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Glandular fever :(

I know the web is no place for a diagnosis, but i can't get to the doctors for over a week, so i wanted to know people's experiences of glandular fever and to see if my symptoms sound similar.

About 3 weeks ago, i came down suddenly with what I thought was yet another case of tonsillitis....i was in bed and did not leave it for 3 days, had huge, swollen tonsils with pus/blisters on, swallowing required a great deal of mentally saying "you can do this, the excruciating pain only lasts a second" beforehand and i was generally weak and feverish. I chose to just rest and gargle salt water rather than go to the doctor and get antibiotics because i didnt want to do another course of antibiotics again for various reasons...

Anyway, a few days later, i felt better and more like myself again. I had just broken up from university and gone home, but felt constantly exhausted at home and would sleep 12-14 hours a night. During this time my tonsils and glands around my throat (the ones you can feel in your neck) seemed to keep swelling up , only to go down and then slightly swell up again. This was accompanied by a mild but constant sore throat. This constant fatigue has now been going on for two weeks , its the worst part ..... never feeling well rested, no matter how much sleep its never enough and my mind is just dull all day from the tiredness, which is a serious problem when i need to be studying for physics exams. I also have a really blocked nose, but its not particularly runny or anything, and its not like any cold I've ever had (and i've had plenty).

So that's pretty much all my symptoms ; fatigue, swollen tonsils, sore throat, blocked nose. I googled glandular fever after my mum mentioned it and this kind of fits- i've also had pretty severe muscular pain in my neck (though this may be due to so much sleeping in an awkward position) and headaches, right behind my eyes.

However, my symptoms don't include massively swollen glands (yes in my neck they are but nothing like the pictures i see on the internet), fever (or if I did have one, it's long gone) or any swelling of the spleen/resulting pain in abdomen.

So can you please share your stories of glandular fever and your recovery, and your opinions please?

Spoiler

You can get glandular fever from anything involving sharing saliva-sharing cups or cutlery for example. I think when I had it one of my siblings must have picked it up and given it to me but not shown symptoms themselves (which is common in younger kids).

I seem to remember when I got it, I got tonsillitis type symptoms, then all my glands swelled up (not massively-the most swollen my glands have ever been were when I had an ear infection before Christmas and I had hamster-face, and it was probably less than half as swollen as that) and I had mild headache and muscle aches. Then the fatigue hit afterwards and I was sleeping 15-16 hours to have enough energy to lie on the sofa. The after effects for me lasted quite some time-it was a good few weeks before the worst of the fatigue and swollen glands went away but I had to really take it easy for a good few months and even well after a year later the merest hint of a cold used to make my glands all swell up and leave me exhausted again.

People like me for whom it takes months+ to recover are in the minority though. Most people recover fine in a few weeks. You do have to look after yourself though (rest, do some light exercise if you can, make sure you're getting all your vitamins etc); not looking after yourself will prolong it.

It does sound like you could have glandular fever, but you really should see your GP.
Original post by heidigirl
You can get glandular fever from anything involving sharing saliva-sharing cups or cutlery for example. I think when I had it one of my siblings must have picked it up and given it to me but not shown symptoms themselves (which is common in younger kids).

I seem to remember when I got it, I got tonsillitis type symptoms, then all my glands swelled up (not massively-the most swollen my glands have ever been were when I had an ear infection before Christmas and I had hamster-face, and it was probably less than half as swollen as that) and I had mild headache and muscle aches. Then the fatigue hit afterwards and I was sleeping 15-16 hours to have enough energy to lie on the sofa. The after effects for me lasted quite some time-it was a good few weeks before the worst of the fatigue and swollen glands went away but I had to really take it easy for a good few months and even well after a year later the merest hint of a cold used to make my glands all swell up and leave me exhausted again.

People like me for whom it takes months+ to recover are in the minority though. Most people recover fine in a few weeks. You do have to look after yourself though (rest, do some light exercise if you can, make sure you're getting all your vitamins etc); not looking after yourself will prolong it.

It does sound like you could have glandular fever, but you really should see your GP.


Thanks for sharing, you're symptoms sound pretty much the same as mine with the tonsillitis followed by fatigue :/ I will see my GP as soon as I can but that's a while away unfortunately, can I ask how you were diagnosed when you had it?
You won't be prescribed antibiotics, it's a viral infection - Generally passes in a few weeks but your GP may prescribe you some steroids to reduce the inflammation around your throat if it's really severe, so go get it looked at. Otherwise it really just requires rest and patience
Reply 4
I was diagnosed with GF in the first week of January, but my serious symptoms laster for two weeks around Christmas. I had a very swollen neck, sore throat and lots of tummy pains.
After that, the cold-like symptoms went away and I've just been left with extreme tiredness and occasional stomach pains. Comparatively, my symptoms haven't been that acute - but it's May now, and I've still got it. I've missed a whole term of school because of it, and it just won't go away!
I tried going back to school for two weeks in March but ended up almost passing out because of the fatigue and nausea.

