I'm sorry to hear that. I had mono when I was 12 but recovered fairly quickly (2 weeks). I hope that others have more experience for you.

I just came across this online and thought I would reply. I am 33 years old and I had a pretty bad case of mono when I was 17 years old. I was out of school for 3 months. Lost about 8 pounds, and continued to "re-lapse" back into mono for the next 8 months or so. (Every time I would expend too much physical energy). When I had mono, I slept about 20 hours a day, I hardly ate anything (normal for people with mono), developed an incredible thirst for orange juice (and oranges), that lasted for about 4-5? years after the mono. While having mono, I also developed an enlarged spleen, hepatitis, anemia, jaundice, respiratory infection, bronchitis, and well, I generally felt like death for a while. I did get better eventually.

But my reason for responding is this: I don't care what doctors say, I am certain that there is a connection between mono- and post, unexplained medical problems. Honestly, I feel like I have had a 'weak' immune system since mono. I developed allergies out of nowhere. I have had a whole range of small, non-serious, yet very annoying and unexplained medical problems since I had mono. I don't think my body ever REALLY recovered. What would a doctor say? Probably that it's all in my head.
But doctors don't know everything.

I would say that mono, which severely attacks your immune system can absolutely cause lasting damage and weaken your immunity over the long term. For most preople? Probably not. Most people who get mono only have it for two or three weeks and then get better. I'm just saying, it's definitely possible.

Like I said, I'm 33 now. I have way too many stupid little medical problems for someone my age & health. I am physically fit. I eat very well. I do not smoke, rarely drink, and do not drugs. No diseases. I could probably stand to exercise a bit more, but otherwise I SHOULD be in very good health. But I'm sick constantly. Allergies. Sinus problems. Infections. Easily exhausted. Extreme sensitivity to cold weather. Get sick easily. Stay sick for 6-8 weeks at a time with something as simple as a head cold.

I'm 34, and I got mono for the first time in January. It was a severe case, and I tested positive for both the EBV and CMV viruses. The swelling in my neck was so bad that it had to be treated with steroids so I could breathe. I was in bed for three months.

Anyway, I got better briefly, but now the entire right side of my body is wracked with pain, and no one seems to know why. It hurts all the way from my right hip up to my right ear. The neck and ear pain turned out to be an ear infection, but I don't know why the rest of me hurts. One day it was so bad I went to the ER and was diagnosed with appendicitis. They did a CT scan and discovered it wasn't appendicitis. They said they didn't see anything in there that would cause pain like that, and they sent me home and told me to take an Advil.

I am also constantly nauseated, and I've lost 16 pounds without trying. It has been six months since the initial mono diagnosis, and I just feel like it's been one illness after another. Nothing serious, but definitely annoying enough to interfere with day to day activities. I've seen 7 different doctors about this, and they've run various tests but haven't found anything.

Has anyone else experienced symptoms like this? Got any idea what this could be? Suggestions for solutions?

Thanks.

The leading doctor on cold urticaria, Dr. Alan Wanderer in Bozeman, MT believes that onset of cold urticaria is often preceded by Mono or other viral infection. (This is not proven yet.) I don't know if this is published, but he has a workbook avail on Amazon.

If you need a great doctor, he is very thorough and knowledgeable on this condition, if you can travel to Bozeman. But there are other good allergists all over the country. You can write to him to see if you are a good candidate for treatment.

I was diagnosed with mono in early 2006, mainly because I went to see a doctor about a rather terrible swollen throat (which was caused by a secondary infection). I didn't have a difficult recovery and about two months later ran a 10 mile race already. After six months though, I suddenly started to feel very weak and again had a swollen throat and glands. Went back to the same doctor, who said it couldn't be the mono again...until the test results came in That time it took me longer to recover and feel relatively fit again (I've always done lots of sports, never smoked, and the only drugs for me is the occasional alcohol on a night out). I did get over it in three months or so, but ever since develop small illnesses and also react alergically to insect bites. It's quite frustrating because before the mono I NEVER got sick... (take that literally, I can't remember going to the doctor before 2006) And now, whenever I sleep too little I get a sore throat, whenever I go 'deep' in sports I catch a cold, etc etc.

What also bugs me at times is that the people around you (quite understandably) think that you constantly whine about nothing. And honestly, I've asked myself if it was not 'all just in my head'. So for that reason I'm happy to read all of your stories here. But it also scares me a bit... I wish all of you and myself a quick recovery of our immune systems!

Also, ever since the mono I easily develop a rash after spending some time in the sun. Luckily this only occurs on my chest, not on my arms or in my face, which would be really bad!