Glandular Fever..

Racheldevon

.. i've been feel really unwell for the last few weeks, I saw my GP today who thinks I may have glandular fever (am awaiting blood tests), does anyone have any tips on things that helped to speed up your recovery? I am exhausted and no amount of sleep seems to make a difference

Thanks

hazyjo

Oh God, you have my sympathies. I honestly don't think I've been the same since having it in my 20s. My energy levels just died completely.

I remember when having it, I tried to make a cheese sandwich. It took me all of about an hour as I kept having to sit down. Just exhausted me - and then it was all too much of an effort to eat the thing! All I wanted to eat was ice lollies.

All I can say is let your body recover. When you're over it, don't think you're all better. Rest, rest and rest some more. It is still in your system for AGES after. I remember reading that you can't give blood for something like a year after at least. I'm sure it causes more long term damage thinking you're alright and getting on with things as normal.

Seriously, I have NEVER been the same. Make sure you give your body time to get over it.

Good luck. Hope you recover soon - if indeed it is that!

Jx

cyclingyorkie

I'd second the above - rest, rest and more rest! Let your body tell you when it's recovering..... and DON'T push it!

annie_d

Ditto!
I had it when I was 17 and didn't feel right till I was 21!!!
A male friend of mine had it when he was 16 and still says he was never the same again and he is 28! Its an absolutely exhausting illness.

dizsiebubba

I had it aged 21 and it was awful so I feel your pain! I was off work for 4 weeks and was ill for at least 2 months. Sadly you will get a sore throat very easily going forward and every cold/flu etc will kncok you out

All you can do is rest and try to keep up yiour fluids. This might be hard because your throat can swell so much its hard to swallow but I found a combination of lucozade & water all day with a straw worked well. Don't try and do anything, just rest... it will probably get worse before it gets better and if you start struggling to breathe see a doctor right away.. I was very nearly hospitalised as my airwaves almost closed

You probably won't be able to eat but lucozade should keep up your sugar levels and you should sleep for 18-20 hours a day.

Toothsmith

Exactly what the rest have said.

There is no short-cut, or way to speed up the recovery.

You can slow down the recovery, and make yourself more ill by trying to do too much too soon!

Personally I've never had it (Not kissed enough people! :A:() But those I've known of that have haven't even been able to try to do too much during it. Enjoy the daytime T.V. !

dizsiebubba

Toothsmith wrote: »

Personally I've never had it (Not kissed enough people! :A:() But those I've known of that have haven't even been able to try to do too much during it. Enjoy the daytime T.V. !

While I appreciate this is most likely to be a joke... some people do take things literally so just to clarify... you don't just get it kissing lol!

I didn't kiss anybody other than my OH and I still got it yet nobody I knew of had it before or after me! Docs said it was probably from an un-washed / poorly washed glass in a restuarant

philbostavros

Hi

I had this when I was 17 (now 61) and it took me about 4 weeks to get back to work. I caught it off my girlfriend, who was taken into hospital with it.

We both suffered more, due to being allergic to the penicillin they gave us - think this was worse than the GF actually. At least I recognised the symptoms and stopped the tablets early - poor girlfriend was given huge dose by injection so nearly went mad with the itching!!!

The only mid-term effect was that for a few years, I seemed to be more prone to catching other illnesses.

Like others have said, take it slowly, don't be in a rush to get back to normal.

Regards
Phil

Toothsmith

dizsiebubba wrote: »

While I appreciate this is most likely to be a joke... some people do take things literally so just to clarify... you don't just get it kissing lol!

I didn't kiss anybody other than my OH and I still got it yet nobody I knew of had it before or after me! Docs said it was probably from an un-washed / poorly washed glass in a restuarant

Quite right!

Your post also makes the point that resturants and pubs also have a duty of care to their customers.

It makes me cross that dental instruments have a whole raft of regulation regarding how they should be cleaned in between patients, and a whole industry dedicated to helping us or making sure we comply with it.

Yet a fork or a glass can be in or against the skankiest mouth, and a quick dip in lukewarm water and a wipe with a bug-ladened cloth is deemed to be enough!

joyfull

I'm just ending my 4th week with GF. Absolutely the PITS. You MUST listen to your body and rest. I'm seeing a pattern of starting to feel a little better and then after a couple of days relapsing. (I'm keeping a journal & it helps get a perspective as it seems never ending). The relapses are gradually getting not quite so awful.

I live alone and I've never felt so isolated. Also my body was weak and underweight before all this so am really working at getting enough calories down to maintain body weight.

We WILL recover but don't push it. Sending hugs and much sympathy. I know, right now, what you are going through.

edit - Have lovely boyfriend who gets stuff done & visits so not quite so alone.

Racheldevon

Thanks to everyone for your replies -sorry for the delay in responding. Sadly there appears to be no miracle cure! I have been off work now for a few weeks through using up overtime and self-certifcate, but am now signed off by my GP. I have never felt so tired in my life, nor spent so much time sleeping.

A couple of weeks ago before realising that it was GF I joined a gym thinking I just needed to exercise more to boost my immune system, I spent about 30 seconds on a bike before feeling awful and leaving - and i'm not that unfit normally!!

I have a busy job involving child protection work, it's so relentless that I can't imagine being at work right now. I have the odd tiny burst of energy which lasts no time at all, I like the journal idea, it's easy to feel you'll never feel better again!

Has anyone found supplements or any natural remedies helpful?

Thanks again