Schreckliche Gehirnnebel, Gedächtnis-/Lernprobleme, emotionale Leere nach Mono/Drüsenfieber

Hallo Leute,

Also, ich wurde im August dieses Jahres mit dem, was ich jetzt als Pfeiffer-Drüsenfieber kenne, krank. Ich litt an allen typischen Symptomen (unglaubliche Müdigkeit, Fieber, Nachtschweiß, Übelkeit, Kopfschmerzen, große Lymphknoten). Ich dachte, es sei nur die typische Grippe und habe mir nicht viel Ruhe gegönnt, da ich zwei Jobs hatte und gerade dabei war, mit dem College zu beginnen und nicht wollte, dass die Krankheit meine ersten Wochen als Erstsemester beeinträchtigt! Irgendwann bin ich mit diesem lähmenden Gehirnnebel, diesem highartigen, abwesenden Gefühl zusammengebrochen, bei dem ich mich auf nichts konzentrieren oder einen Gedanken festhalten konnte. Außerdem begann ich, Taubheitsgefühle und Kribbeln in meinem linken Arm und meinen Füßen zu spüren. Schließlich habe ich nachgegeben, den Arzt aufgesucht und wurde mit Mono diagnostiziert. Ich nahm eine Woche frei und fuhr nach Hause, um mich auszuruhen, und eines nach dem anderen verschwanden alle meine Symptome, außer diesem Gehirnnebel, der in diesem Stadium fast den ganzen Tag über ziemlich konstant ist, und ich habe immer noch gelegentlich Taubheitsgefühle und Kribbeln sowie leichte Armzuckungen.

Im Grunde genommen möchte ich wissen, ob jemand anderes das erlebt hat und sich erholt hat? Und wenn ja, welche Schritte sind sie gefolgt, um sich zu erholen? Kein Arzt scheint zu verstehen, was los ist, und ich habe sowohl eine MRT als auch eine Lumbalpunktion hinter mir, um Gehirntumore, Enzephalitis, MS usw. auszuschließen. Ich bin von einem aktiven Menschen, der früher fünf Tage die Woche laufen und ins Fitnessstudio ging, gerne mit Freunden ausgegangen ist und gelernt hat, zu einem Einsiedler geworden, der kein Interesse an irgendetwas hat, den größten Teil des Tages in seinem Zimmer bleibt und nicht mehr nachts mit Freunden ausgeht. Im Moment fühle ich mich wie ein Schatten der Person, die ich einmal war, als ob meine Persönlichkeit mir entzogen worden wäre.

Entschuldigung für das Geschwafel, aber dieser Gehirnnebel hat es mir schwer gemacht, dem, was ich sagen will, eine Struktur zu geben, hahaha!

Jede Hilfe wäre sehr willkommen!

Passt auf euch auf, Jungs!

Sorry to hear your having such a hard time

Brain fog is the worst feeling

My sugestion would to

1. Keep hydrated

2. Take a good probiotic or see a naturopath. I did and that was a turning point for me

3. Do some form of gentle exercise eg stretching meditatation, walking. everyday

Its fine line between doing enough and doing too much energy expenditure through out your day. The important thing is to start slow say 10 minutes a day

I usually knew Id done too much because the next morning Id wake up with a massive headache and deffinately a feeling like I had not slept at all. Even tho I couldve slept anything up to 12hrs a night

4. Eat healthy and I couldnt tolerate any alcohol. So be mindful of that

5. Bonus is that you sound young and fit until this virus hit you

So hopefully you'll recover easily in a short amount of time.

Yes unfortunately it is a time thing

It took me at least 2 yrs before I felt human again. It is now 5 yrs on and every now and then Ill have a bad day and yes it still starts with a headache ...

6. Stress and worry are a waste of the precious energy you have so little of

So breathe relax and give your body the best possible conditions to rid its self of this virus ☺

These are all the things I learnt along my journey. I suffered terribly for the 1st year before I put these things into practice

Which is why I believe it took so long to feel human again

Wishing you all the best in your recovery eoghan68808

Hey Oceangirl, vielen Dank für den detaillierten, positiven und praktischen Rat! Ich mache im Moment viel von diesen Dingen (Trinke deutlich über 2 Liter Wasser am Tag, esse viel Obst und Gemüse und versuche, Zucker zu vermeiden biggrin Und ich merke, dass diese Dinge meine Energielevel (die fast wieder normal sind) verbessern, also weiß ich, dass sie zumindest in einem gewissen Maße wirken. Leider helfen sie aber nicht gegen den Gehirnnebel rolleyes Ich war nie jemand, der sich Sorgen macht oder Dinge überdenkt, aber im Moment kann ich nicht anders, als das Gefühl zu haben, dass irgendwie eine Art irreversibler Hirnschaden vorliegt oder so etwas, da meine kognitiven Fähigkeiten auf das Niveau eines 5-Jährigen reduziert zu sein scheinen >sad Naja, ich kann nur hoffen, dass es eine Frage der Zeit ist, wie du sagst, was zwar nicht ideal ist, da ich wahrscheinlich aus meinem College-Kurs aussteigen muss (ich studiere Mathematik, was nicht wirklich mit Gehirnnebel kompatibel ist lol), aber wenn es bedeutet, zu mir selbst zurückzukehren, dann soll es so sein!

