Anyone had glandular fever?

[itsallaboutpootle]

I saw doctor this morning as had what i thought was second bout of tonsillitis in 4 weeks and the doctor has now decided that I have glandular fever, as well as having, in her words, a "disgusting" abcsess on my tonsil

I feel awful, really weak, sore, nauseas and generally shitty. She has given me 2000mg of amoxycillin daily to deal with the abcess but says the GF will just have to "run its course".

Has anyone had glandular fever? Any tips to speeding recovery process, or just making it more bearable?

I had glandular fever when I was about 15 so a long time ago - I remember it as ruining my summer school holiday, and an excuse for getting out of games the following term!

Seriously though it does make you very weak and feeble, not sure you can speed the recovery. Good luck! And rest......

No blood test yet, as she seemed fairly sure, and as she said, whatever it is, it will pass! Feel crap though.

I didnt think they could tell without a blood test. I had similar to you when I was 19 : I had tonsilitis and GF at the same time and at one stage they thought it was something called quincy throat. Anyways, what you NEED to do, is rest, eat well (if you can eat) and drink lots and lots.

I cannot stress enough to you how much you need to rest, I didnt at first and ended up hallucinating and having to come home from Uni for 2 weeks and when I went back I wasn't right for months because i still didnt take it easy.

Hi, I also had GF as a student. Long time ago but I remember the excruciating throat and extreme tiredness. Mine did not last long but I basically could do nothing but rest for 2 whole weeks - fortunately it was Wimbledon so I watched it throughout! After that it was a question of very gradually building up gentle activity.

I agree with others - real rest is paramount - draw in all your family and friends to help do everything.

Mine was not serious, and about 6 weeks later I went on one of the best holidays of my life, and only special treatment was the occasional mid-day sleep and avoiding alcohol!

no alcohol, your spleen can be badly affected.
Complete bed rest if you can and take effervescent vitamins.
I was off for about a month I recall, hope you start to feel better soon.

Thankyou ladies. The antibiotics seem to be helping with the throat but I feel so tired and low. I am taking rest of week off work and going to try and go in next week for couple of days. The doctor said to do what i feel like i am capable of. I will see how i get on.

You need a Barr Epstein blood test. And also - I'm fairly sure they aren't supposed to give antibiotics for BE related sore throat - can have side effects. I had a rotten sore throat and then felt under the weather for weeks. The fact that it was glandular fever was only picked up when the liver function tests from a routine work medical came back showing certain odd levels. My GP twigged that, since I probably wasn't a chronic alcoholic etc it might be Barr Epstein and a blood test confirmed.

The doctor did warn of potential side effects of the antibiotics - a rash all over - but so far am okay. She said that it is not usual to give antibiotics for GF but the abcess on my tonsil was so big she said I might end up with serious complications otherwise. I have to say they are helping.
She is going to do blood tests once the infection has reduced as it may fudge the results.