I am 52 years old. I just discovered that a recent blood test came back positive for mono markers. My doctor told me that I am RECOVERING from mono but I can't remember EVER having mono! I've been suffering from fatigue and body aches (along with shortness of breath) for 3 months now. So, how long is this going to last and how is it possible to be recovering from something I don't ever remember having?
View 1 RepliesAre there diseases that can sort of "mask" as mono, yet be something else? Can something else other than EBV test you positive?
View 1 RepliesMy 15 year old son has had a mono like virus (at least that is the diagnosis) for approximately 5 weeks. Tests have not shown it is mono but the doctor feels it is a mono like virus. Other bloodwork has all come back normal. He has had severe fatigue, on and off fever, and swollen glands especially his spleen. No sore throat. I know in some cases mono can last between 1 to 2 months (or more in severe cases). It is very frustrating not having a confirmation that it is mono. One other thing, is that he was just finishing up 7 months of accutane for acne. Here are a few questions:
1) if it is mono, how long would the swollen spleen last. I had read elsewhere that the swollen spleen if present typically goes away after four weeks.
2) if it is not mono but another mono-like virus, are there any tests to do that would tell you what it is?? Without having a confirmation, it has been extremely worrying to us, his parents.
3) is there any possibility that the accutane has anything to do with the swollen spleen. I read elsewhere that people with mono should not be taking accutane or drinking alcohol or taking tylenol. He had just stopped taking accutane when he started showing signs (ie. swollen spleen). Could a problem result if he was taking accutane prior to showing symptoms of mono during the incubation period. IF so, any recommendations for tests to do or things to look for.
I've had a really bad sore throat for the past month. Over that time, the concentration of the pain has moved to different areas of the throat, first it was in the back of the throat behind the uvula and tonsils, then it moved to the bottom of the throat above the collarbone, now its back behind to uvula and tonsils.
I've gone to the emergency room 5 times this month, every time I saw a physician's assistant. The first time on March 9th, I had noticed a bag of pus directly in the back of the throat, so I went in and they thought it was pharyngitis and gave me some amoxicillin which did help and cleared it up within 48 hours. Then it came back on March 18th. I went back again and, instead of giving me more of or a higher dosage of amoxicillin, they decided to switch it to Keflex, which didn't help at all. I went back again, and they thought it might be allergies so they gave me loratadine which, still, didn't help at all.
I decided to go to a different hospital but, ended up having to wait 7 hours in there to see what they could suggest. They prescribed me some percocets, a mouth wash which numbs the throat comprised on maalox and liquid benadryl, and some prilosec because they thought in might me acid reflex. Still none of this killed the pain or got rid of the sore throat.
I went back to the other hospital and the same woman who prescribed me loratadine just dismissed it and didn't give me anything to help. Despite the fact that I was in a lot of pain, she said that my throat looked "fine," though I had checked in the mirror and it was red and there was a small pus She did take some blood to see if I had h. pylori. Every time I've went I've had a step culture and a mono test, and those have come back negative. She told me to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, but I can't get in until two more days.
I called and spoke to a male physician's assistant yesterday who prescribed me azithromycin. As directed, I took two azithromycin the yesterday, and one today which did seem to stop some of the swelling. My throat doesn't hurt as much as it did but, I can still see some pus pockets on both sides of my throat directly behind my bottom molars and still feel quite a bit of discomfort. I don't think this is a virus as I've had it for a month; it seems like a throat or respiratory bacterial infection or an abscess.
What would you recommend or suggest to do in this situation?
I have been diagnosed with shingles nearly 4 weeks ago ..
I have commented on this forum before giving my view on alternative options on medication.. Through diet , vitamins etc ..
I did not take any antiviral or strong painkillers as I am very hypersensitive and allergic to a lot of these chemicals ..
At the moment I am feeling a lot better still in some discomfort have my good and bad days .. The pain I had has some what subsided .. I have a little burning in my right hand side of my back and my tummy .. But nothing to the pain I have experienced.. I feel I am on the meant and hopefully make a full recovery .. And I just wanted to give some hope and reassurance to those still in recovery ..
But it would be great to know if anyone has NOT taken any medication for whatever reason and made a fully recovery or has not had a recurrence in the past few years...
