I'm 29 years old and I just got diagnosed with mono today (as well as strep.) I dont think age matters. When she told me I thought that too though, I thought mono was for teenagers.

My doctor said my LIVER was swollen....I wonder if she meant my spleen? I hate how they all say different things.

In September of 1999 I had mono and an enlarged spleen. I had serious fatigue for about 4-5 years and now it seems to come and go. My left side has hurt since I had mono, even though my spleen is not enlarged. I was an avid runner before I had mono but have not run since because my side hurts if I exercise, or even if I get stressed. After a recent 9 day work stretch my pain was so bad I was in tears and called my doctor (who I've mentioned the pain to before but she assured me that spleen pain goes away). She sent me for a CT scan and it showed nothing. She gave me some pain gel and patches to help make the pain go away. I've been using the gel for 3 days and have not noticed a difference. In fact it seems to make it worse because I am touching the area. I'm wondering if when the spleen becomes enlarged if it is possible that muscles or tissues around it are injured? It seems there are a lot of people on this website with a similar problem but there is no research on this issue. Any input would be appreciated.

I've had mono off and on over the last 10 yrs. This last bout came after having pneumonia. I ate fresh produce and was better in 3 weeks, then overdid it and felt like my spleen was going to blow. I've basically been bed-ridden because of it. I always have to lie down when it hurts.
I found an amazing e-book by Elizabeth Noble from Australia with wholistictherapycentre.com she had mono so much she became a naturopath to cure it. It has outstanding advice that has made all the difference for me.

I am 45 years old and an Epstein Barr Virus Carrier. Mono is quite common among EBV carriers. I have swollen glands (my throat feels like I cant swallow) and I have that acute pain on the upper left side of my abdomen. The internet says an enlarged spleen is a side affect to mono,and should be checked if the pain gets severe. Yet the Drs. in past postings seemed to have shrugged these complaints.My pain is severe and is getting worst. When is severe pain severe enough to seek medical help? Any suggestions?~ LPaul

I have been having all the symptoms reported here; rib pain, dual aching pain, under the breast bone and left arm pit all the way down to the bottom of the ribs on the left side. The ribs on my left side feel like they stick out more than my right side. I've been in pain day in and day out for the past 8 months. I've stumped the doctors as I have had blood tests, Bone scan, X-Rays and a CT Scan and have had all these tests come back normal. I've been to a chiropractor and a massage therapist and still no relief. It's not normal to have pain like this all the time. Anyone have any suggestions.

Hi I am also new to the forum. I have never been diagnosed with mono but have recently noticed some tenderness in the area of my spleen. Ar first I thought it was a pulled muscle because it was so close to the underneath side of my ribs. But today I noticed that there were enlarged lymph glands in my left armpit that were also tender. I had a sever sore throat the first part of July when I was away on vacation and my doc called me in some antibiotics which seemed to do the trick. It was several weeks after that that I noticed the pain in my left side.
I am a nurse and have some experience and knowledge with causes of chronic pain, and there is current research that shows that unrelieved acute pain can lead to chronic pain. It is like once that pain receptors get activated or over stimulated they stay active and the body can no longer block the pain chemicals. It sounds like this pain, whatever the cause can become chronic. So I guess the moral of the story is to not let it hurt for a prolonged period of time. I am going to try to see my md on friday and see what he has to say.
if I learn anything else from him I will share it. Good luck to everyone. You might want to check the website on the American Pain Foundation.
dc

I have been having the pain in my left side for a month or so now and i have seen 5 different doctors who all tell me i have a viral infection. The pain comes and goes it is not constant but at night i get hot flashes because the pain gets so intense. I have told my doctor about the pain and he said it was reminance of the viral infection and that it was just irritating my ribcage. He has made no attempts to look into it any further then that. I also find that i am tired all the time and when i eat the pain gets really bad, no matter how i lay sit or stand it does not go away. I am lost and i am not sure where to go from here, i feel kind of wierd going back to the doctor as much as i ahve when he has not told me anything.

My 14-year old daughter was just diagnosed a week ago with mono. Just recently, she began having pains in her upper left abdomen and was diagnosed with an enlarged spleen. She has PE classes at school, and I am wondering if the exercising will worsen her condition. She is required to do crunches and run laps (up to a mile at a time). The school staff seem to be skeptical about my concerns and think she should continue all of her PE activities, but I am worried. She is still having some bad pains in her abdomen. I don't want her to end up with a ruptured spleen or not be able to recover from the mono virus because of too much exercising. Please tell me what you think, and what your experiences have been with exercising with an enlarged spleen.
Thanks.

Hi, I've also had some of these symptoms. Just wondering if anyone else has had like small veins or blood vessels pop up on the left hand side of the body? I'm getting them right where I imagine the spleen would be and it's tender to touch. Any similar stories would be helpful

Jess

Many of you seem to have symptoms similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.. you may check that out.

71...had severe mono in 1974..never regained my energy. 6 years ago started having LUQ pain CT (neg) so I was told. For 6 years I have suffered..this week back to the ER CT
Numerous small areas on spleen and liver ( maybe from infection) NO CHANGE since the first one. My belly blows up and it is burning pain from belly button to under my left ribs. (It seems no one believes me)) and at my age I am so tired of fighting.
So Sad

Spleen and liver problems often come with mono