24 replies to this topic

[samplesize]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has encountered similar symptoms and overcome them successfully.

Here's the short sop story:
- glandular fever about 2.5 years ago
- was quite active in triathlons, fun runs etc
- since then have had ongoing mucus issues, bouts of fever and general lethargy
- have been significantly less active
- doctors cannot pinpoint and usual antibiotic treatment makes little effect
- currently clogged up again with snotty symptoms, dry-ish throat occasionally sore, and this time it's been hanging around for about 3 weeks.
- have been sensible, and now just frustrated

please advise

thanks in advance

samplesize

[Saphrax]

Samplesize,

It's not fun - I was hit about 5 years ago and then again after my second ultra when the bod simply decided that was all it was going to take. I train and compete fairly regularly nowadays however have learnt to keep an eye out for the symptoms. As soon as you pick them up slow down. Eventually you will get a feel for how much your body can take. I take regular supplements to keep the good stuff coming in as well.

Good Luck!!

[Mister G]

Yeah- I came down with this bug around September last year, and my immune system and liver function still aren't fully right again. A warning sign I didn't heed was onset of mild psoriasis earlier in the year, which became more severe when the bug fully took hold. I use the psoriasis as a marker these days- if I break out in a rash again, I know I'm too stressed/ not sleeping enough/ not eating well.

Training has not resumed pre-illness levels (for a few reasons, some connected to illness and some not) but I've done a few races this year, including one big ultra.

Can't offer much advice except to really watch your sleep and pay very close attention to what you eat- I can still get fever or bad fatigue from eating certain foods (including dishes with a lot of meat, highly sugared products, alcohol etc). Interestingly I've found eating a lot of fish helps my immune system. Recovery really requires a few lifestyle changes. Make a friend of a good naturopath.

It's a very nasty affliction...

[Grey beard]

I had a smilar experience a few years ago - basically okish after about 3 months but glands in the back of the neck didn't go down for about 6 months and I still had periods of extreme fatigue for no apparent reason and was not properly fit for about 2 years. One thing that worked for me was malt extract (I had a craving for the stuff - the goey brown heavy treacle type). The doc encouraged me to go with what felt right, said to avoid alcohol and endurance type exercise and get plenty of rest.

[Rudolf]

I will stick only with 1 angle here - which was already mentioned : nutrition.

In my opinion, there are 2 food groups which needs to be completely avoided :
1. dairy - all types, and look where else is dairy smuggled in (chocolate etc)
2. margarines, hydrogenated fats, vegetable oils, transfats (beware that all bakery products have them, and lots of kind health products - bars have them, all butter type psredas etc)

To completely clean out those 2 food groups would mean huge step.

Next steps would be going vegetarian and trying to be at least 50% on raw food lifestyle.
There are next steps, like enzymes, special minerals products etc.

A lot can be done with various types of vibrational therapies, but I am not going there, since this is iritating topic to lots of people.

If You wanna talk to me about anything, send me PM

Edited by Rudolf, 04 November 2006 - 04:08 PM.

[Vegie-girl]

Samplesize, it is a tough one to shake, but I would take what Mr G says - nutrition, sleep, less stress and maybe a naturopath too. Good luck.

Rudi, congratulations on sticking only to the nutrition side of things.
Did you think it was good enough to post twice? Maybe you should edit it.

[Rudolf]

Vegie-girl, on Nov 4 2006, 02:36 PM, said:

Rudi, congratulations on sticking only to the nutrition side of things.
Did you think it was good enough to post twice? Maybe you should edit it.

thanks Vegie, I did notrealized what happened, first time it did not get through - could not find the server or something, only get through after resending ?

[runizzyrun]

I had Glandular fever twice when I was 16. This was followed by chronic fatigue (a common occurence). I became a lot better once I started following a very clean diet. However, I did not really feel 100% better until I hit my 30's. Sorry to say, but it's a time thing. You may get better much quicker seeing as you were fit to start with. The question needs to be asked though; why did you get it? Were you overdoing the training? I really hope you get better soon, but I believe you need to be very patient.