I'm only 27 and had an appendectomy a few weeks ago for perforated appendicitis with peritonitis. Following removal of the catheter, I couldn't urinate. They said it would get better, but three days later I went home with a catheter. 1200ml urine was drained. The surgeon suspected urethritis with a spasm of the bladder sphincter.
I was hospitalized 2 days later, and a Urologist told me to wait a few more days. We waited 4 days and there was not much improvement following catheter removal. Further diagnostics were performed. Urodynamics showed a severe obstructed flow and bladder outlet obstruction. CT showed a mildly heterogeneous prostate: prostration and urethritis.The Urologist concluded I had a stricture considering I was having a split urine stream for as long as I could remember and an epididymitis episode 3 months prior.
Cystoscopy was performed and a small incision was made at the bladder neck. I was catheterized for 5 days and after it was removed, the flow was much stronger than I can remember. I had some bloody discharge for the first 10 days. That was followed by lots of bleeding and clots in my urine for the next 15 with burning upon urination. I was given antibiotics. Bleeding stopped at 4 weeks. I have had two wet dreams so I don't have retrograde ejaculation which was a big concern.
Now my only worry is erections. I had really strong nocturnal erections in the first few days (even with the catheter). However, erections were painful in the sense my urethra felt like it was on fire. These erections woke me up several times at night.
The pain at night subsided but now I find that my morning erections are not rock hard. Sometimes, when I touch my erect penis, the burning pain stings. I get erections through stimulation too. But sometimes, especially when I touch my penis it hurts. I really haven't tried to achieve a full blown erection because of this fear. This burning pain occurs when I'm flaccid but that is rare. Sometimes, I also get a dull pain in the tip of the penis. In fact, my whole system feels "sore" as if I had sex only a few hours ago. It's been almost 5 weeks. I had contacted my GP when the pain first started and Urologist a few days later but they don't think much of this. I can't seem to find anything about this online.
Once I can get pain-free rock hard erections, I'll be much happier to have had the surgery since my urinary symptoms have improved. I had never considered a slowish split stream to be a problem before.
I'm now 15 days post op and had my dressing removed and staples out yesterday. It wasn't very pleasant as the scar area has always felt raw from surgery as a child. The scar is over an old one but a little longer, so happy as originally was going to have another (3rd) scar!
The nurse couldn't believe I no longer have any swelling and have no bruising. I have hardly any pain in the hip now which is unbelievable. Just wondering if that's normal at this stage or because I'm none weight bearing on that leg?
I've been diagnosed with GERD. Going for endoscopy this week. Feeling better since it started back in January. But now I am extremely weak. I am tired all the time. I do have a lot of responsibilities, but just cannot seem to get enough rest. Been taking vitamin B12 complex, everyday. That helps but wears off. Had a sore throat that came and went within 4 days after I attacked it vigorously as soon as I felt it. I changed my diet. Sometimes it feels like I am struggling to take in breaths.
View 1 Repliesi've been bipolar for over a year i was diagnosed with affective bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms in october last year. i believe i'm getting better my mum and doctor says so. I was wondering if there is any way of smoking weed again after i recover just because it helps me to relax sometimes and i miss that feeling, will it trigger anything with my bi polar after i get better. ive only done it once while on meds and it didn't affect me at all?
View 3 RepliesI am hoping to hear from people who are recovering from labrynthitis. I had my first episode of vertigo a month ago and am struggling to feel balanced again. The difficult part of it for me is knowing when to push and exercise my brain and when to rest. I have been going to work, but am finding that by about 2:00 p.m., I am spinning and very uncomfortable. If I work the whole day, my evening is totally awful - very very dizzy. Any suggestions?
View 50 RepliesI have recently been diagnosed with EBV. I didn't present with the "normal" symptoms. I first experienced joint pain, then muscle pain, followed by extreme fatigue and muscle weakness. That lasted for about a month, then I developed sharp electric pains in my nerves and associated muscle weakness and numbness that comes and goes in my arms and legs. The nerve sensations have lasted for about 2 months. I seem to be healing
As I haven't experienced as many sharp electric pains, just numbness and tingling. I have been to a neurologist and have had an MRI of the head and neck which came back normal. Has anyone ever experienced anything of this sort of nature? I've been experiencing symptoms from EBV for 3 months now.
It's also important to note I was tested for Lyme and other blood work was done. Everything was normal except the ebv (which showed I had either contracted ebv in the last 6 months or it was.
