Mono From Hell - with a Rash

While some people experience a light case of mono, others get a terrible case that takes a great deal of time to recover from. Jan was one of these people. Her story might help others to see that they can get through their experience with mono - and to look for warning signs that they might not have considered previously.

When Jan first got mono, she experienced a terrible headache and a fever. It went on for days until she finally went to the doctor, thinking she had a sinus infection. Her throat was also starting to hurt. The doctor, without much thought for her situation, put her on antibiotics for a sinus infection. These antibiotics created a huge rash, which she later learned was a penicillin-induced rash and was probably the first sign of the mono.

The Next Step

Then, although the headache went away, the sore throat got much, much worse. It was bad enough that this pain kept her up at night, but her tonsils were also swollen and she had white spots on them. She knew that this was a symptom of strep, but she thought it was quite strange, since she was on antibiotics. They sent her for a mono test, but the test took a few days to come back.

The Rash

The penicillin-induced rash started to cover Jan's entire body, spreading from her face down her body to her feet. It lasted for about 10 days and went away in the same order that it started! It itched a great deal as well. To help with the rash she wore sick pajamas, turned inside out so that the seams wouldn't rub against her skin, she used ice packs on the rash, and she used lotion to make the skin less dry. Finally, she drank a lot of fluids.

The Mono

Once she was diagnosed with mono, finally, she was able to identify why she had this terrible rash, and to deal with her many symptoms. She was in bed for a month! At the worst part, she barely had the energy to get up to go to the bathroom. Although she thought that she would never get better, with a lot of rest, fluids and relaxation, she eventually did conquer the mono and get back to feeling normal. However, it took another two months after the initial one month of being sick to fully recover and feel like her usual self.

Recovery

Jan's story shows how important it is to pay attention to your symptoms and to get tests done quickly. By taking penicillin, Jan's mono was made worse and she was forced to endure painful consequences. If her mono had been identified earlier, the antibiotics could have been avoided, and possibly the rash could have as well. Asking questions of the doctor and trying to get the best care possible can save you time, and discomfort, along the way!