week then got sick again. On repeat. It's now mid April and I have the same symptoms.
I've been to see the gp three times. Had bloods done which indicated anaemia so viruses put down to this. I'm on iron tablets. If anything I feel worse right now.
I am coughing up phlegm constantly, coughing so hard I'm retching. This morning I woke up with a sore throat and can barely swallow. Drinking water is so painful.

i've called GP - no appointment until 7 May. Called 111 - referred me to a pharmacy - pharmacy told me to get a GP appointment - call GP again - no appointment until 7 May.

what do I do? I'm 38. I have glandular fever/epstein Barr when I was 18 (exactly 20 years ago to the month).

I'm in my probation at work and have been stressed by it being extended so really can't take time off as I just want an answer either way. I have two small kids and I can't even play with them.

Do I call 111 again? Call the GP again? I wish I could take sick leave but I can't at the moment.

I should also add that my glands are swollen and I feel like I did when I had GF which is what made me think it's recurring

Do you have a fever now? My experience with GF (also ages ago)was that it made me so horrifically ill for weeks that I became hyperfocused on any vaguely similar symptom for a very long time afterwards. I even managed to get an ent referral who then made me feel about 1cm tall because I clearly didn't have that again and was fine from their point of view. It was like the phantom pregnancy kicks you get after having kids, but for glandular fever! You sound unwell for sure, but not really like glandular fever from what you describe. I could be wrong of course.

How bad was your anemia? Was your ferritin low too? That's so unfortunate about your probation but it sounds like you can't force yourself in to work in this state either. I think I would take the may7 appt, take ibuprofen and paracetamol, monitor temperature, keep fluids up, sleep loads, and see what i can manage, plus beg each morning for an emergency gp appointment. And if you get ill enough, obviously a&e. Could you consider a private gp appt in the mean time?

Sorry to hear you not well I had Glandular Fever at 19 (now in my 40s) and it was awful and came back a second time shortly after the first bout although not nearly as bad!
If it's GF I assume docs can do nothing to treat it I would imagine you need lots of rest to recover fully which you are clearly not getting with work and DCs. Doctor will only sign you off which I imagine you see worried about doing - although is it possible it's something else entirely?

Could you afford a one off private GP appointment otherwise? It's disgraceful how long people are expected to wait to see a GP now. If not only other thought is a walk in minor injuries/illnesses centre.
If it is GF though you may need to take some leave to recover - I know work is so important but your health matters more and GF can get nasty if you don't slow down.
X

I wonder if it could be tonsillitis? ExH used to suffer with it and your symptoms sound v similar.

thabk you all for the replies. @FortofPud my Ferratin was 12 and @Bunnybear42 i actually had a telephone consultation with a private go yday when I was coughing a lot. He didn't spend much time on the phone to be honest and just said I should see a respiratory physician and if I get worse to call 111. Which is what I did this morning as I woke up with a sore throat, swollen glands and finding it hard to swallow. I can see if I can go back to him - I was hoping to use the letter he sent to ask my nhs gp to refer me to a respiratory physician

@helleborus thank you I'm pretty sure I had my tonsils out when I was little though!

all I want is for the illness to go away. I could cope with a runny nose, just not the constant hacking up phlegm and sore throat and feeling so so tired. I was wondering if I need antibiotics but maybe not.

How are you now OP?

@Cloud44 i am much better now, thank you. I managed to get hold of my GP and she prescribed me antibiotics. I don't know if it helped, but I did feel better after a week and have been much better for the past two weeks. Fingers crossed it doesn't return!