[Karen_h]

Hi Samplesize,

You could try taking triple strength Garlic & Horseradish supplements to help ease the mucus symptoms. Maybe get your iron levels checked too to see if you are depleted given that you've had glandular fever. Another good supplement is All B with C (I'm pretty sure it's still available these days). A well balanced diet, rest, along with good supplements to boost you further and you'll get back on track. Vitamin C is especially important with GF.

For the dryish throat - Bioglan have some natural throat lozengers which are fantastic!
Karen

Edited by Karen_h, 05 November 2006 - 12:09 PM.

[freddy]

I had glandular fever when I was 21. Im now 35. I has literrally taken this amount of time to feel fit again. Being young at the time I thought was invincible and didnt take the required rest. Within 8 weeks I was playing rugby, drinking too much and having too many late nights.
Whilst I could still function I never had the same amount of energy or vigour again. It was only once I was in my 30's and had kids that I started eating right and drinking a lot less. It has still probably taken 3 years to reach a good fitness level wheer I can now complete long runs or cycle.

Listen to your doctors, rest up plently, and as others have said nutrition is of utmost importance.

[Cannons_as_if]

I've recently contracted Glandular Fever (6 weeks ago) and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to speed recovery. I'm taking complete rest along with large amounts of vitamin C, garlic and horseradish, fish oil, evening primrose oil, QC 10 (not sure what this is). My doctor theorises that I can resume gentle exercise at the beginning of December. I

s there anything else I could be taking or doing to speed up recovery time as I am hoping to get reasonable fitness back for the U/20 nationals in Febuary? Also I have heard from a lot of people who have never got back to where they were before they got the disease and I am just wondering if anyone has any stories of swift and complete recoveries? Am I perhaps aiming too high?

Any help would be great!

[Mister G]

Cannons,

The main naturopath I consulted (Matthew McGill in Brisbane, who is brilliant) prescribed for me a tonic comprised of four herbs...

Zysiphus
Andrographis
Korean Ginseng
Echinacea

... which did a damn impressive job of alleviating the worst symptoms and starting to rebuild my immune system- but is NOT a miracle cure. I don't recommend you take this specific preparation, as our circumstances are not the same... but it may be good starting point if you consult a naturopath or herbalist.

When it comes to swift and complete recoveries, some people get GF and never realise it- they may have a few days of sore throat and put it down to flu. Every case is different.

[DrJH]

It's not all doom and gloom, although it does vary from person to person. I got it on new years day 1992, and was like 'death warmed up' initially. I kept doing something every day (short and slow at first).

On 8 Feb I was third in the state 1500 (only 3.57, so certainly below my best). The 5k was washed out and held 2 weeks later, allowing me to get closer to my best and win. Then on 5 March I won the national 10k.

I wouldn't recommend running through it (more a case of 'do as I say, not as I do'). However, my story does show that you don't necessarily have to be debilitated for years.

[Rudolf]

Cannons_as_if, on Nov 6 2006, 11:40 PM, said:

Is there anything else I could be taking or doing to speed up recovery time .....

Any help would be great!

You can drink lots of freshly made fruit and vegetable juices, either home made or in juicing centers in shoping centers.

Can also make sure there is no maragrine, hydrogenated fat, trans fat and vegetable oild in Your diet

and make sure You eat plenty of avocados, coconut in various form, have flax seed oil (cold)


Try to have as much raw food as You can, and as little pf processed food, manufactured products etc.

[samplesize]

Thanks everyone for all the advice.

Nutrition is not my strong point, but will certainly take these examples on board.

I think I will get to a naturopath as my next move.

samplesize

[infront]

DrJH, on Nov 6 2006, 01:53 PM, said:

It's not all doom and gloom, although it does vary from person to person. I got it on new years day 1992, and was like 'death warmed up' initially. I kept doing something every day (short and slow at first).

