It all started a little over a month ago; a low grade fever, body aches and pains, chills, and severe nausea. At first, I thought I was getting the flu, so I continued with my everyday activities and then some, which ended up making everything worse. About two and a half weeks later, I felt no improvement, so I headed to the nearest urgent care and the mono test came back positive.
Now on week 6, I have good and bad days. Some days I feel better, so I start to do things and as soon as I get back from doing whatever I was doing, boom, I feel like I am getting sick all over again. The latest episode happened about two days ago after I went grocery shopping, got my car serviced, and washed my car. Since that day, I have been feeling more tired than ever and my body aches really bad. Did anyone else have an experience where your symptoms would get better then worse and better again. Just as I thought I was getting better, I started to feel horrible again. It’s so hard to be sick when I’m a full time college student and am getting ready for final exams. I’ve lost all hope of getting better.
Hi Madison, sorry to hear you're feeling unwell. Unfortunately this is a common symptom of this virus. It is described as a zig zag recovery process. The actual recovery time for this virus is different for everyone. It can be a month, 2 months, 3 months or which you probably don't want to hear, but better to be told the truth it can last upto a year or worse case a couple of years. I'm just under the 9 month mark and I'm still on this zig zag Or as I explain to my doctor I feel like I'm on a run away train. The important thing is to take it easy as much as possible and try not to let it get you down. Easier said than done I know, but any bad spell you have, will disappear. Why the body behaves like this I do not know. My guess and I'm no medical expert is when you are feeling down, it will be your body fighting off the virus and using the energy you do have...hence the feeling terrible, as it can be exhausting both physically and mentally. when you do start to feel some recovery, try to make sure you still pace yourself.
Hi Madison,
Sorry to hear that you've been going through mono this past 6 weeks, I really do empathise having been through the illness myself a number of years ago. And I do want to reassure that what you're going through is very common and normal for mono and that you will get better from it. It is an awful virus to go through and I remember how wiped out and exhausted I was feeling after 6 weeks, it was terrible and I had to be off work for a while with it until I recovered.
It's so hard that this has hit at times when exams are coming up, as this virus really needs rest and to try to remove as much stress for a while as possible as you recover. If you need to take time out please do that Madison, I know it is so hard to do that when dealing with exams but definitely put your health first and get as much rest as you can and if that means taking a step back for a while then do that even though I know it's not easy to do that.
Oh remember there is hope Madison, this month can take a few months for sure to get over but you will get over it - and it can be very up and down the recovery phase, where you can feel a little better at one point and then it can feel worse again - that's why rest is so important and not overdoing things, even when feeling a little better. Taking vitamins and herbs helped me a lot during recovery, a good strong multi-vitamin per day, higher doses of Vitamin C (1000mg-3000mg per day), a B complex vitamin (great for nervous system and energy levels) and immune boosting herbs like siberian ginseng, echinacea and oregano can all be great and help boost your immune system to cope better at this time.
Hang in there Madison - thinking about you as I remember how horrible and scared I was when I went through it also in my 20s -and please know that it will get better, it just takes time and this is normal - but in no way does it mean that you won't recover - it's sometimes hard to see or feel that when going through it but definitely it does get better and you will get there!! Just be kind to yourself right now and as I say rest as much as you can and try to remove as much stress as possible. This is not the kind of virus like a normal cold or flu that you can just 'push through', if you do that it can just prolong things and it needs proper respect and time just to allow your body to recover - and it definitely will!
Thinking about you and just cope with getting through each day in this intense phase of the virus and know that your body resilience will return with a little time - take care of yourself Madison and do keep in touch let us know how you are doing over the next few weeks.
Craig
Hi Madison,
This is very typical of mono, this will last for a long while. I have recovered but I went through the same thing. Rest when you feel this way and listen to your body, I remember a short walk in the grocery store would do this to me.
so sorry you are going through this it really is hell!
youre young enough to get over this quicky provided you follow the right protocol which is mostly rest im afraid .
i had those bad days now and again for the first 5 months now on month 8 and almost all bad days ...i am much older than you though and what they say is that its your body just fighting the virus . so im hoping this is true.
make sure you stay as healthy as possible.
Hi there,
First of all, thank you for sharing your experience. It seems to make things a little better knowing that I'm not the only one feeling this way. It definitely sucks when one week I feel almost back to normal, then boom, I'm back with the fatigue and body aches. It is like a never ending cycle, and being a full time college student on top of that does not help at all. I hope that sooner or later we both feel 100% again, because I sure have forgotten what that feels like.
Hi there Craig,
This illness is definitely worse than the way doctors explain it. I thought I was starting to feel somewhat back to normal again, then boom, back to step 1. I hope that I make a full recovery soon, because I don't know how much longer I can handle feeling like this, especially knowing that my final exams are coming up in three weeks! Ahh! It's all too much.
Also, any advice on how I should push throw these last 3 weeks of the semester? It's too late to take a medical leave because I am so close to being done and I cannot miss any more classes. I only have one class every day Mon-Thurs.