Nochmals vielen Dank für die Antwort, ich schätze es wirklich sehr und ich freue mich zu hören, dass es dir viel besser geht!

Beste Grüße!

Your description of the brain fog is very common for many of us who have posted here.  It is almost impossible to describe the empty feeding I have in my mind and add to that the anxiety I feel in all social situations.  I also prefer to stay home and I only socialize with my immediate family and even then it is sometimes too much for me to handle.    This is a nasty virus with many weird symptoms that come and go which doctors cannot explain.    However, I do encourage you to keep in contact with your doctor to make sure that you do not develop any of the complications of mono.  

The way that I am handling this illness is with a good diet--lots of fruits and vegetables and clean meats, no alcohol, vitamins, CoQ10 that my doctor recommended and I try to find something everyday that is funny because laughter is the best medicine.  I also go outside everyday and walk around my large backyard doing deep breathing and noticing nature and taking care of my 6 chickens.  This is my way to help with the anxiety and depression I feel.  I also try to read uplifting books, although sometimes my brain cannot read well enough to enjoy it.

when my Dad was 71 years old he had mono and he has fully recovered, so I am sure that I will also.  Right now I fluctuate between 50 and 80% of my normal energy level.  Unfortunately, I cannot predict what day I will feel what or what activities will put me into a mini mono relapse.  

So my mantra is slowly but surely, I will get well!!!!!

Hey Mono1996

Your very welcome

Glad to hear your already doing most of my suggestions.Good on you

Deffinately brain fog would make doing maths difficult

I found it difficult doing the simplest of things that I knew how to do with my eyes closed. Let alone learn anything new....

Seriously think about a probiotic or a naturopath They say the gut is the second brain. So yeah to say you have irreversible brain damage, could be very true ...lol

Virues tend to live in the gut so Ive heard

Do some research into the mind, gut connection and chronic fatique. My mono was diagnosed as chronic fatique after 6mths

I read later that is believed that the mono virus affects the part of the brain that controls sleep thats why we get fatique symptoms

Just be mindful of everything you do uses energy eating breathing sleeping let alone everything else life, deals us everyday

Glad to hear you energy levels feel up to normal levels

The important thing is to go slowly, you dont want to rush head long into full on life you led before and end up right back where you were or worse. Keep a diary of everything you do and eat

It'll help to you to understand your own body and what you can and cant do

Wishing you all the best

Happy researching ☺☺

Gotta be easy than maths

Hi smile

I had am experience similar to yours where I ignored it and ignored it. I've been left with symptoms 19 months later and although they differ slightly to yours- the residing symptoms I still have are pain through all of my muscles and a persistent sore throat/ headache/flu that is brought on after doing too much- I did have the brain fog, forgetfulness and tingling in my muscles in the first stage . I've finally been diagnosed with ME which can be as a result of glandular fever and I'm currently starting treatment and therepy to calm the symptoms.

It might be worth you asking about something like a post viral fatigue type illness? If you get the right treatment now you may prevent it from turning into chronic fatigue/ ME later on. It is very common to contract fatigue type illnesses after a virus like glandular fever and your symptoms do sound quite similar to my initial ones.

If it were me and I could redo my experience again I would have gone to the doctors as soon as the symptoms arrived and I'd have insisted I be signed off for a month. I would then have rested all day and only done short walks to keep fit. I think that way I would have nipped the ME in the bud. As it is, I've struggled through and caused myself much more harm. I urge you to take the rest now before you make your symptoms worse ! It will be frustrating at the time but may well stop it from progressing further.

Hope that helps smile

Hey there,

I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing that horrible brain fog!! I had the exact same and I too was just about to start freshers (but had to take a year out of dance college) so know how hard it is not to be active!

I was diagnosed in June and still have incredible amounts of fatigue body aches and pains tingling and all sorts but I can slowly notice I'm doing more in the day than in the summer.

My brain fogginess started to subside in September! So had it too for around 3/4 months really badly, I couldn't hold a conversation either. I also thought all the colours I saw were really vivid? So strange hah. I don't really experience it now apart from when I'm reaaaally tired. My advice would be not to panic and that this is all part of the process and although I'm no where near recovered I'm happy I'm starting to see some tiny improvements. Our active lives will come back!! I'd say rest as much as possible and do what makes you happy (without tiring yourself!)

Hope that helped, probably didn't!!

Georgie smile

Hey there,

So sorry to hear you have been feeling this way, definitely sympathise as I went through a similar phase too. Just want you to know that you can and will recover, I would recommend taking a good multi-vitamin and also B Complex, Co-Enzyme Q10 and Siberian Ginseng if you are able to, they will definitely help boost your immune system.

The virus can do so many strange things to your body in the months after initial infection, so don't worry - they will settle down eventually and you will get back to a normal and active life again. During that time it's important to listen to your body and get plenty of rest, etc. It's so frustrating I know, but you will get there even if it takes a bit of time to feel normal again - your concentration and resilience to go out and do things with your friends without feeling tired and weird will come back again. Hang in there my friend, it's just a time factor and being sensible and managing activity with plenty of rest and listening to your body - you will get there.