On 8 Feb I was third in the state 1500 (only 3.57, so certainly below my best). The 5k was washed out and held 2 weeks later, allowing me to get closer to my best and win. Then on 5 March I won the national 10k.

I wouldn't recommend running through it (more a case of 'do as I say, not as I do'). However, my story does show that you don't necessarily have to be debilitated for years.

Hi, my son was diagnosed with Glandular Fever a few weeks after placing 3rd at the Qld State XC in July 2006 (coupled with a tibial stress fracture). As a result he had four weeks complete rest,withdrew from Nationals then resumed training very very slowly. He only trains if he feels up to it and so far is feeling ok, but has pulled out of the track season for the rest of the year. We are hoping by doing this he will be able ease into the XC season and then track next year.

We have been advised to have olive leaf extract which he is taking religiously. I am just concerned with the possibility of a relapse or Chronic fatigue.

He was extremely fit at the time he was struck down with severe flu like symptoms incl. very high fevers for almost 2 weeks and what we thought was tonsillitis.
I am hoping that since he was so sick with it but didn't have the lethargy that usually accompanies GF, the he may recover completely by the years end.

Please if anyone knows anyone who recovered and bounced back within a reasonable time frame please let me know.

I have made it clear to him that he is the only one who can tell how he feels and has to listen to his body.

[Trackaroo]

Grey beard, on Nov 4 2006, 05:46 AM, said:

I had a smilar experience a few years ago - basically okish after about 3 months but glands in the back of the neck didn't go down for about 6 months and I still had periods of extreme fatigue for no apparent reason and was not properly fit for about 2 years. One thing that worked for me was malt extract (I had a craving for the stuff - the goey brown heavy treacle type). The doc encouraged me to go with what felt right, said to avoid alcohol and endurance type exercise and get plenty of rest.

I just read about "Grey Beard's" experience, and was amazed as when I had a post viral syndrom from Glandular Fever I craved Malt Extract more than anything else. I would fill cups up with it and smothered it on toast several times a day. Sometimes I was lazy and just sat with the tin and a spoon!
I wonder what is so attractice about it. I have recovered (finally) from my illness and no longer have the same cravings for it. I think it is high in vitamin Bs ....but I never craved Vegimite or anything else high in B in the same way. WEIRD!

[twosheds]

I believe it os quite common for glandular fever to last and relapse for a long time to come. i had it when I was 18 and i got it bad- i didnt move from my bed for a month- didnt shower , or watch Tv even for the first 2 weeks- could barely stand. It got better quickly after the month in bed though- but I know many people who didnt get it so severely- but had it linger. Get [plenty of rest- chronic fatigue Syndrome is not uncommon after Gf.
Good luck- my 18 year old daughter just had it too- she had a bad dose too- needed streiod treatment tpo get the swelling down- all better now though
two sheds

[freespiritfitness]

Mr G's advice is spot on particularly as regards looking for physical 'markers' that indicate stess/diet etc is not great and then taking action including rest and supplements.

2 good immune boosters are Olive Leaf Extract and Lactoferrin.

In some cases Epstein Barr Virus - can trigger other autoimmune disorders so it's worthwhile asking your doctor or naturopath to check things like thyroid function particularly if you have a family history of autoimmune disorders.

The use of antibiotics for sinus/mucous issues is probably going to do more harm than good unless your doctor has confirmed a bacterial infection. Otherwise all you are doing is upsetting your body's natural gut flora balance which is a vital part of a healthy immune system.

Good luck, it's a common affliction particularly amongst athletes and the bottom line is that people seem to get over it eventually.

One positive is that it makes you very aware of ALL the factors that impact health including stress,diet and exercise and is a pretty powerful motivator to combine these as a lifestyle chioce rather than just symptomatic treatment.