What hasn't helped me:
~ Movement/exercise, which I used to do if I woke up one day and had a bit more energy than usual. DON'T. If you have more energy, go straight back to bed. Rest for at least a week, even if you feel totally normal, and then start thinking about easing yourself into normal activities. Let your body finish it's job.
~ Eating a lot. It probably won't be hard if you're like me and don't have an appetite, but if you can resist eating a lot each day it's probably good to give your liver/digestive system a break. I've stuck with about three basic meals a day - LOTS of veggies (esp. green leafy vegetables), complex carbs (e.g. multigrain bread) and lean proteins (e.g. chicken, fish, chickpeas.) DO NOT overdo it on the sugar. It was Easter a few weeks ago, and so naturally - I had a lot of chocolate. Didn't do me any good, and I went into relapse, again.
~ Avoid alcohol, junk food, weed etc. It's pretty obvious.

What has helped me:
~ Drinking lots of water. Trust me, this is SO important. Aim for three litres a day. It's probably more effective on an empty stomach, so you can 'flush' your digestive system out and let your liver work it's magic.
~ Seeing a natropath. And maybe a nutritionist as well if you're not-so-good in the food knowledge department. The natropath I saw was great - she put me on a month's worth of herbs (they're disgusting, but so worth it.) My symptoms disappeared within about three weeks. Homeopaths are a good option to consider, if you're into that stuff.
~ Acupuncture. This was mainly for regulating my energy levels, working on my lymph system and sore muscles. They work wonders - and it's incredibly relaxing as well! It might be a bit expensive, especially if you plan on having a treatment once a week, but definitely worth it. I personally prefer Japanese-style acupuncturists. Also, if their style doesn't work for you, you can try going to an osteopath or a massage therapist that specialises in clearing the lymphatic system, or something.
~Rest, rest, rest! Read a book. Watch a gazillion movies. Endlessly scroll through Pinterest - I don't know. Do something relaxing! De-stress your mind, just chill-out and appreciate the fact that you've probably got a Go-Chill card handed to you for the next few months of school/uni while you get over glanj. Woohoo!
Original post by bertstare
You won't be prescribed antibiotics, it's a viral infection - Generally passes in a few weeks but your GP may prescribe you some steroids to reduce the inflammation around your throat if it's really severe, so go get it looked at. Otherwise it really just requires rest and patience


I've got my exams coming up next week, and i have the same symptoms as described on here, doctors thought it was tonsillitis but its not getting any better with the antibiotics that I'm on... is there any point in going back to the doctors with my concerns of glandular fever if they aren't going to treat it?
Original post by Helpmepass1
I've got my exams coming up next week, and i have the same symptoms as described on here, doctors thought it was tonsillitis but its not getting any better with the antibiotics that I'm on... is there any point in going back to the doctors with my concerns of glandular fever if they aren't going to treat it?


Worth trying, they may test you for it and prescribe you some steroids for the swelling if you have it, but if your exams are in a week there's not a lot that can be done in such a short time, and it takes a fair bit of time to get better
Original post by bertstare
Worth trying, they may test you for it and prescribe you some steroids for the swelling if you have it, but if your exams are in a week there's not a lot that can be done in such a short time, and it takes a fair bit of time to get better


thanks, went back in today and they think it is but cannot do anything about it :frown: just going to have to plough on through and hope for the best!
Reply 8
Hi, I've had exactly the same symptoms as you have shared and I was beginning to wonder why hardly a week had passed since early January (2020) when I hadnt either felt feverish, extremely cold, headaches around my eyes, extreme tiredness, excruciating sore throats, tender and slightly swollen glands around the neck, aching upper back and even mild nausea during the headaches.. When I first developed the symptoms, I brushed it off as a head cold, which lasted a few days but then returned with slightly more severe symptoms which again disappeared but within 5 days then again returned. Finally last week, the symptoms returned again with a raging headache, a throat so painful I couldn't swallow, itching ears and an inner ear clicking noise, painful glands and extreme lethargy and constantly falling asleep. This morning I saw the doctor who suggested glandular fever and a follow up blood test. As it's viral it's a case of salt water, plenty of fluid, ibuprofophen and vitimens A, C and Zinc supplements, lots of rest (antibiotics of course only work with infections). Today, approx 5 weeks after the first symptoms I finally feel like I am returning to good health, although I now have the blocked nose (which I'm told is usual at the end of the virus). Although known as the kissing decrease, I'm 61, which is very uncommon at my age, but my work is very busy pre Christmas, plus I help with childcare for my very young grandchild, I work 7 days per week Sept to Dec and spent Christmas in Munich.. So it appears mine was exacerbated by over-work, not enough sleep or rest, stress, and close contact with many people in enclosed environments (airports, planes, Christmas markets).

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