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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Glandular Fever. Is it all doom and gloom?

90 replies

Sparklingbrook · 03/05/2018 19:46

DS (18) was diagnosed with Tonsillitis earlier in the week but they are now doing a blood test as they think if might be Glandular Fever.

Everyone I have spoken to have been full of awful stories of being laid low for ages as a teenager.

Just wondering what he's in for.

OP posts:

Ilovewheelychairs · 06/05/2018 07:45

Thought I’d add a positive story. My brother was diagnosed with GF after a really nasty bout of tonsillitis when he was 16. He’d had the tonsillitis for a week, got the blood results back on the following Weds, and went back to school the Monday after that with no further symptoms! He was definitely one of the very few hugely lucky ones, but it can happen.

Really hope your DS is feeling better soon. At least he’s at home with you rather than still at uni.

bluerunningshoes · 06/05/2018 07:56

it can take long, but also get over it quickly.
most people will not know they've had it.
good nutrition is key, don't fall back on junky comfort foods.
vitamin d3 supplement.
gentle exercise (like walking), preferably outside, as soon as it's possible.

Fairylea · 06/05/2018 08:01

I had it at 36! I do have a low immune system due to having thyroid and Addison’s disease. I did feel incredibly unwell for about 3-4 weeks, the tonsillitis bit was actually the worst part for me - my tonsils looked black! I had 3 lots of antibiotics back to back for that and lots of fatigue from the glandular fever (I had the blood test for it). Being a mum of 2 including one child with autism and learning disabilities I just had to keep going. I was actually up and cooking Christmas dinner with it feeling utterly awful on Christmas Day! (My dh thought I was mad and kept telling me he would do it and to go back to bed but I just couldn’t- I’m stubborn as an ox).

It did take a while for me to recover, mainly from the feeling tired. But for me it wasn’t much worse than a very bad bout of flu- which can be pretty bad I guess.

I think having it as a teen must be really nasty.

Littlefish · 06/05/2018 08:11

As a more positive story, I had GF when I was 16 but didn't know it!

I had recurring tonsillitis from the age of 13. At 16, just before my GCSEs, during another bout of tonsillitis, the GP took a blood test for GF. However, when I phoned up for the results I was told I didn't have it.

A year later, I was visiting the GP and she casually dropped in the fact that I'd had GF the year before. When I questioned it, it appears that the nurse misread my results!

My GCSE results were all slightly lower than expected, but other than what was put down to usual teenage difficulties with getting up in the morning, I don't remember any other symptoms, and it didn't have any long lasting effects.

I had my tonsils removed at 17 which made a massive difference to my health. The suggestion from my consultant was that the GF was harbouring in my tonsils, and every time I got tonsillitis, I also got a mild form of GF.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 08/05/2018 06:08

Checking in to see how your DS is Sparkling. 😊

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 08/05/2018 09:54

Thanks for asking Perfectly, he is continuing to improve. He actually left the house yesterday for a slow wander with DH.
Still feeling weak and feeble and hurts to swallow but much better in general.

GP again tomorrow to discuss Uni, he is keen to get back.

OP posts:

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 08/05/2018 10:08

That's good. He seems to be making a speedy recovery! 😊

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 08/05/2018 11:45

I really hope so. Always waiting for a backwards step but keeping everything crossed!

OP posts:

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 08/05/2018 14:06

I'm keeping everything crossed here too. 😀

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 11/05/2018 18:12

He is continuing to improve. He still sounds nasally but is up and about complaining his legs feel a bit wobbly, and he's very tired.

Got the all important paperwork for Uni. Phew.

He came home to surprise me for the weekend 2 weeks today. Little did he know he would be back this long.

OP posts:

DahlingDahlia · 23/04/2020 15:23

Hi @Sparklingbrook, my DS has just gone down with GF. How long was it before your son recovered? Any tips?

cdtaylornats · 24/04/2020 08:37

My roommate at University was carted of in the middle of the night in May by ambulance. Diagnosis was glandular fever. Didn't see him again until the start of August.

DahlingDahlia · 24/04/2020 09:45

Thanks @cdtaylornats about 10 weeks then. Wow.

WeAllHaveWings · 24/04/2020 15:41

A friends dd(17) had it last year. She was floored by just after Xmas, missed her prelims (mocks) and a good chunk of revision time for her Scottish Highers in April/May. Previously a hardworking straight A student and she just scrapped passes and no more. She then had a lot of pressure to get excellent marks this year for the uni course she wants to do, has been working really hard towards it and now can't sit the exams!

Good to hear the uni is supportive, hope he feels better soon.

BigusBumus · 27/04/2020 14:12

I had it at 19 and was pretty poorly for about 6 months. However i was also out burning the candle at both ends so never gave myself the proper chance to get better.

DS is 17 and was diagnosed with it 2 weeks before Lockdown. He was in bed for 2 weeks, then it was Easter and he's pretty much right as rain now, the Lockdown has done him a huge favour, being off school, being home, good food and relaxing. Its work noting that he drinks a Berocca some mornings and a bought him a bottle of Metatone too.

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