Glandular Fever recovery

I've been diagnosed with glandular fever (blood test has confirmed it) and am five weeks in and still feeling dreadful. Doctor has said at least another two weeks off work minimum and months until I feel properly 'well' again and am able to run.

I'm usually very active, running long distances, plus I do a lot of yoga. At the moment I can't do anything apart from sleep and sit around the house and I'm struggling to see an end to it.

Anyone else facing the same problem? Or has anyone any tips on how to get over it quicker?

I dont want to be the bearer of bad news but this can take a *very* long time to get over, or it can be very quick
It took me the best part of a year to recover and then another 4 or 5 years to recover fully ... at that time I was particularly sporty and there is no way I could have done anything more than get dressed

You cannot force recovery on this, sleep and rest and eat healthily

The more you try to do the longer recovery will take

Sorry its not more cheerful  

Thanks both - and don't worry, quite a few people have warned me it's a log haul.

Did you find you had to start making yourself be more active to help pull yourself out of it? Or is it a case of rest, rest, rest until your body tells you it is able to do things?

Take time to rest and recover.
I know someone who got glandular fever, rested then pushed to get back fit too much too soon and ended up with CFS/ME for 5 years, only cleared up when she got pregnant.
Remember it is a virus, you have to rest with a proper dose of flu, this is just worse and needs respect.
If you can find a gentle non active hobby to do in the mean time that will keep your mind busy.

Thanks - you're right, as soon as I have a day where I feel I can do a bit more (although the extent of this is something like being able to cook dinner!) then I'm completely wiped out again the next day.

I'm trying to just be accepting of the tact that it takes a while, but it's hard when all you can think about is getting better and getting back to normal!

Shamelessly bumping my own thread back up top in the hope someone else might have some ideas/help.... Seven weeks in and feeling quite low now

Managing a bit of yoga but can't walk very far and still off work. Doooooooom.

Hi Real Girl 

I am currently off work with pneumonia and have been doing virtually nothing for the last 6 weeks . Like you I am active - running , biking , yoga, pilates etc.

I have just started doing some walks and have to admit to feeling very tired afterwards as my body is weak from lack of activity.

I have no idea when I am likely to be able to run again - but what I do know is that your body will tell you when it is ready and when you have done too much.

You will get back to it - and it will be all the sweeter when you do.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery        

RGR, something I was told years ago after similar 'problem' you have to think of your energy reserves as a box with only a certain amount of energy in it. When you have used up that box, its gone, and you will be using the following days, etc etc. If you can learn NOT to use the whole box, day after day after day, things do start improving. slowly.

Initially (in my case) I worked out that I had less than 4 hours use in my box a day, the rest of the day HAD to be resting or sleeping. If I did 6 hours one day, I would be stuffed for the next couple of days, provided I rested and did nothing on those couple of days. If I tried to do more, I was stuffed for a lot longer. Think of those figures, the box takes 20 hours to give me my 4 hours use. thats 5:1. Your 'extra' 2 hours over use will take an extra 10 hours to replace, on top of the normal recovery! scary stuff.

Eventually, it improved, but even now, When run down, it comes back to bite if I dont recognise the signs when they re appear.

Listen to your body, if the box is out of energy, stop and use less the next few days!