Hey Matt,
I posted over a month ago and I'm sorry to report I'm not feeling any better. I'm now well into my 5th month with this brainfog/stoned feeling and I really haven't showed any improvement. In fact, I'm due to start grad school here in a few weeks, but I'll probably withdraw. No matter how healthy i live, I just can't seem to kick this virus. My initial infection was very similar to yours. Strep/mono, a month of feeling back to normal, then BAM, brainfog, and I've been like this ever since. I've been feeling brainfog for so long that I don't even remember that I can hardly remember what it felt like to feel 0 healthy. I hope your infection clears up sooner than mine, and if you find any treatment that works, let me know.

I too have been diagnosed with mono here recently for the second time in my life, first was 18 yrs. ago and now again at 45 yrs. old. The symptoms that I am currently having are about the same with the exception of the "brain fog" just not feeling yourself feeling. My spleen seems to be swollen and my stomach is constantly hurting and of course the drained energy! I am also having heart palpatations and seem to really be anxious at times. My chest and back hurt from time to time and believe it or not I woke up this morning and could hardly move my right knee. Does this all sound familiar?

Hello to Everyone who Has Suffered from or Loves Someone who is Suffering from Mono,

I am the parent of a young man, a high level college athlete, who was diagnosed in February of this year with the EBV. He got severely swollen glands, sore throat and nausea, swollen spleen, high titers for mono, mono-related hepatitis, etc. Then, after about 6 weeks, when the virus was supposedly "going away" or "gone", he went back to playing his sport intensely, and attending classes, etc. Unfortunately, a terrible series of events unfolded...

1st, after the first month, he was actually just beginning to experience the fatigue and exhaustion phase, but he didn't understand that, because so much time had passed already and 2nd, he began to experience panic and anxiety due to not understanding how sick he was, and to isolating, and just to being sleep deprived and very, very sick. I will also pause a moment here to tell you that the college handled his diagnosis process horribly, they told him he could probably have HIV, or Lymphoma, just because of the swollen glands, and initial negative mono test. That really frightened and panicked him. From nowhere, he developed some pretty awful depression, hopelessness, confusion, panic and anxiety.

Luckily, he was able to come home in May, and we, his family, were able to support him, by reassuring him he would eventually heal, by encouraging him to talk and cry and express himself, to unbottle all the fears he had stored up during the semester and hidden from his friends. He had developed a pattern of just trying to "play off' the weird panicky feelings he was getting but really he though he was going insane. He had no idea how sick he was. Ironically, the thing that had most helped him throughout his whole life was possibly hurting him, which was exercise. So he couldn't turn to that. Then that made him feel so much worse. Many doc's wanted to put him on antidepressants, but we urged him not tot take them, to do a lot of talk therapy, and to be patient, and we told him to borrow our faith that he would definitely heal up, he just had to start getting some sleep and temporarily remove himself from situations which provoked anxiety, such as large social gatherings.

Even though it has now been 7 months since his diagnosis, we are confident this will go away. It is not as fast as he wants, and he is missing a lot of the things he most wants to do in his life, but we are urging him to focus on all he has accomplished, not the least of which is that over this past summer, he no longer feels like physical crap all day long, he is no longer depressed, and he no longer needs anti-anxiety pills if he stays in calm situations. That is a lot.

I am wondering if anyone knows why the exhaustion lingers so long and if there is anything to be "done" about it. He is definitely still plagued with the waves of "weird" feeling he gets, almost every day. He describes it as if his whole body is paralyzed by fatigue, but his mind does not necessarily want to go to sleep. He is now more comfortable with the feeling which used to frighten him before, and which used to send him into depression and anxiety.

So, I have gone on for quite a while, but I hope this story offers hope to others, and that if there are any of you out there who might know of someone who -- yes -- maybe had mono for a long time, but who beat it eventually, then kindly post your story to give further encouragement to a young man who needs some support.

Also if anything helped you or your loved one...Vit. B shots? Coconut oil? Vit C?

Thanks, and good luck to all of you.
A Hopeful Parent.

