Glandular Fever....it sucks!

[Seryth]

So, I've not been active for the past couple of weeks, because I've currently got glandular fever. The glands in my neck were swollen to about the size of ping-pong balls, I couldn't swallow anything unless I was stuffed on so many painkillers that I couldn't feel anything when I pinched myself! I also had a high temperature, no appetite, headache, swollen liver, and so on and so forth. There was also the energy loss; It took up too much energy to read, or even watch a film. All I could manage was audio books. It was very, very nasty.

Luckily, the worst is over now, and I can eat once more, the glands have gone down a lot (though they're still swollen), and my temperature is just going up every so often.
The main thing now is energy loss. Just going downstairs to eat absolutely tires me out, as does so many other trivial things.

Now for the most horrible part; this all means no cycling for a few weeks! I've obviously not been riding for the past two, but I'm not allowed to ride until I'm completely better, due to the fact I might peter out halfway through a ride, and fall, which could be fatal as glandular fever swells your internal organs slightly in some cases (my liver has been swollen). If I fell off, I could run the risk of a ruptured liver, which I don't even want to think about.
Sad days, when I'm limited to bed and cycling documentaries!
-Jacob

 

[Melonfish]

Welcome to the club! i only suffered a minor bout but i got hte same issue, tired from walking from one room to another, you feel like a kitten could maul you and there's nothing you could do about it. sleeping all day hell tired just going anywhere.

you'll get whats known as "post viral fatigue" once the fever is gone, it means weeks in this condition.
sadly it also means whenever you get a cold or virus of any kind you'll relapse with PVF and it may wipe you out for a while!
but fear not, you get used to it and can manage, there are loads of people who've had this. also i find cycling means you get less colds/flu's anyways.
hope you're back on the bike soon but take my word for it, take it SLOW, build your strength up slowly and when you feel ready give it a go.
it shocked me that i was out of breath from climbing my stairs but thats how it is.

 

[ColinJ]

Bad luck Jacob, and get well soon!

I had glandular fever (or something very similar) when I was a student. I went through a period of extreme fatigue, sometimes sleeping for more than 12 hours at a time, even though I normally only needed 6-8 hours a night. It was about a year before I really felt well again.

 

[Minotier]

I wish all sufferers of this debilitating condition a strong and speedy recovery as possible.
One of my mates had it in their early twenties and it really flattened them.
All the best

 

[Seryth]

@Melonfish Yeah, the last thing I want to do is start going so soon and hard that I end up dead for another week! I guess it'll be better in the long run to slowly build up, though it feels so annoying not to be able to just get out there and ride!

@ColinJ It's strange, I'm flitting between sleeping like a log and not being able to sleep. A couple of nights ago I slept for about 12 hours, but the night before that I woke up at 5AM and wasn't able to get back to sleep!

@Minotier Thankyou, I'm trying hard to make a speedy recovery!

 

[dellzeqq]

Jacob. No kissing. For a long time. That's what got you in to this state. Desist until you get a signed note from the doc, your mum and three CycleChatpeeps over the age of 80, specifically Smeggers, Archie_Tect and ASC1931

As for the thing in the thread title. No. Don't do that either.

 

[Seryth]

Jacob. No kissing. For a long time. That's what got you in to this state. Desist until you get a signed note from the doc, your mum and three CycleChatpeeps over the age of 80, specifically Smeggers, Archie_Tect and ASC1931

As for the thing in the thread title. No. Don't do that either.

No one believes me when I tell them that there was no kissing involved to give me glandular fever....I promise! I'm but a lone cyclist....and I don't kiss my bike

 

[ttcycle]

GWS - a friend of mine had it years ago- not nice at all.

Try not to share any food with anyone as it's infectious in the saliva.
Take it easy and be prepared for recovery to take months.

The bike will be there for you when you're ready, your health is important so do take your time. All the best Jacob!

 

[Seryth]

@ttcycle Thanks!
I never share my food anyway, I'm very protective over it!
It's hard for me to take it easy, I'm normally so active....but it's true, I do need to rest as much as possible!

 

[ttcycle]

@ttcycle Thanks!
I never share my food anyway, I'm very protective over it!
It's hard for me to take it easy, I'm normally so active....but it's true, I do need to rest as much as possible!

Well my friend told me she had glandular fever part way through a Chinese meal where you eat from plates communally! Luckily, no-one else got it.

It is hard but whilst you're still zapped like you are, trying to push it will do you harm. You've just got to be patient. I think she was sick and still very tired and run down for a further 6 months to a year after so do be easy on yourself.