I had it a few weeks ago, It wasn't very fun.
Incubation time is 4-7 weeks, so.. think back..
Symptoms are much like strep throat. swollen tonsils and lymph nodes. When I had it, I thought I had strep, so I went to the doc. Nope, I had mono. Waste of money. Don't go to the doctor if you have mono. It's a virus, theres nothing they can do about it. Sleep.
I guess if you have insurance, theres no point in not going.
It's rarely a very serious thing. It can take some people a long time to recover, but..
I was out of it and feverish for about 2 weeks.
But symptoms subsided pretty quickly, and I was back to normal.
It is true that it never goes away- However, you don't ever become symptomatic again. The epstein-barr virus is a member of the herpes family, but it has nothing to do with cold sores or genital herpes. Once your infected, you're infected for life, and you can pass it on to others. If you go to the doc, and you do have mono, you will be diagnosed with acute infectious mononucleosis. While it is possible to spread the virus by means other than kissing, its really only feasable during the weeks that you're sick. Once the virus becomes dormant, it inhabits so few cells, that it takes some major saliva swapping to spread it.
I don't think mono is considered an STD. 95% of the worlds population has the epstein-barr virus. You can become infected as a baby- when this happens, you show no symptoms. It's only if you become infected as a teenager that it gives you a hard time.
I never had anything with my gums, but my throat sure did hurt like hell. I couldn't eat anything for about 2 days because it was so swollen, and hurt so bad. It makes your lymph system freak out, and swell up.. lol. In about 50 percent of cases, you will have a swollen spleen. I did, and he told me to not do any contact sports for at least 2 months. He went onto explain about this lady who had mono, and an enlarged spleen.. went home and fell down some stairs, and it ruptured. She didn't die, but how aweful. :Q
It's not really a big deal. You don't have anything to worry about, just rest and drink plenty of fluids.. I took mad tylenol for the fever.. It was the strangest sickness I've ever had, thats for sure.. lol.