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Original poster

Glandular fever and depression - any advice/experience?

16 replies

grumblinalong · 16/06/2009 11:26

I'm in the third week of glandular fever and yesterday dr also said I have tonsillitis on top of it .

Today has been the first day I haven't felt debilitating fatigue(hence posting on MN after 3 week sabbatical) and wanted to ask if anyone has any experience of feeling depressed wrt glandular fever? The black cloud has been gathering for 2 weeks and today I just keep crying about pathtic stuff e.g dp didn't have time to put DS2's car seat in the car this morning.

I feel really upset and down but have nothing tangible to blame it on. I hate feeling like this and want to give myself a good shake but it's not working! Any advice/experience?

OP posts:

Ledodgy · 16/06/2009 11:28

I had glandular fever years ago but remember depression as being one of the symptoms. Have you got much help?

Original poster

grumblinalong · 16/06/2009 11:43

I've got childcare for today with CM as usually work 3 days a week but still having to do school runs/teas/baths etc and look after a toddler full days most of the week.

DP is out of the house 12 hours a day and we're waiting to hear about his redundancy so he can't take time off. dr warned me about overdoing it - DS2 was with me yesterday climbing the surgery walls! No mention of depression though on symptons sheet she gave me. Did you experience it ledodgy?

OP posts:

Original poster

grumblinalong · 16/06/2009 11:45

symptoms - arrgggh it's affecting my ability to spell now!

OP posts:

Ledodgy · 16/06/2009 11:47

Yes I did but I was only 17 so could ave complete bed rest. I remember depression was listed in one of the booklets I read. Also mentions it here

I can't imagine having it with children to look after it was honestly one of the worst things i've ever had though I did have it quite badly.

Ledodgy · 16/06/2009 11:47

*have

Celery · 16/06/2009 11:51

I had Glandular Fever last year, and was depressed. The depression didn't kick in straight away though. I wasn't diagnosed for three months. I thought I'd had a bad dose of flu, which lasted a week or two, then spent the next three months feeling unbelievably fatigued, with recurring symptoms ( sore throat etc ) and a gradual slide into depression. I think it is quite common for depression to be a symptom, especially during the post-viral stage - glandular fever can often take months to recover from. I think sometimes the depression can be as a result of being so tired and the frustration of being unable to do things, but for me I think it was more of a physical symptom. Every time I get any kind of virus ( a cold etc ) I feel depressed, in a black cloud sort of way.

I was ill for a good six months and recovered through rest and change of diet. I still need to take great care of my health, or the symptoms come back again.

Celery · 16/06/2009 11:53

You will get better, but it takes time. Doing positive things to speed up the recovery, like change of diet etc can really help.

Original poster

grumblinalong · 16/06/2009 11:58

It's awful - because it's been going on for 3 weeks now my parents, IL's and DP seem to be losing patience with me. Although this is probably paranoia with feeling down. I want to be able to do everything I did before but I just haven't got the energy

OP posts:

Original poster

grumblinalong · 16/06/2009 12:00

How did you change your diet celery? It would be interesting to know as I really want to speed up my recovery.

OP posts:

phdlife · 16/06/2009 12:12

grumblin, I was horribly depressed when I had glandular fever. I kept thinking, "ffs, people have climbed mountains after they've been struck by lightning (true, I read it in Reader's Digest), I'm just tired and I can't even get out of bloody bed, what kind of a wimp am I!"

It's a matter of getting your head round the fact that you are tired because you are very ill, and pushing yourself to carry on because you are "only" tired, is likely to (a) prolong the illness, (b) make you more vulnerable to other viruses, and (c) make you prone to relapses (the virus sticks around for up to 5 years!)

If your family are losing patience, they might need a wee bit of educating. My mum is now utterly debilitated by ME, which is partly the result of never fully beating any of the many viruses she's had.

hth, and good luck getting better soon. It will happen, but you have to help it with lots and lots and lots of rest. Now might be a good time to invest in lots of box sets

Celery · 17/06/2009 10:00

I cut out all processed food, and especially sugar. Even if I eat sugar now, the symptoms flare up. Lots of vegetables and salad, as much raw as possible. It seems like a real effort to eat well when you're feeling so tired and ill, but it really does help.

newgirl · 22/06/2009 14:39

crikey ive had glandular fever on and off over the years and i get depressed but did not know it was quite common - so thanks for posting.

i do think diet can help as it can stablise your blood sugar levels - i saw a private nutritionist and her advice has helped enormously eg

cut back caffiene
eat little and often - never feel hungry
eat protein in every meal and snack eg if you eat fruit have some nuts or yoghurt with it
plenty of water
choose low gi options

this has helped me not have energy slumps - hope it helps

SouthernLights · 21/07/2009 12:20

My DP has suffered from depression on and off (recently mostly on) for the last 10 years; it's only very recently that we discovered there might be a link to the fact that he had glandular fever in 1999 which may have been a key trigger, combined with several other life issues taking place around that time. He eats a lot of sugar because his energy levels are always low (I know, I know, you try telling him, though!) and his immune system is frankly naff.

He has been to the doctor now (finally) and been put on the waiting list for counselling. What I would say is once you have identified that depression is an issue for you, regardless of what's caused it, it needs to be addressed. Sweeping it under the carpet can lead to it going on and on for a very long time.

Katiekels · 11/06/2019 01:36

Hi I know this is a really long time threat but I’m hoping for a little bit of help and understanding from other people who have had glandular fever.

I’m 22 and last year around October time I had glandular fever pretty bad. I was off work for 4weeks, taken to hospital a few times after my temperature was so high and I collapsed. I did feel tried after when I was back to work but even now I have never felt right since. Just with in my self I have so much anxiety and depression now which I never had before and didn’t think it was connected at all until I went to the doctors yesterday. he stated how it isn’t uncommon to feel this down after glandular fever even though it was 8 or so months ago! and now I’m wondering if anyone felt the same after and what they did to help get back on track? I just want love to know if he actually is right or if the depression is something else completely as 8 months seems along time to still seems this way.

Thank you.

Bonnie6455 · 22/11/2019 00:05

Reading this made me feel a lot better. I thought it was just me.
I’ve had glandular fever for about 8months now. I have got through the worst of it. At one point I had a rash all over my body and I literally couldn’t get out of bed.
But even though physically I am feeling slightly better I’m left feeling so down all the time.
Ive recently started university which is supposed to be the best time your life. But I’ve found it so hard to get stuck in and keep up with everyone as I’m still so tired and find it hard to get motivated.
Has anyone found out a way of coping with just not feeling yourself and never being super happy?

jmm1971 · 04/02/2020 13:03

I have had 16 yr old ds at doctors today as he has been feeling very low over the last few weeks and he doesn't know why. Back in August I had him at the docs as he felt unwell and tired but doc put it down to a virus and told us he would be fine in a few weeks. However, he started feeling sick all the time and we went back to doctors beginning of Nov and they prescribed him medication for stomach acid and this worked a treat and he felt good again. Just recently over the last few weeks he has been feeling very low and sad and unable to concentrate so took hi to doc today and he is now saying he wants to get him tested for glandular fever even although he had those symptoms 6 months ago and has been better since. I am very worried we are wasting precious time and if he has had glandular fever 6 months ago and the low moods and depression symptoms are from this will they treat it with medication or just tell us it will go away in time. I am so sorry this is long winded but I am at my wits end with worry as I am scared to leave these symptoms incase they get worse. I would be very grateful for any advise if anyone has experienced this before. Thanks

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