Mono - The Boring Killer

[crazylegs]

hope you're feeling a bit more spiffy soon - I haven't got any super suggestions I'm afraid just some sympathy.

*hugs*

[Seshat]

Do the intellectual stuff in short bursts. Five or ten minutes at a time. Thinking does use energy, just as much as physical stuff does.

Play computer games if you can, too. They're a break from passive activities, which can be very much needed.

You may well find that typical favourites require too much reflex, or too much thinking, for your current state. Try games you normally don't like - they may be just the thing. Anything that's on your shelf but you haven't used in ages, or anything that Steam has on offer for one or two bucks, but with good reviews.

[fireheart]

Ever wonder why I'm such an advice distributor? I READ. And read and read, and learn and learn. I study anything and everything.

Funnily enough, I'm exactly the same, except I'm just a good reader, not because I'm physically unable to do anything else. I also read this board HEAVILY>

A good friend of mine had GBS last year.

To add: GBS stands for Guillain-Barré Syndrome, for anyone curious.

:lol I was about to explain that. Yeah, in short terms, it's an autoimmune disorder. Surprisingly, Andy Griffith had it.

and the_std, I agree with the others. The internet is a GOOD resource.

A few websites I can offer that are great time-killers:

www.neopets.com : I'm a member on here as well (My username is adanabelthane34). But there are a lot of flash games and you earn points that can be spent in the "virtual" economy. Kind of like Gaia online, except that you can earn neopoints (The "currency" in the world). Key Quest is a great time-killer (just bear in mind that it's EXTREMELY glitchy at times and in a few cases, it ends up being that the winner is the one with the faster internet connection). The games are all based off of some popular ones and there are some new concepts as well. You don't have to get too involved if you don't want to, you can always just take care of your pet.

www.dressupgames.com, I'm tired, I apologise if you're male, but this website is a lot of fun for me. These are online "dolls" that you can dress up. My favourites are the Fantasy, Prom/Wedding and Anime ones. A few of them are done by people on deviantArt.

www.evilmilk.com OR www.funnyjunk.com some funny pictures to make you laugh

www.flowgo.com cute and funny flash videos.

www.improveverywhere.com as it sounds, it's a flashmob who were around before flashmobs were popular. Have fun with their videos. (the improvised "musicals" remind me of Artie doing the Safety Dance routine. The one that we can all relate to best is the "Squeeze Our Fruits" one-it's done IN a store and the employees got in on it)

Otherwise, I'd agree: learn a language, or bone up on greek history.

[r2cagle]

I've been diagnosed with Epstein Barr Virus (which mono develops from) and have been in a flare up/recovery since last October. A lot of similar symptoms to mono. I don't have a whole lot of advice to keep from being bored, except now is the time to research ways to start boosting your immune system.

Because even after you're over the worst of it, it'll still take a good 6 months to a year to be back to full steam. I've only just started to feel like myself, and I battle depression (which was aggravated by blood pressure meds) because I just do not 'have the energy' to do even the most minimal stuff - like eat healthy, basic housekeeping, etc.

Give yourself a break. Think of mono as your body's way of telling you to slow down and appreciate the little things. If you feel up to working, then work for as long as your body says 'ok'. And as you said, recharge by meeting up with friends. Give yourself permission to not do all the things you need to do, and select only what 'has' to be done and what you want to do.

I've started taking Vitamin D3, and as complete a multi-vitamin as I can, and trying to increase the amount of water I drink each day. I'm not sure how much it's going to work, but I figure it's worth a shot. And every week, I start tackling the stuff that went by the wayside while I was at my sickest. I'm so far behind at work and at home, but I realized that 'screw it', I'm not going to stress out for something that I could not control and it'll get done, when it gets done. For now, I just deal with stuff that absolutely cannot wait. My family and my health are more important that 'stuff'.

[blas]

For the ignorant here, could anyone describe the best they can, what mono is and how you catch it and is there a certain prime age of getting it? Is it like chicken pox where you don't get it again?

I've heard of this "mono" thing before, but I've never had it, nor has anyone close enough to me to be able to relate a tale or two. It sounds awful though.

I offer sympathies and a few small portions of cheesecurds.

[trailerparkmedic]

Mono is a virus. It's common among teens and young adults (especially college students) because they tend to be in close contact. It is spread through body fluids, like saliva (hence "the kissing disease" or getting it by sharing a drink).

Some people are immune to mono without ever getting sick. So said my ER medic (who was the first person that night to not assume I felt like crap because I was pregnant so he gets bonus points) and my husband at the time never got mono when I had it.

Can you get it more than once? Usually not, since it's a virus (epstein-barr) and once your body has fought off a virus you retain immunity. Sometimes other viruses give you mono-like symptoms and you might get epstein-barr and a fake mono in your lifetime.

[Mikkel]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBV_inf..._mononucleosis

[Whiskey]

I'm with Seshat (one of those people where the unable to leave the house/no energy/etc never goes away) on his/her advice. I know a great deal about a great deal because all I have the energy for 90% of the time is to be awake. So I sit and I read about things I don't know. I've learned automechanics, building and breaking down PCs, I'm learning ASL, etc etc. Find something youve wanted to start doing but never had the time to sit down and learn about, that way when youre better you're also prepared to start the activity.

I did 6+ months of research of exercise, form, and nutrition and now that I'm in a spot where I can leave the house with some energy, I hit the gym.

[Treasure]

I have a friend, she and her sister kept passing mono back and forth, b/c they shared sodas or other beverages; Neither of them got to the "can barely get out of bed" point, but every time either of them got sick, their mom would take them to the Dr, and they'd run the tests and positive for mono -

It is my understanding (and i could be completely wrong, so please don't take this as gospel) the Mono-Virus is much like Herpes, in that once you get it, you always have it- you just have it go dormant.... unlike herpes you can only pass it when its "active" .
but hey, what do i know, i've never had it.

[Aethian]

I did not get Mono from sharing drinks, kissing, or anything else. I sat next to the person in science class who had it.