omg guys, as im reading you all, im surprised that all these symptoms you've had do exist! actually, i thought i was alone experiencing these feelings and everything.. no one can believe me, and it's hard to explain it to the people anyways. i come from slovakia and it seems like i had to come to america to learn something about myself lol. well, doctors in slovakia suck! im glad that there're exceptions lol. but why i wasnt told that this all what's been happening with me was about to stay with me for the rest of my life just because i once got mono? i got it when i was about 12 i guess. i was a lil serious case, after one-two years suffering from it i got even toxoplasmosis which was something similar. why the doctors didnt tell me how would i feel when im healed? i've been struggling with my own feelings and trying to figure out what was that all those years! i had to study a lot to get to know at least something, and after a long time having a break from getting any mono info i got to read this forum and about you guys. WOW! thank God for you, i already thought i was crazy. it's been about 9 years since i got it and still didnt shake off those silly feelings. i keep feeling like i wasnt me, lots of dizziness, lots of headaches, i was restricted from eating certain food and was told not to smoke, drink alcohol, not eating too sweet/fatty food. simply, i was told to lead a healthy life, because the mono virus is the thing i will carry for the rest of my life. i've been trying so hard, i knew that that tiredness i always felt was caused by mono and i wanted to stop it. i made an end to it thanks to living healthy. but later on.. well, i have a chronical fatigue, dont feel so energetic and can't do many things i loved before. i was hyperactive before i got mono, and i want my life back so much!!!!!!! i've had troubles with learning, keeping in touch with friends, i lost appetite and i keep loosing my mood to do whatever, so that means if i dont change the activities after i've gotten bored, i would experience something like a killing boredom.. i just feel constantly depressed! there're good days too of course, but it's become a part of my life what i not really like.. thanks guys for telling all of your stories, it helped me very much!

I'm so sorry to hear the horrible time all of you posters have been having, I truly am... I'm a 15 year old girl and I was diagnosed with mono on July 10th. My only symptoms were fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. That month was one of the worst months of my life - I became very depressed. On August 10th (exactly one month later) I went to a different doctor that told me I was fine, and that he didn't think I'd even had mono before!
...So because I was "released", I joined the soccer team and started playing immediately. I felt pretty tired the first 2 or 3 weeks, but I just passed that off as being out of shape after doing nothing for a month.
The fatigue and headaches kept up for the next few weeks, and I also began to have feelings of anxiety and depression... and it only gets worse. If I sit to long by myself, I drive myself mad with gloomy questions and thinking. I've lost interest in everything. Before, i was a straight A student, very athletic, and a friendly person (if not social)... now, I feel as if I have to force myself to do anything. I don't ever want to talk to friends, or anyone for that matter... it's like I hate people or something. And I use to exercise ALL the time, and now I'm completely unmotivated. I keep telling myself it's going to pass, and I know it's from the mono, but it only gets worse. I feel like crying every day because I know that this isn't me. My parents are trying to help me, but it's hard to describe how I feel. Before, i was very happy and optimistic - a go-getter. Now, I feel emotionless. I have trouble focusing to what people are saying to me, or thinking logically. I just want this to be over because I'm missing so many fun moments in my life like Homecoming, and our "group" outtings. None of the doctors are in agreement of what's wrong with me, and I think half of them are just trying to slap a diagnosis and move on.
I know I'm a teenager, so that doesn't help the whole depression and anxiety thing... but I just have a gut feeling that something is completely wrong. My mom is setting up some appointments so I can talk to a counselor.. hopefully that would help. Anyone who wants to talk about what they're going through, or things that help, please contact me. Best of luck to all of you!

Hey SleepyMatt,

Hopefully by month 4 four now, you've had some improvement in your depression/anxiety symptoms and in your overall recovery!
I am nearing the end of my 3rd month with mono, still not completely better myself and have had too many consecutive sleepless nights to where all of these posts are forcing me to believe that this anxiety is really REAL :/. I need this rest to get better and haven't had it as of late. The lack of sleep affects my mood, and though THIS IS MY SECOND TIME WITH MONO, for some reason it's almost completely different.
I was able to go to class and study and that was my life the last time.
This time, I have a feeling of fullness after eating, inconsistent bowel movements, deep sighing from either being tired or the discomfort of my somewhat enlarged spleen, sinus infections...just never-ending problems!
I have decided to go see my doctor tomorrow for some anxiety pills because this no sleep nonsense is just retarded.
Have you already seen your doctor regarding depression and anxiety?
Mono is a really misunderstood pain in the ass! But like I said, hope you've improved!

~Jennifer, age 24

I'm honestly crying my eyes out right now, because all of these things have happened to me. I was diagnosed with mono last month and after two weeks I felt like I was back to normal...but then the anxiety and the hoplessness and the obbsessive thoughts kicked in. I have to constantly tell myself I'm not going crazy and its just the mono. But I honestly am not sure. I was prescribed something to sleep which helps some nights. Everyone around me is asking me what is wrong with me, and I just cant explain it to them, and they blow it off like it's no big deal, when I feel like my whole world is falling apart because of these feelings. No one posted above seems to have had any luck even up to 7 months later, and it just terrifies me, because I cant live like this. I have been to the ER three times in one month and each time they just send me home. I feel like there is no hope, and I'm already too tired of living this way. I'm so thankful people are feeling the same things...and im not going crazy.

-Caitlin 17...trying to keep the hope<3

i have had similar symptoms after my original throat and swollen lymphnoids went away. the anxiety and depression seem to come in the afternoons, around five. also i feel tired all day even after a large amount of sleep the day before, is anyone getting better?