Hi Madison,
Oh it really is a horrible virus and experience to go through, definitely agreeing with that, it drains you so much the physical and mental side of it all. You definitely will get better Madison, I truly believe that given my own experience and reading the recovery stories of many others - so although it's so hard I know try not to panic that things are not great at the moment - this is by far the worst phase you are going through right now, and the intensity certain will lessen and you will reach full recovery - I really do believe that and remember look after yourself and get as much rest as you can.
Stress is definitely a factor very much connected to the virus, the virus came for me after quite a stressful few months and the stress you've been under with exams certainly can trigger this thing to feel very intense indeed. In terms of getting through next few weeks, try to take the approach of not 'pushing through', rather just managing each day as best as possible and if you do have to go into a class or do some work, try to get rest before and after it too, make sure reserving energy as much as possible and also doing something relaxing too that doesn't take too much stress, be it just watching fav tv show, having bath, reading, napping - whatever you find works for you. And also if you can talk to someone you trust, a close family member or friend, and what you're going through and how you're feeling - it can help so much and just not to have to deal with this thing alone makes a difference. And remember you're not on your own anyway as God is there, He knows the bigger picture and I believe is going to get you through this and get you well again Madison - hang in there.
Once these exams are over Madison - definitely then take extended rest, take a step back for a while if you can and just allow your body that complete time to be stress free and recover. You will get there you really will - it's an awful and scary thing to go through but it does get better Madison and doesn't last forever - thinking about you and just take it one day at a time.
Craig
Absolutely Mono too, just thinking about some of the worst days / phases of the virus in itself can be painful for sure and remembering how frightening and scary it was feeling that way - but definitely want Madison and others to know that what they are going through is typical and normal, not that it makes it any easier to cope with I know, and that there 100% is hope and things do get better with time and God's help of course.
Craig
Hey Lori,
Just wanted you to know was thinking about you today - I hope that your weekend has been okay considering and that this can be a better and more settled week ahead. I do hope so much you have been able to get better sleep pattern and you are still able to manage a short walk if you can each day. Remember God's got your back on this one Lori, He won't let you out of His grasp or His sight and will get you through this I remain truly believing of that.
Praying for peace, hope and new strength today over your life and circumstances Lori, in Jesus' name. Standing with you for recovery!
Craig
Hi madison,
Yes, what you have described is typical.
I don't want to scare you but it is 15 months since I started having symptoms and whilst I am feeling alot better than I was say about a year ago, the zig zag recovery is continuous. Even now, some days I feel like i am cured and then a day or 2 later I have a crash and feel like I am back at square one. Something as simple as just a bad night sleep or stress at work or eating certain foods does have an impact on me.
Craig,
Thank you for your kind words! It really helps a lot. I am taking each day at a time, some days being better than others, but that's just how this darn virus is. I will keep you updated on my recovery.
thank you craig im feeling pretty low and feel like im getting worse .i hope this is just the body fighting the virus ...im at a loss of what to do next ...doing all the supplements eating healthy ... i feel just awful today :(
Your story is very similar to mine, without the nausea.
And yes, same ups and downs. At one point I was feeling good with no fever for about 2 weeks, then the fever and overall unwell feeling returned for a week. My first symptom was Aug 15 and I was diagnosed 3 weeks later. I am having way more good days than bad days now. In the last 3 week, I've only had 2 bad days...fingers crossed it keeps getting better for us both.
Also, quick question,
When you had mono, did you ever have days where you would have a low grade fever and others when you didn't?
I'm really starting to freak out about this and I can't stop obsessing over the fact that I might have lymphoma!
thats great news jen ....gives me hope as im having ALL bad days mostly . i wish this would just 'go away ' im 8 months in with the last 3 months really bad . so happy youre feeling better !
great news jen. Sounds like you are on the mend?
Was it August 15 this year you started sypmtoms or you meant august 2015? I hope it was the former.
Hang in there lori - good days are coming. For the first 8 - 9 mos mine was continuously bad, not a good day in sight. It was abt the end of month 9 going into the 10th that things started to improve slowly but every couple of days I would land back on my face and the process start over again.
Now 15 mos on I have abt 2 or 3 dodgy days a week but not to the extent as the first 8-9 mos.
Today at the moment at 8.20am i feel almost ok. However most days I have to walk on egg shells as the days start great and then turn sour by lunchtime.
I have recognised some of my triggers - stress and overthinking being the main ones so still working on avoiding these.
Hi Jen,
Hoping you are having a more settled week and it is good to hear that there have been more good days than bad days - that is real progress for sure. Just remember as Kay says this thing can be zig-zag so don't panic if there are some bad days or mini-spells, and remember that they will pass and overall you will keep moving towards complete recovery. Keeping rooting for you and thinking about you and believing that you are going to get there Jen - hang in there and remember better and healthier times are ahead.
Craig