There is a lot of great advice in this thread, I hope you're feeling better soon.
TIm

[Grey beard]

Trackaroo, on Feb 23 2009, 02:47 AM, said:

I just read about "Grey Beard's" experience, and was amazed as when I had a post viral syndrom from Glandular Fever I craved Malt Extract more than anything else. I would fill cups up with it and smothered it on toast several times a day. Sometimes I was lazy and just sat with the tin and a spoon!
I wonder what is so attractice about it. I have recovered (finally) from my illness and no longer have the same cravings for it. I think it is high in vitamin Bs ....but I never craved Vegimite or anything else high in B in the same way. WEIRD!

Good to hear I'm not the only one Trackaroo. Strange thing is I don't think I've ever eaten the stuff since. Glad to hear you've recovered.

[julia]

I had glandular fever in year 9 in high school. I wasn't much of a runner then though. But then I was hit with chronic fatigue. That was about 6.5 years ago now...
I started running about 3 years ago properly, and a few months after starting I got struck down again, first with a liver infection, then a kidney infection, and then mycoplasm pneumonia, and if I caught a cold it would always be really REALLY bad.
It was really tough - but I kept running through most of it (although, not as hard), and by the time I got through the infections, I didn't actually realise I had pneumonia - I thought I had the flu. The doctor was pretty sure the amount of running I had done had really helped my lungs and decided not to do anything unless I started having breathing problems.

Now, I don't really get sick anymore. I can't think of the last time I got really sick other than food poisoning.

The fatigue never really went away though. But since I went back on ADHD meds it hasn't been so much of an issue.

So I don't know if that really helps you much, but I did get past the reoccuring symptom part, so there is hope...it just can take a while

[AndyP]

I was surprised to see that there weren't many threads about glandular fever on the forum. I've just had it myself and had about 7 weeks complete rest because of it and related and unrelated issues, and 10 weeks off running all together. I just started running this week and right now it seems like it's a long way back to the sort of running form I was showing before I got sick. I did manage 8k yesterday, but I'm not pushing the speed at all.

It's nice to read some good stories in this thread, albeit just a couple, about quick recoveries and not being affected for years after. It's a bit depressing reading the other stuff.

[silverfish]

AndyP, on 11 August 2011 - 08:55 PM, said:

It's nice to read some good stories in this thread, albeit just a couple, about quick recoveries and not being affected for years after. It's a bit depressing reading the other stuff.

I agree, it's nice to read some of the stories in this thread... gives me hope that I will get over the fatigue and lethargy that I am fighting at the moment. My story is a little bit different as I don't know when I had glandular fever exactly (only that I had had it at some point) - however the GP suspects that the feverish spell I had a few months back must've been glandular since I am having all sorts of trouble with fatigue now (sleeping 12+ hrs, unable to get up, etc). Unfortunately running (which I love and keeps me sane) seems to tire me out and makes me "crash" the next day, so I really have to watch how much exercise I do... slow and steady. Same goes for social activities, timetabling etc... can't do as much as I used to!

Any others struggling thru these things at the moment?

[monocotyledon]

I had glandular fever when I was 13, 11 years ago. I was a very active kid and played lots of sports as a teenager but even now, once I have to sit still for more than 20mins or so I find myself feeling very 'fuzzy' and nodding off. I have no problems sleeping at night or getting up early but struggle tremendously on the 4pm bus home! I slept through most of high school, tafe and then uni, it's just lucky that I have an active job or I'd be asleep at a desk all day. I can't remember what I did to recover from GF, just lots of rest! Mum's also a nurse so I'm sure she pumped me full of vitamins and ecchinacea syrup(sp?)..mind you that stuff tastes disgusting!

[AndyP]

I can provide my own update. It's been six weeks since I started running again after GF. I've gradually built it back up, but seem to be coping fine. As you would expect, I've lost the speed I had before GF, but it's starting to come back without doing any specific training for pace.

The one thing I am struggling with at the moment is mouth ulcers. I got them during GF and now after it, and I'm talking 5 or 6 at a time. I guess it's because I'm still immunodeficient as a result of the GF.