I can’t remember if I already asked this on here (damn memory fog!)
I had Glandular fever from Christmas Eve last year until … well I’m not sure as my symptoms of everything else seem to have got worse ever since so I may still be suffering from it lol
Anyway, I read someowhere that a lot of people are DX with MS after a bout of GF… what’s the link or is it even true?
Thanks…
HI anon
I don’t really know. I have heard that a serious infection or illness can trigger MS symptoms, I think.
Weirdly when they first started investigating me for MS (I am not diagnosed) I was blood tested and I had the anitibodies for GF but don’t ever remember having it. I had tonsilitis a lot until I had them taken out when I was 19. Maybe one of those times it was GF instead… Who knows?!
PG xx
Yes I had tonsillitis almost every other month from when I was little until I was about 23. Had GF as a teen adn then again this time.
I had glandular fever (apparently) in my teens. Tests were negative but apparently they often are and my GP was adamant I had it anyway. I went on to be diagnosed with ME in my early 20’s, viral meningitis a few years later and then Fibromyalgia in my early 30’s. Now they query MS. I suppose if you look at symptoms of each of those illnesses there are lots of overlaps. I firmly believe now that whatever I have is something that links all those things together. Symptoms have been very similar each time but each time they get so much worse and the effects last longer. And I too had tonsillitis every 6-8 weeks from around the age of 9 right up to having my tonsils out at the age of 21. Why the delay? Who knows! Lol I also had a bout of severe abdo pain was hospitalised for 10 days and had my appendix out for nothing as histology returned clear. Bloody ridiculous! If I could afford to go private, would I? Yes! But not because I think the NHS are rubbish, more because I believe the richer members of society should actually be made to step back from the services whilst we see out the financial damage done by the latest massive recession, to give our services a chance to repair themselves. It doesn’t have to be a forever thing and obviously emergencies should be different, but for ongoing medical problems I think they should bring in means testing for the interim period. We need to get things back on track. That’s just my belief though, I don’t mean to preach. Apologies if I may have spoken out of turn. Autumn x
I believe the link is with ME, however, having been diagnosed with ME a few years back, Ive never had glandular fever. Itr can take 12 months to recover from glandular fever though so dont push yourself to hard.
Yes! i’m afraid glandular fever is highly linked to ms.
I’ve heard it many times before and also a link to vitamin d deficiency as well.
Teresa.x
I’ve also had glandular fever when younger now diagnosed with ms…wonder how many others? although think its probably a common thing but interesting all the same! Emma
Interesting thread. I have had glandualr ever at least twice. My glands are constantly up years later. I also had terrific stomach pains and ended up having my appendix out and again no histology. I have read research papers that are looking for a link although I think no one will stand by it. I have also had shingles, and scarlet fever, weak immune system I think. I have read that those with weak immune systems are susceptible to ms. What are your thoughts? (open to all to responses - information gathering) x
I can trace my very first symptom (electric shock sensation) to when I had glandular fever 6/7 years ago. I was hospitalised with it because of dehydration. I have had these shocks come and go ever since and they gradually started to affect my balance. Would only last a few days at a time. Was put down to anxiety, despite my disagreement. During these years I’ve had lots of things that I put down to pinched nerves, tendonitis, aura migraines, weakening muscles, extreme tiredness due to anxiety/depression. This time it hit me all at once and I’ve been left with a limp 
locus doc sent me to a&e and in the last 6 weeks had blood taken (result:low b12 without anaemia), ct scan, lumbar puncture and have MRI next week. Hopefully have some answers and I want to know if it was the glandular fever that has caused this. I caught glandular fever one night I was at a club, got ridiculously drunk and shared a drink (3 of us ended up with GF) I have always said my body has never been right since then. I react to viruses differently now as well
I don’t know specifically about MS or glandular fever, but I have read lots on the internet about the idea of autoimmune disease in general being caused by an infection. It would make much more sense to me - why would the immune system just go crazy? Makes much more sense that it is trying to get rid of the virus or whatever it is, which is hiding in the tissues which the immune system damages accidentally. Incidentally, I have Sjogrens another autoimmune disease, which is “treated” with a drug called plaquenil - the doctors don’t understand how it works - but it is also an anti malarial - and is used to treat malaria which is an infection by a microscopic organism. Perhaps it is active against whatever infection causes Sjogrens? It’s interesting isn’t it? Leah 
This is an interesting idea. Although my immune system has never been weak, I have always thought of it as wildly over-active. I have lots of allergies, some rare, some not so rare. I am allergic to Hair Dye (Paraphenylenadiamine sp?), brass, nickle, local anaesthetic, black rubber (), penicillin and smoked cheese…
As far as I understand it, an allergic reaction is when the immune system mistakenly over-reacts to something in/on the body. So (and I have literally NO scientific fact to back this up), it kind of makes sense to me that I would have an auto-immune condition, since my immune system is frequently on the attack for no good reason.
