Mononucleosis Forum - Odd symptoms of mononucleosis

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Q: Odd symptoms of mononucleosis

asked by: dwillsey on January 24th, 2009

New User

Without delving into a huge history of the last four weeks, I will attempt to keep this brief.

Essentially, two days after Christmas '08 I woke up with a mild headache, soreness in the eyes, nuchal rigidity, and feeling extremely tired, almost drunk. I dismissed it as having slept wrong, but symptoms persisted for a few days. I went to my PCP and was informed that I was either experiencing tension headache or I had some odd virus that would go away soon. As far as I know I did not and have not had a high fever, sore throat, or sinus congestion.

A week went by and I was not feeling any better. My symptoms were leading me to a neurological disorder that suddenly expressed. I could not well interpret my symptoms; the best I could do was tell the doctor that I felt "lightheaded almost, dizzy sort-of, but not really... as in I'm not actually dizzy." My headache was waxed and wained, and I lost my appetite severely.

After going to the ER twice in a desperate search of a diagnosis, and having a CT scan that came back perfectly normal, I was finally diagnosed with mono about 15 days after my first symptoms. I had bloodwork done and a lumbar puncture, to check to see if I had viral meningitis. I believe the results of the LP and bloodwork were all normal, including a "normal" white blood cell count. The doctor only knew to suspect mono, I was told, when a lymphocyte test revealed a high number of abnormal lymphocytes. Monospot confirmed acute infection.

It has now been about four weeks, and I'm having a hard time with being able to tell if I feel any different than I did two weeks ago. The week after the lumbar puncture was hell, as I believe I was having headaches from the puncture on top of my mono symptoms, and my back was painfully sore for about a week.

It just seems so bizarre to me. The last week I have had a few days where it seems like my brain "fog" is starting to clear up, but today was horrible again. There's definitely nothing linear about the progression of my symptoms... it's like they just moved in and have not gotten better or worse, really.

I'm happy to read that many other people have described almost exactly what I feel with my mono. I can't help but keep obsessing that something neurological is going on. I don't feel sick. My sinuses are not congested at all. My temperature is normal. My throat has never hurt (not to the point of noticing, at least) My primary symptom is this "off" feeling that is persistent. It's like I just took two Vicodin with no pain and without the ensuing euphoria. I can't really describe it as extreme fatigue... it's not necessarily that I'm extremely tired, it doesn't seem like. It's just this constant "off" feeling... a quasi-dizziness/vertigo thing is slight but enough to make my life miserable.

My headaches have seemed to slightly diminish, but are still coming and going. And my appetite is still non-existent. I also have odd sensations in my right foot and left leg, almost "pins and needles" but not quite. It doesn't seem like I have lost any strength, and I wouldn't describe it as numbness.. but something's just not right. I can feel it worst when I'm lying in bed.

The 27th will have been one month since I came down with this. It's horrible.

To all the people who have experienced what I am experiencing... does it ever go away? And how abnormal are my symptoms? I am getting anxious and worried that it will never clear up, and wondering if in fact mono is really what's behind everything.

Replies(6)

mks1128

replied on May 14th, 2009

New User

mono

Hi, I've experienced a lot of the neuro symptoms as well... tingling/numbness, etc. i was diagnosed w/ mono in feb, so haven't felt well for 3 mos. i'm in my late 20's so i dont know if its effecting me worse than someone younger- but aches and pains, muscle weakness etc. are also my main symptoms. I've had an mri and numerous tests and everything else has come back normal. i see you posted this awhile ago- did you get better?

