Living with Misconceptions
My cousin Jenn — Walk MS Utah 2009
As many of you know, I was recently diagnosed with mono. It’s a viral illness notably marked by fatigue, fever, a swollen spleen and most recently, a rash on my face. Unfortunately the illness also comes with many misconceptions. The two misconceptions that have bothered me the most:
- Eeek! Don’t come near me, I don’t want to catch it.
- You look fine. Stop being lazy.
Number 1
Mono is not incredibly contagious. There are only a few primary ways you can catch it:
- Kissing - and I’m not talking about a peck on the cheek.
- Sharing utensils with someone infected
- Not properly washing your hands when handling food cooked for others
Number 2
I may look fine, but I don’t feel fine. What have I had to deal with?
Week 1: Extreme fatigue — 16 - 18 hours per day of sleep.
Week 2: Fever, swollen spleen marked by pain on my left side & fatigue.
Week 3: Fatigue is lessening, but I still get flushed if I do anything even remotely strenuous such as washing my dishes. I also have a rash on my face.
My doctor tells me I still have 1 more week of symptoms to look forward to.
I am not being lazy. In fact, I’m the kind of person that hates sitting still. This illness is incredibly hard for me. But I really do not have the energy to do much.
Why Do I Bring This Up?
In conversation with my cousin Jenn Gonnelly, those with MS have to also deal with similar, if not more serious misconceptions about their disease. The top misconception is that they look fine, so it either must not be that bad or they’re just making it up.
MS causes a wide range of symptoms, some worse than others. Some types of MS go into remission, but can return at anytime. If someone has been diagnosed with MS, it is a disease they will have to live with the rest of their lives. It’s not trifle.
I’m not asking you to feel sorry for someone with MS… or mono for that case. What I am asking you to do is to please think twice before judging someone with a disease or illness. Take the time to learn more about what that person is dealing with.
I am fortunate because although the Eppstein-Barr virus will be with me the rest of my life, the symptoms will not. And unlike MS, 90% of the population over 35 years old has had mono. Once you have it, you are immune. Only in very rare cases will you have a relapse.
If you are interested in learning more about MS, please check out the Utah chapter of the National MS Society.
I also want to add a special thank you to those who supported me in the recent Walk MS. You know who you are… I appreciate it, as does my cousin.
