Recovering From Mono: What Doctors Want You to Know

Recovering from mono can be particularly difficult for teens and young adults who aren’t used to being sick, extremely fatigued, and resting for large chunks of their days. “Young adults are psychologically not used to being tired,” says Ramilo. Getting the right support can help you cope as you heal.

Remember to talk to your supervisor at work (or teachers, if you’re in school) to let them know what’s going on and that you’ll be taking some time off. Ask your doctor for a note explaining that you have to recover from an illness that is temporarily debilitating. Tell your teachers and school that you’ll need an adjustment and allowances in your schedule and assignment due dates so that you can get extra time to complete your work. “We often write to the professors and explain that a student can’t complete an assignment on time,” says Balfour.

And remember to ask friends and family for help when you need it — whether it’s picking up groceries, or talking on the phone when you need some cheering up — or to help you in case you need more medical attention.

Here are answers to some common questions when it comes to mono recovery:

Can you work when you have mono?

If you have a job that doesn’t require strenuous physical activity or manual labor, it’s up to you to decide whether or not to work and how much you can handle while recuperating, says Eric Johannsen, MD, professor of infectious disease in the department of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, who researches EBV. “We typically leave it to the individual and how he or she feels,” notes Dr. Johanssen.

Adds Balfour, “I tell patients to listen to their body, and to stop working for a time if fatigue begins to interfere with work.” Balfour also advises letting your coworkers as well as your supervisor know that you have mono so that your colleagues can understand why you need to rest.

As for when to go back into the office, if someone feels well enough to go back to work, they should do so. “Mono is not spread by casual contact so there is no reason to stay out of work due to concerns about contagion,” says Johannsen.

But I’m the lead on this really big project coming up. How about if I check in once a day to make sure my team is on track?

While it’s fine to check in with work if you feel up to it, Johannsen says only do so if you’re actually feeling well. (And it may be a good idea to have someone backing you up at work for when you don’t feel up to checking in.) “I think it’s important to bear in mind that you may not be at your best while recovering from mono,” says Johannsen. “Mono is a legitimate reason to use sick leave.”

Emailing might be a good way to stay in contact for some, Johannsen says. “The recovery time can be long — it may be reasonable to do some work from home or to check in, especially if that reduces your stress.”

But the situation differs for everyone depending on how you feel and what type of work you do (and the practicality of doing it remotely or not full-time).

How long does the exhaustion from mono recovery last?

“A minority of people can have fatigue beyond six months, though even most of them can expect to make a full recovery,” Johannsen says. “Graded exercise programs, where the person sets specific goals for increasing activity, can be very helpful here.”

I’m a marathoner. When can I get back to my training?

For someone who is physically active, “I recommend waiting until acute symptoms have resolved and fatigue is decreasing, which is usually at least a month,” Balfour says about returning to typical activity.

Doctors usually caution mono patients not to engage in any contact sports for up to four weeks after symptoms go away to reduce their risk of rupture of the spleen, but for a noncontact sport (like running) someone can typically return to training after taking it easy for about three weeks, Johannsen says. But, he adds, it’s important to “respect your limits and realize that it may not be possible to return immediately to peak activity.”

Is mono a deadly disease?

“The most common serious complication is splenic rupture, which can, of course, be fatal,” says Johannsen. “Throat swelling, leading to difficulty breathing, can also be life-threatening. But generally [most people with that type of swelling] respond to corticosteroids if medical attention is sought promptly.”

The Takeaway

Mono often feels like a bad case of the flu and can leave you feeling extremely tired, even after symptoms improve. Slowly ease back into your routine to avoid a relapse and speed up recovery. When you are recovering from mono, you’ll heal more quickly by getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, listening to your body, and eating healthy foods.

• Mononucleosis, aka mono, can cause symptoms such as severe fatigue that last for weeks or even months.
• Getting plenty of rest and taking good care of yourself are crucial to feeling better and recovering sooner.
• You can help this recovery process by avoiding strenuous activity, making sure you don’t skimp on sleep, eating a healthy diet (which includes drinking lots of fluids), and practicing other healthy habits.