grolsch15

replied on June 24th, 2009

New User

The last three months of my life have been hell. Eleven weeks ago I began having this strange feeling in my head that was incredibly difficult to describe to other people. I suppose the best way to describe it is feeling like your stoned/drunk or having the flu but only in your head. I didn't really have any other major symptoms, though I was perhaps a little weak/lethargic. Anyways, this feeling in my head would come in waves, usually the worst occuring an hour after I got out of bed. The waves would typically last 1-2 hours. I began having terrible panic attacks and anxiety, I literally thought I was going mad. I went to the ER several times, and to a doctor at the health center at my college. I was diagnosed with an anxiety/panic disorder and given xanax and put on prozac. For the next several months I lived a terrified existence. The continued to go the doctor every couple of days, and every time they would just suggest I upped my antidepressent dose. I felt misunderstood and all alone in all my fear and panic. I became grew very hopeless and became a sort of agoraphobic and began to think a lot about suicide. The only thing that helped was the xanax, which I began taking regularly. I began noticing that when my panic subsided I still felt sick...like something was wrong with me. Finally, a week ago I went to an ER in another city and an understanding doctor ran a blood test on me and it came up positive for MONO! What a relief I felt at knowing what was wrong with me. I still have a bit of anxiety (it became such a part of my life that now its hard to get rid of) but no where near like i did. I think it is important for people to realize that if you get Mono in your twenties (I'm 24) you can experience none of the regular symptoms--fever, cough, sore throat, etc. The only real symptoms I had were in my head, like only my brain got sick. Anyways, I'm doing a lot better now, though I still feel like i'm stoned. It's been three months, and I have had no improvement. I've done a lot of reading and it seems that this could last up to six months.

mks1128

replied on June 24th, 2009

New User

hi, thanks for your reply. sorry to hear about all the issues you've had- mine sound somewhat similiar. i'm still dealing w/ some neuro type stuff as well- off and on. i guess its the lack of energy, tired muscles that still bother me at times. I just dont feel back to normal! it's been almost 5 mos now. i want to say things are getting a little better, but it's really hard to tell. i was taking alot of iburpofin for aches and pains and now am taking tramadol at times- it's like a narcotic for pain... i think it helps some
hang in there...

UConn5

replied on August 15th, 2009

New User

Mononucleosis - Odd Symptoms

To everyone - Thank You! I, too, am considered "old" for contracting mono. I am a 29 yo female. My symptoms have been nothing like the typical symptoms for mono. I began in early May 2009 with extreme headaches that were pushed aside as severe allergies, and I was given allergy medications. Obviously, it did not help. I expressed that I was feeling extreme fatigue and all the normal blood work was done - thyroid, CBC, & iron. Everything came back normal. I ended up going back at the end of May because of a racing heartbeat. Once again, I was told that I was having an extreme allergic reaction. I went back to the MD in mid-June for a bladder infection. (Other bacterial infections are common when one has mono.) After a course of anti-biotics, I went back because I still did not feel better. I expressed that I felt like I had one huge infection. The nurse practitioner said that since everything bacterial had been ruled out we should check viral - the mono test came back positive. I have had the weird neuro symptoms - tingling/burning/numbness in my feet - which has thankfully cleared up. I have had the extreme fatigue - sleeping 18hrs/day was not uncommon. My muscles constantly feel like they have a cold. The extreme headaches have gone away. The racing heart rate is beginning to resolve. I was sent to cardiology for that and was assured after a stress test that it is a function of the virus. Everything I keep reading is assuring in that it just takes extreme amounts of rest. I keep taking a whole host of vitamins and drinking tons of water. There are good days, and there are bad days, but on the whole there is improvement. Good luck everyone. Mono is not as cut & dry as many make it sound.

MF26

replied on August 16th, 2009

New User

My symptoms were not the normal mono symptoms either. I am 26 years old and it started with a headache, backache, dizziness and chills and fever. After about 10 days I started getting joint and muscle aches and also some pins and needles. The achy joints went on for a few months and the pins and needles came and went. It is now 6 months later and I have good days and bad days. Some days I get really fatigued. I also have muscle twitches (especially after exercise).

My advice: When you start feeling better, remember to still exercise at about 30 - 50% of what you used to. I started full steam again and relapsed.

step19

replied on September 12th, 2009

New User

Insomnia caused by Excessive Night Sweats and Soar Soar Throat.

Hey there, I was diagnosed with mono about 2 weeks ago, and just lately I have began suffering from what I can only describe as the most unbearable insomnia caused by a ridiculous soar throat and excessive sweating, especially at night. I have been trying to drink everything from Ice water to a steaming hot cup of Green Tea and nothing just seems to make it better!! Does anyone have any advice? Has this even happened to anyone? especially the sweating?

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