Ive had mono since a little more than a year and I lost over 30 pounds. i havent felt normal since i got it i feel down all the time, I dont really like going out anymore, I have wierd pains all over my body and i usallay have a cough with green stuff and I also have psoriasis and used to take emberl. Ive been to so many doctors and had so many test done i dont know what to do anymore and they didnt give me steriods because they said i would die if they did

SO... I'm completely there with you guys. I'm 21, and taking some classes... and have been trying to get a job, but wanted to get over this first. Have been diagnosed with strep but tried different antibiotics which haven't helped a bit. I haven't tested for mono but I'm pretty sure I have it as I have all the symptoms. And the way you all have described the dizzy/foggy/stoned feeling is exactly what I've been experiencing!! And wanting to sleep ALL the time... not caring about anything else, even having trouble thinking clearly... keeping up with classes has been really hard! But thankfully I've been sleeping fine and have been peaceful... Really all of you that is only by God's grace... He is the one that keeps me at peace I believe or else I'd prb be having anxiety attacks as well. A couple years back I was experiencing extreme anxiety and insomnia... literally hadn't slept in 2 months and couldn't sleep b/c of the anxiety.. .but in desperation I cried out to God and he literally came and put me to sleep every night... He has just saved my life and I just want to testify to that on here.. that wherever you are and whatever you are experiencing, there is nothing that God can't help you through... sometimes he just heals, other times He allows us to experience hard things.. but no matter what He just loves us so completely and is always there! Just call to Him and talk to him... mmm he is beautiful. So I'm just praying right now for God to heal this strep/mono and am also trying nutrition... which has been helping some. I'll let you all know if I have any breakthroughs...
Be encouraged... this won't last forever!!!

Hello everyone, I think I also have mono. I got sick about 4 weeks ago with a cold. After a couple of days I was over it but in the upcoming weeks I began to feel a daily malaise. It felt strange but I knew my body was trying to fight something. After 3 weeks of getting the cold, I got my appetite back but not completely. I noticed that I was now extremely fatigued when I went to work and I also felt lightheaded. With this came the panic attacks. I would sleep ok but would wake up in the middle of the night with a panic attack. My wife was beginning to think I was going crazy. My bloodwork was clear and my doctor told me it was stress. So a couple of days ago I went back to the doctor and demanded she test me for mono. I am convinced I have this virus because nothing can explain the strange feelings that come over me with this condition I'm in. I have not experienced the fever or sore throat as my only symptoms are extreme fatigue, dizziness and body aches. The doctors have cleared me on everything else. I'm starting to feel very depressed and I can't even explain it to my wife. I love her dearly and she is expecting our second child next month. This should be a happy time for me but I feel very down right now. It's very difficult to live life normally. I'm just putting my faith in God that this condition I have will pass. Please pray for me.

I thought everyone here should know that they aren't alone. I too have similar symptoms of everyone here. I've had mono for 2 full months now (plus the incubation period). Everytime I start to feel better, I go out and do something like go to a bonfire or push myself too hard in class (stay out all night doing a lab in college) and the next night im in bed with a fever. I had a blood test where they tested a ton of different things such as white blood count, organ inflammation of many of my organs (such as spleen/liver/pancreas) and all of the tests came back normal. At the beginning of the mono my monospot test came back positive, but when I had the blood test the second time (2 months later) the monospot came back negative, but the Epstein Bar test came back positive that I had "previously" had mono.

I didn't experience any of the neck/swollen symptoms, I just had tiredness/dizzyness/loss of appetite/and nausea. I was around 175 pounds, but I am only about 155 now as I can't seem to eat as much as I used to.

I searched on the internet for HOURS the past few months thinking I was the only person who got an extreme case of mono which wouldn't leave.

Oh during the fevers I get chills and can feel like I feel my heart beat harder (my heartbeat becomes noticeable) and I get anxiety attacks (even though I'm not anxious) at random places where I get chills and feel my heart beating faster/harder. It also causes nausea. I can't seem to ride in a car for more than 20 minutes or I feel sick to my stomach.

Mono DEFINITELY SUCKS!!! The doctors don't seem to think I have mono anymore because my blood tests say that I am an extremely healthy man (I'm 22 btw). They think my continued nausea/random fevers are just me not resting enough during the recuperation phase of mono.

Oh btw I am a senior in college and have an EXTREMELY stressful life of classes which doesn't help.

Everyone hang in there, Apparently Mono isn't just a simple virus that everyone gets and gets over in 2-3 weeks. There apparently are cases that are MUCH worse.

Wow I can't believe that the way I'm feeling is actually a product of having mono in frickin April, but you guys sound just like me. I had it really bad with pretty much every symptom you can think of and after about a month I became pretty much paralyzed with depression. That intense depression didn't last too long, but ever since I haven't felt the same.

I get so inside my head now and start getting upset about things that are so out of my control like time and the point of living. And I find myself getting anxious about leaving the house to go out with my friends. I don't understand what's happening to me! I have never been this kind of person and now I feel so helpless.

I just don't know what to do or when this feeling will go away, but it helps me to know that I'm not the only one...