I just started getting really bad pain exactly where my spleen is. Whenever I stand up or am sitting there comes a really sharp stabbing pain. I can't breathe on deep or eat alot, all I can feel is this pain. Someone said it's because they mono, I've had mono but I'm not sure what that has to do with your spleen.
View 1 RepliesI am a 30 year old female who was diagnosed with mono April 19, 2014. It has been quite the challenge caring for my 7 month old and having to take time from work. I never had the fever, although I have the other fun mono symptoms such as discomfort in shoulder blades and under ribs from liver and spleen. I have visited both my physician and GI doctor and they can not feel any swelling which is good. I am 6 weeks into the disease and feel pretty good. I am happy to report my bloodwork came back normal yesterday. Last night, my 7 month old kicked me in the back (upper left side of my shoulder) while sleeping next to me. My anxiety alarm went off. I am not in pain, however I am feeling a light discomfort in the side and back of ribs. Of course I'm freaking out and thinking something is wrong with my spleen....anxiety can do terrible things to the brain...so maybe its all in my head? Someone told me you would need a blow to the abdomen in order to rupture the spleen and not to worry. How would I know if my spleen ruptured?
View 1 RepliesMy brother is 45 yrs old. Recovering crack addict. I just found out he is taking 2 8mg sub ones a day and is mixing them with about 7-8 Xanax bars. I know this is dangerous. Just need to know how dangerous. I've taken his Xanax bars. But I was told that if u mix the two it gives him a heroin like high? Is this true?
View 2 RepliesI have lived with my partner for the past 4 years and when I met him he liked a drink, but at the time, it seemed just sociably. As the relationship progressed, so did his drinking, if we were out socially he would end up so drunk and quite embarrassing on a number of occasions. The drinking stepped up a notch when we bought our own place and for the past 3 years it has become a problem within the home more times than I care to mention, going from barely being able to speak, not wanting to do anything unless there was alcohol involved in the activity, making promises and reneging on them, wetting the bed, starting arguments when there was nothing to argue about, the culmination of this behaviour has been that 2 weeks ago he moved into the spare bedroom where he drank a bottle of vodka every night on his own, only to pop downstairs to start an arguement with my sons or me. I told him I wanted out, house to go on the market and go our separate ways. With that he made an appointment to see his doctor, who in turn said if he continues drinking what he drinks, he will be lucky to live beyond another 4 years... he is only 40 years old. He has confessed to me since the visit to the doctors that he's always drunk more than he should and has struggled with alcohol for the past 20 odd years. He has moved to his parents to start his detox and has to go back to the doctors in two weeks to let him know progress there has been, also he's been to a meeting with Inclusion, previously Homer, it was just an initial chat, they have given him some material to look through. He will go through an assessment following on from the next doctors appointment, and will then be assigned a key worker who he can chat to and will support him. I suppose what I want to know is how I'm supposed to behave towards him, whilst I still have feelings for him, I'm not sure I want to sign up to be with him forever as I just can't believe he will never touch a drop again. He's emailing me saying he still loves me and wants to get married when he's sober, but what's the reality of that? Do I tell him the truth that I can't stay with him or do I give him time to start the road to recovery without any stress from me?
View 43 RepliesI don't have mono but this was the best place I could think of to ask this question since an enlarged spleen is a common problem of mono. I've had pain in my upper left abdomen since March and finally had a CT done of the area. Lady I saw at the clinic originally thought I had mono from where my pain was and my fatigue, but test was negative. CT report I got from the hospital shows 12.9 cm spleen and I'm a 21 y/o female if that makes a difference. I'm in the process of trying to find a PCP instead of just random people at the clinic, so once I get that settled I'll make sure to ask them. Just wondering if this might possibly be the cause of the pain or if I should look elsewhere?
View 1 RepliesI've had abdominal pains for about 9 months now. At first, they were sharp, so I went to the doctors. They were all over my abdomen (upper left, lower right, lower left back, etc. [sometimes in my upper left chest]) Literally, anywhere over the core of my body. After an ultrasound, it turned out I had an enlarged spleen. From blood tests, they discovered that had mono.
6 months passed, I got another blood test. No mono, but I still had the pains. I got another Ultrasound, and still had an enlarged spleen.
Just a month ago, I got another huge panel of blood tests and they all came back normal. But I still had the pains. I then got a CT scan, and it again showed that everything was normal, except for the fact that I only had an enlarged spleen.