I realise I have no scientific knowledge to back this up, and I am just pondering, but these things do make you wonder…
PG xx
I had to add my two penneth here, sorry 
I had Crohns Disease and ME for over 10 years. Had surgery and taking biological injections weekly. It was about 3/4 months after surgery that the MS symptoms started. It’s intriguing that MS seems to occur in people who have had other health problems. It’s sad that MS doesn’t get the funding other conditions get. I know that once I’m sorted (fingers crossed) I will be doing some fundraising.xx
I’ve always been a really healthy person but when I did get poorly it would be with something big and bad. I did have recurring tonsilitis though for many years and Galndular Fever twice. The last bout is when my ‘other’ symptoms became more apparent and the medics started to um and ahh about MS…
Hi Anon!
You may find the Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry weblink interesting. Scientists have indeed suggested a strong link between the Epstein Barr virus (the virus that causes Glandular Fever) and MS.
http://multiple-sclerosis-research.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/ebv-35-years-later-scientists-confirm.html
Tracyann
This is an interesting thread. I’ve always boasted about my immune system, I work in a school so get exposed to all sorts but never used to get many colds. This did change a bit last year but I put it down to working full-time and having 2 children under 5. However, prior to what seems to be my first episode I had real sinus problems, nothing bad enough to rest in bed but just a permanent blockage. When Optic Neuritis was found to be my eye problem I convinced myself that it was caused by this sinus problem, I’ve since discovered that this was my first recorded MS episode.
Now, I seem to get a little of every virus I come into contact with! I don’t get it badly but seem to be constantly sneezing, blowing my nose and/or coughing.
I actually believe my MS has been brought on by stress. I remember saying to a friend last summer that I felt on the verge of breaking (this was after a couple of glasses of wine) but I didn’t give into this feeling and I think my brain/body decided to break in a different way.
It is interesting to read about how little is known about the causes of MS. I have an aunt and did have a great-aunt with the condition so I’m sure that has played a part, but would I have gone on to contract this if I hadn’t had the stress I have had for the last 4 years? Or was it this strange sinus infection that did it for me?
Hi Pandagal and Loulou10
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease.
The problem lies not with the fact that the Immune system is weakened or over-active, but that it not working properly. For some reason, as yet unknown, the Immune system attacks specialised cells within the Central Nervous System called Oligodendrocytes which make up the Myelin Sheath of the nerve cells (Neurons).
If you want to understand a little more about the Immune system, check out the following link provided by the MS Trust. It is both informative and easy to read.
Happy reading!
Tracyann x
Hi Pandagal and Loulou10
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease.
The problem lies not with the fact that the Immune system is weakened or over-active, but that it not working properly. For some reason, as yet unknown, the Immune system attacks specialised cells within the Central Nervous System called Oligodendrocytes which make up the Myelin Sheath of the nerve cells (Neurons).
If you want to understand a little more about the Immune system, check out the following link provided by the MS Trust. It is both informative and easy to read.
Happy reading!
Tracyann x
This is fascinating stuff, my history is fainting regularly in teens, chest infections all through 20’s, pneumonia and depression 30’s/40’s and fit and healthy in between. The neuro type stuff started all at once last year. I don’t think I have ms personally, but some other brain problem - anyhow interesting to compare notes PG
I was diagnosed with ms in January this year and had glandular fever in my teens and I’m deficient in vitamin D Zoe
I have never had glandular fever, I have no other chronic health issues and I didn’t have any illness of any sort when my symptoms started. I have seen various theories about what causes MS but none of them fit me.
The only thing I can say is that with hindsight my immune system has been iffy for some years but what caused that and whether there is a direct connection to MS, I don’t know.