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26 February 2008

Son of a bitch. Mono? Really?→[More:]So I woke up this morning feeling crappy and worn out and like my throat was sort of swollen; I've been sort of tired for about a week, but figured it was just me being in college and not getting enough sleep.

So I go into the student health center; they say I'm not running a fever, but do a quick blood test and I come back positive for mono. Apparently, my throat is all swollen and gross-like. I'm going to the doctor this afternoon to get a firmer diagnosis and whatever drugs they can give me.

Of course, I find this out the weekend AFTER my girlfriend is up here, so I've probably given it to her too. Damnit.

GRAH. This sucks.

Sorry, I don't mean to be hell of whiny or nothin'; I realize it's probably not as big of a deal as I'm making it out to be, but I hate being sick, I hate the notion of missing class or getting behind on work, and right now I also hate stupid jerky mononucleosis.

post by: dismas at: 11:03 | 7 comments

You may not have given it to your girlfriend. MuddDude had strep throat twice in college, and I never got it. My best friend had mono (we'd share drinking cups and *ahem* cigarettes), and I never got that either - my immune system is just that tough.

Just take it easy for a few days/weeks - mono can be relatively mild, and it sounds like you're doing mostly OK. Drink lots of water, take naps; if you're infectious, your professors really, REALLY don't want you in class with them or with other students. They'll understand.

posted by muddgirl 26 February | 11:07

A couple of years ago I got diagnosed with mono, but when they checked a little more thouroughly, it was strep throat. Which was probably more painful (BOY was it painful), but it doesn't last nearly as long. So, when you go back, make sure they do a throat culture and check for strep. (You'd probably have a fever if it was, but it never hurts to check.)

Good luck to you... I have been plagued with throat crap all my life, so I definitely can sympathize!

posted by BoringPostcards 26 February | 11:13

Thanks muddgirl and BP!

I did get a strep test at the same time as the mono test, and it came up negative, but these were sort of the instant-diagnosis tests, so I'm probably going to ask the doctors to do something more thorough this afternoon just to make sure.

In the meantime, I'm back in bed, drinking water and feeling sorry for myself.

posted by dismas 26 February | 11:38

EWW...I'd feel sorry for myself too in your case. Here's plenty of warm fuzzies coming your way with virtual chicken soup...

posted by lleachie 26 February | 12:34

Mono is known as the Kissing Disease in the UK.

You have my sympathies, but no kisses.

posted by essexjan 26 February | 13:10

Many, if not most, people catch mono when they're a baby and nobody notices because it's much milder in the young, so your SO might have immunity without even knowing it. I actually caught mono from my SO years after she had it, but that's pretty rare.

Mono comes in waves, so take things easy for the next several months regardless of how good you feel. Definitely avoid any activity that could rupture your spleen (heavy lifting, contact sports, sex). Throat coat tea is pretty nice, as are numbing logenzes. The doctor's note you get with mono is pretty much carte blanc for taking sick days, for good reason, but that's probably less useful if you're in school. Still probably worthwhile to float it by your profs and see which ones will go easier on you.

posted by Skwirl 26 February | 14:26

If you have it, don't stress too much about it. I got it in college too (didn't everyone?), and it really wasn't that bad. I was really tired for about 2 months, but other than a mild sore throat and swollen glands, I didn't really have any other horrible symptoms. Just get lots of rest for the next six weeks and eat well. Take your vitamins.

Actually, now that I'm remembering, the worst part for me was that I had a secondary staph infection on a cyst on my jaw. (It's always been there.) Holy god, was it painful. I'd roll over at night and my cheek would brush against the pillow and I'd wake up in tears.

So like I said, just take it easy and avoid anything that might compromise your balky immune system.

posted by mudpuppie 26 February | 14:43

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