Just thought I would share an update on my progress...
I have been recovering from an EBV infection since October 2017 (or possibly longer).
The last couple of weeks I have really started to feel better!
The biggest test so far was spending the day in Gatlinburg with my family last week- lots and LOTS of walking and driving. Way more than I intended to do, but I was thinking if I don't have a relapse after today, I must be doing pretty good.
I felt really achy and wiped out for a couple of days, but I never had a full-on relapse (it's been about a week and a half since that day).
While my rib glands still bother me frequently and I still experience other mono symptoms off and on (headaches, brain fog, anxiety, fatigue, breathlessness, occasional queasiness), they are at a much lesser degree.
I've read several people on this forum describe that you start having good moments throughout the day. It's like the clouds parting and a ray of sunshine hitting you. Those moments turn into hours. And then those hours turn into days. It is so true!
I am still far from full recovery, don't get me wrong! I would say I am at about 50-60% of my full physical capacity.
Here are some tips that have helped me out:
* Keep a journal. Seriously, this has been a life saver. Record your daily feelings and symptoms. It can be difficult to tell day to day whether you are improving, but if you go back and read over older entries you can see your progress.
*Find a relaxing hobby. Once I felt well enough to sit up at a table, I began working puzzles. This helped curb my anxiety, by giving me something to focus on, without being too mentally taxing. Once I started feeling well enough to get up and move around more, I started getting into orchids again (I had a nice collection that I lost a decade ago). It's nice and rewarding to take care of growing things when you are stuck at the house so much. (I like to garden but it's too early to plant outdoors, and I doubt I will feel up to digging in the dirt anytime soon.)
*Soak in the tub. I have done this almost nightly when I felt my worst, and the occasional soak still helps me feel better. I like to add 2 cups of epsom salt to the tub. The magnesium helps relax your muscles and nerves and can help you relax. Find music that you find relaxing and uplifting, or even meditative. (I like to listen to a young composer on Youtube named Adrian von Ziegler.)
*Take supplements. I take vitamin C, B complex, iron, and Ashwagahnda. The Ashwagahnda I take for the anxiety, and it seems to help me. In the early stages of the illness I took astragalus root and elderberry (they stimulate the immune system).
*Get outside. Even if all you do is sit in the sun for a few minutes, it helps. Even when I felt horrible I would go out (as along as it wasn't miserably cold and windy) and take a brief walk in the yard. It always made me feel better.
*Read the forum! It's easy to let those anxious thoughts take over - "what if it's this?" or "what if it's that?" It is always reassuring to read other's experiences on here.
I hope this helps some of you. Recovery is coming!