Glandular fever?

[frazzled123]

Felt ropey for a few weeks now following a horrible head cold. Symptoms have been sore throat, coming and going in one side then the other, enlarged glands at back of head which feel very achey worse on waking, hurt to breathe in last week for a couple of days on left side, and now very achey legs and generally feeling rough.
Went to docs today after trying to out it off, and she has asked for blood tests, one of which is to rule out glandular fever. Have had recurrent tonsillitis before in my 30's, but this has been very different. Anyone had any experience in this?

[out2lunch]

hmm i am not sure about this - according to drs blood test i didn't have gf and then did.
i think the tests are quite subjective - not a definite yes or no.
i know of people who have had gf and have been completely wiped out - if you are soldering on maybe you don't have this.
fingers crossed.

[sandripples]

I had gf when a student. No previous probs in my throat. The sore throat was utterly appalling - far worse than anything I'd had before or since. Was also totally phuysically exhausted, could scarcely walk. So it felt pretty acute at the time - but I don't know if there's a rumbling, longer variation!

Mine knocked me out for 3 weeks but then I made a fast recovery - was lucky!

Hope you pick up soon.

[calypso2008]

Hi frazzled I had GF last year and had, moe or less, exactly your symptoms. The sore throat was really, really awful for about 3 days then just constantly there one side, as you describe, then the other. Aching muscles etc. One thing I had was a pain in my liver and spleen (I didn't know what it was until the doctor explained), they were enlarged due to virus.

I had to soldier on as had a 2 yr old and felt just generally poorly and tired, all the time. I haven't felt the same since really, just lack of energy. (sorry) I had two viruses though, I also had something called cytomegliovirus (or something) same sort of symptoms as GF so I think that made me feel worse. They probably have checked you for that too. You could well have that instead of GF. Especially if you work or have smalll children who often have it but don't have symptoms (it is from childrens poo, more or less)

It only took about 10 days of really looking after myself to feel a bit better though, in general.

Take care of yourself and hope you feel better soon It is horrible feeling like that.

[frazzled123]

Thanks for replies. Just found out lost job too so been a bloody awful week. Should get test results back soon. Funny you should mention the pain from enlarged spleens that's been abit on and off today again too.

[digerd]

I was only 6 - decades ago- when I had it. All I remember was being in mum and dad's bed, with a foul smelling bandage round my head and having an injection in bum every week, which I dreaded.Those lasted 6 weeks, but had not worked as lump in my right side of neck was still just as big. I must have just slept for those weeks, so must have been very ill. As an adult, my daughter's friend had it too aged 11, and she was also very ill. Haven't known an adult who had it.
Hope you get answers soon and feel better

[calypso2008]

frazzled that's terrible Really sorry - indeed a horrible week.

Take care and I hope you have a good Christmas despite everything
One thing I was told by doctor was NO ALCOHOL OR CIGARETTES (like that!) for a month. The liver/spleen are dealing with too much.

Spleen is a big giveaway for a viral infection. Really hope all works out for you. x

[frazzled123]

Got first lot of blood tests back, full blood count abnormal but in line with recurrent infections and plasma and glucose abnormal too. Still not got gf test back, got appt at GP on Monday. Not sure what it means but didn't sound drastic given the receptionists do you want an appointment kind of response.....

[calypso2008]

How did you get on frazzled? Hope all is well

[headfairy]

I hope you haven't got gf Frazzled, when it's bad it's bloody awful. I missed three months of school because of it, they thought it was cfs as I literally slept 23 hours a day for a month. I have never ever been so ill. The repercussions lasted many years with a period of two years in which I got over 75 boils in various parts of my body (immune system totally fucked, I reacted to staph bacteria on my skin) and repeated tonsilitus that meant having them removed at the age of 22. Really really crap.

[frazzled123]

Going to docs soon. No sign of gf test coming back yet, wish they'd get on with it. Had felt a wee bit better, but back of neck still feels swollen achey and hot, had awful night sweats (ugh) last night and didn't sleep. Will see what she says....

[frazzled123]

Well got result back and it's not gf which is a relief. Think it's some virus. Just need to rest which is easier said than done.

[headfairy]

phew! but I suppose knowing it's a non specific virus doesn't really help you to feel better :(

Get lots of rest, paracetamol, good food, and hopefully you'll recover soon.

[frazzled123]

True, I'm not great with "non-specific", but there do seem to be some pretty horrid things doing the rounds.

[headfairy]

to be honest the treatment for glandular fever would be no different. You just can't do anything with viruses...