Living with chronic mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus or glandular fever)

Living with chronic mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus or glandular fever)

The Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis or glandular fever, has the ability to establish a lifelong presence in the body. For most people, a healthy immune system keeps mononucleosis at bay. However, some people develop recurrent or chronic mononucleosis weeks, months, or years after the initial infection.

Chronic mononucleosis symptoms typically include fatigue, weakness, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands. These symptoms can vary from day to day and week to week. Periods of well-being are often followed by a relapse as sufferers attempt to resume normal activities or exercise.

Living with chronic mononucleosis can be a very worrying and frustrating time. Feeling constantly unwell, worrying about money, loss of work or study opportunities, loss of independence, social isolation and little support are just some of the things you may have to deal with. For some people the future is uncertain. You don't know what's around the corner. You don't trust your body. Are you getting better or worse? Can you get help and support? Are there treatment options? All of these factors can lead to anxiety, depression, and a feeling that your health is out of your control.

So what can you do in the midst of chronic illness to achieve inner peace and happiness? According to spiritual teachers like Dr. According to John Demartini and Eckhart Tolle, we can all bring ourselves into the present moment to find balance instead of worrying about the past and future. Always thinking about the past or the future can cause negative mental states that distract you from the opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling life.

As bad as chronic mononucleosis gets, hopefully we can find more comfort and joy in the simple little things in life. For some people with chronic mononucleosis who are bedridden, simple pleasures can include listening to music, audio stories, meditation tapes, or hearing the birds sing outside.

For those who are more mobile, simple pleasures can be as simple as cooking, painting, working around the house or garden, cleaning out a drawer, putting family photos in an album, finding an exciting hobby, or doing meditation or yoga. Some people find joy in helping others - this can come from reading to children, talking to friends and family, caring for pets, or participating in online forums or support groups to share your experiences and advice about chronic mononucleosis.

As a sufferer of chronic mononucleosis myself for over 15 years, my simple joys were things I could look forward to every day. They gave me a sense of accomplishment and pride, and I'm sure they kept me sane. Some of the activities that helped me included sitting in the sun every day, enjoying spicy chicken soup, relaxing in a hot Epsom salt bath, doing yoga daily, and immersing myself in books about health and alternative therapies. In fact, it was during this time that I decided to complete a naturopathic degree and start my career in a different direction.

For one of my very sick Epstein-Barr patients, all she could do was lie flat on her back in a darkened room. Her eyes were so swollen and painful that she couldn't even read a book or watch TV. Instead of becoming depressed and sad, she focused on listening to beautiful music that would inspire and renew her.

Another of my patients, who was a teenager, was isolated from her school friends and social circle because of Epstein Barr. She had terrible symptoms such as a red, raw throat, extreme lethargy, depression and little or no appetite. Her mother kindly went out and bought her the entire series of the TV sitcom “Friends,” which they watched together on the couch. Her mother says this gave them a chance to laugh and focus on something all the time and not on the illness.

Even if you have chronic mononucleosis, there should be many things in your life that you really love and enjoy. Starting to think about your daily life and seeing if you have anything to be grateful for is a good place to start. Enjoy the beautiful and special moments of your day. You may even want to write them down in a journal or diary or photograph them.

I recently read an article about a photographer Hailey Bartholomew who started a personal project called “365 Days of Gratitude.” Every day for a year, Hailey took a single photo of something she was grateful for. Her photos range from the simple pleasures of her favorite food, fall leaves in her garden, shells on the beach, her cozy warm bed socks, herbs growing in her garden, her crafts, scented candles and pictures of her family. This simple daily act of focusing on the positive things in her day transformed her depression and stress into a mood of anticipation, fulfillment, and joy.

Teaching yourself to be aware of and grateful for the small moments in your day can enrich your life and make your journey through chronic mononucleosis a little easier. Life will always have ups and downs. Being grateful for what you have is a valuable lesson we can all learn. Even if you've overcome mononucleosis, gratitude is a life skill you'll never forget.