Take care and message any time not feeling great

Craig

Thanks for your help along the way Craig. Your words are so inspiring. Still praying for that day of normal life!!!

Hope you're well.

What is ME?

Hey Georgie!

Es ist gut, von jemandem zu hören, der sich in einer ähnlichen Situation wie ich bezüglich des Colleges usw. befindet. Dein Gehirnnebel ist also pretty much verschwunden, ja? Das ist sehr ermutigend zu hören, denn im Moment, obwohl ich versuche, positiv zu bleiben, ist es sehr schwer, das Licht am Ende des Tunnels zu sehen, da ich mich nicht mehr daran erinnern kann, wie es sich anfühlt, normal zu sein, O.o! Ich meine, Dinge, die ich in der Schule mit geschlossenen Augen hätte tun können, sind jetzt fast eine unmögliche Aufgabe, und das liegt nicht an Erschöpfung, denn meine Energieniveaus sind seit einigen Wochen normal! Nur neugierig, wie sich der Gehirnnebel bei dir manifestiert hat?

Es freut mich sehr zu hören, dass du dich langsam besser fühlst! Ich kann es kaum erwarten, auf den Tag zu warten, an dem wir auf diese Foren zurückblicken und lachen können!

Alles Gute! smile

Hi mono1996,

    Welcome to the site. Everything you wrote about I have been experiencing since the end of June. From my experience here on this site and from talking to other members one on one, everything you described is mono/ebv related. The only consistant story to be told is to eat well drink water and rest. Time is the only cure. Im still very foggy and fatigued and I was a military guy and business owner put out on my butt! Stay positive and be patient. Good luck and talk to people here they are great motivators. 

Hey!

Yeah I think no time is a good time to get this illness but I feel like everyone around us is starting new beginnings and it's upsetting to think that used to be and could be you and you have no idea when that will be you again (not sure that made sense ha) You're very lucky your fatigue has gone physically! So you have to look at that as a big positive! Yeah it's mostly gone and I only ever experience it when I'm absolutely shattered. I'm so completely with you on that one. I'm still in quite a lot of pain in my body and I used dance for 7 hours easy!! But yes in the summer my brain fog wouldn't allow me to even watch a programme for too long or read or have a conversation so I really sympathise with you. I would feel like I wasn't in the room, like a drunken weird high state haha. I'd tell my friends and they would say that sounds great but it's so so not haha!! I got quite depressed about it and still have bad days now but you really have to stay positive!

I literally cannot wait for that day!! It does upset me though as I start to feel great some days then come crashing others but I guess that's part of the process.

Hang on in there!! smile x

Hi Georgie,

Thanks for your kind words, I want you to know that I am still thinking about you and still know that a lovely young lady like you has a bright and happy future ahead with good health again, that normal life will come back to you in time so just hang in there and thinking of you. Just focus on one day at a time and getting through the challenges of each day that's all you can do when feeling this way.

Craig

Great advice Jeffrey, also thinking of you and still fully believing in a great and marvellous recovery for you. Patience is very hard indeed but it is key for sure. Still lots to look forward to and there is light at the end of the tunnel for you and for Mono and everyone reading this today.

Craig

Hey Gerbear,

ME is another name for what they call Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A lot of doctors will simply write off people with glandular fever as having or going into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome if they don't recover within a few months, but I would most definitely refute this because my experience and the experience of many on here is that it can take a good while for people to fully recover from glandular fever and in no way does it mean ME or anything like that for the vast majority of people who take a bit longer to recover. Hope you are managing okay and having a good day.

Craig

Georgie your words are very inspirational - it shows me how good at person you are that despite struggling yourself at the moment you are taking the time to come on here and write words of encouragement for others - you are a treasure and we all care about you and want you to be well again soon, and I for one believe you will be smile

Craig

That day will come Mono when you will be able to look back at the Forums and feel relief because you feel much better again - it's a painful and emotional experience to go through at the time but there is recovery, I think everyone who goes through it doubts that at times and feels like their body will never be strong or resilient again - but the body has marvellous powers of recovery and eventually gets on top of the virus, so try not to worry and just be patient, very hard and frustrating as that is I know!!

Take care

Craig

Thank you Craig. Your words have been instrumental in my recovery. Finding normalcy in this crap pushes me forward. Ive been making strides since last talking to you. I've finished some major personal projects and am being more social but instill feel very tired and foggy. Thanks again for your words and good luck to mono1996!

Hi Jeffrey,

Thanks for the kind words and I definitely believe in your recovery, it's good to hear you are making strides forward. It does take time so just take things slowly at your own pace. Remember even if there's a down day or period it doesn't mean all the progress has been lost - even a graph that goes upwards overall can have down dips, and that's what we want for you for the graph of recovery to keep going in the right direction - and it will!

The tiredness and fogginess is very normal, the same happened with me I really struggled for some time and thought I would never feel the same again, but eventually all that fades completely away and your full health and body resilience returns again. Hang in there and keep in touch!

Craig