Could my spleen still be recovering from mono? My doctor told me not to be too worried, but it still worries me because I get them everyday. And how could my enlarged spleen (on the left side) account for pains all over my body?
Spontaneous splenic rupture in infectious mononucleosis. How will his body fight the infection without his spleen.
View 1 RepliesIs it possible to have pain in spleen, liver and Kidneys with Mono. I have these issues on and off for 2 years now. I can't find any doctor that can help me resolving these issues. It's very frustrating and I am not sure how long i can handle these?
View 1 RepliesLiving with Recurring Glandular Fever
Many people who catch glandular fever (Epstein-Barr virus) recover completely, but for a significant minority, like me, the virus hides from the immune system. I believe that this ability was discovered in the late 1960s. I heard of it in a BBC science programme in the early 70s, and immediately recognised my situation.
I caught glandular fever (without complications) in spring 1967 when I was a youth. Those who are affected by recurring symptoms, will recognise my case, where the symptoms receded imperceptibly slowly. It took about 9 months from being infected before I felt more or less normal again - for a while.
I pass on my experience of coping with this condition. There is bad news and good news.
The bad news is that the symptoms recur throughout life - that is for those who have difficulty clearing the original infection. A cure might emerge, but I am assuming that this will not happen. The good news is that, in time, the symptoms become gradually less of a problem.
The bad news is that one needs to adapt one's lifestyle in order to deal with this. The good news is that one can live a normal life. There are many with other lifelong conditions, who are far worse off.
Any virus illness (cold, 'flu) will trigger the symptoms. Something as common as catching a cold runs as follows. One feels unwell (exhausted), with no symptoms. About 2 days later, the cold symptoms start, accompanied with swelling of the glands in the throat and/or cheeks. The swelling is not very noticeable to others. One has a slightly raised temperature, and feels quite ill. After 4 to 10 days, the cold symptoms and swelling subside, but the feeling of exhaustion remains. This can last 4 to 6 weeks, or 6 months after a bout of 'flu.
How can you cope? There are a number of measures.
1) Smoking exacerbates the symptoms. If you are a smoker, you will be one of those who find stopping smoking relatively easy. You will soon learn to avoid smoke-filled places.
2) Should the symptoms start, treat as for a cold, or 'flu. You will feel exhausted, and a good thing to do is to get a lot of sleep.
3) It is worth getting a 'flu vaccination, if you can.
4) Exercise - you won't feel like exercise, and it is wise to rest while the cold symptoms are there. Once they are gone, and the feeling of exhaustion remains, that is the time to resume vigorous exercise. I think it might be the raised body temperature which helps to fight off the symptoms. In the case where you go to the gym, you will have to force yourself against the feeling of exhaustion for the first time, and even the second time, but by the third time, you realise that you are much fitter. The exhaustion will go. Regular exercise helps ward off the problems, and the fitter you are, the better you will manage.
5) Avoid catching colds. You will find that you have become especially susceptible to colds. There are many things involved here, from a good, varied diet, a daily multivitamin/mineral tablet (don't overdose), cough sweets in the bus/train etc.
The best advice, and perhaps the most difficult and lifestyle threatening, is to follow what (great) grandmother told you, "Wrap up warm!" Think how she would say, "Put on your sweater/scarf/hat/woolly socks before you go out!" You think. "It is not cold outside". You know it isn't "Cool", and you don't want your friends to laugh at you.
If the summer weather is really hot, you can get away with fashionable wear. Otherwise, the bad news is that keeping warm maybe "uncool" but if you ignore this, you will suffer. Ideally, you should keep on the verge of perspiring, and if the surrounding air is fresh and cool, that is the ideal. Avoid stuffy environments. Avoid becoming too hot, sweaty and wet, and then getting chilled. However, if you can arrange to change into dry clothes and not become chilled (as when you go to the gym), all well and good!
I found these lifestyle adaptations very unwelcome. You will have to find your own way to cope. Thinking of these matters will help, and you can lead a normal life, with bouts of extreme exhaustion from time to time. Take comfort in that these will become less severe, and maybe less frequent as the years pass. Otherwise, you are quite normal. You can achieve what you are capable of intellectually, and physically. Face up to the occasional difficulties, and be determined to succeed with your life. Epstein-Barr will not prevent you.