Anyone else have a kid whos been fatigued for a long time following illness?

[crazymomof4]

Hi!
Maybe I'm worrying for nothing. My 11yo DS was sick w/ fever, sore throat, aches and ear infection 4 weeks ago. He is still very faitgued and pale. Everyone is commenting that he looks tired. He is eating well, which is encouraging. But everytime I look at him dragging himself through the day, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Each day that this continues I worry more. The downside of being a nurse is knowing all the things that can go wrong w/ the body and that sometimes serious things sneak up on you w/ very mild symptoms at first. The pediatrician feels that the fatigue is from the ear infection lasting so long (it's still not completly cleared up). He gave me a slip for a complete blood test and a test for mono. and left it up to me if I want to get it done. I think I'll have it done just for my own piece of mind. I have 4 kids ages 2-13 but I've never had a kid take so long to get over a virus. If I knew that others were seeing this in their kids too, and that this is just a really tough virus going around, I'd feel better. So if you've seen this or know someone who has, please let me know!

 

[aahmom1]

Try not worry, go in and get him tested. Could he be dehydrated?

 

[Piglet]

I don't have any answers for you, but definetely get the blood test to ease your mind. You know parents know their kids the best. Hugs and prayers to you and your DS.


Melinda

 

[rbuzzotta]

Being a nurse is the worse when it comes to your child being sick. You always think the worse. Too much knowledge is no good.

Have the blood work done and take it from there.

My thoughts are with you as I know how your feeling, I am going through a similiar thing with my 7 year old and having many blood tests to find out what is causing all her aches and pains........

good luck.....

 

[Rajah]

Don't have any like that (don't have *any* kids yet, actually), but I got mono once in high school, and ever since then it doesn't take much for me to be and stay very tired and worn out.

Get the bloodwork done. At very least, it'll ease your mind. And if there is a problem, hopefully the bloodwork will help find it.

 

[crazymomof4]

giving my own post a bump.

 

[NHAnn]

My DD had a virus last winter when she was 15, that was like a cold, but with headaches and fatigue that persisted so badly that I took her to the doctor...I thought she had mono or something more serious than a nasty virus. The blood work was negative, but she "dragged" for about 8 weeks before "full" recovery! The note for school said it was "mono-like viral illness"
I agree with getting the blood work done !
(hugs) to you, and hope your DS feels better soon!!!

 

[cinlee3]

I would go ahead and get the blood test done. We had a similar siutuation when my oldest DS was 7. He ran a slight fever in the evenings was very fatigued and very, very pale. He ended up having mono. I was so glad we had him tested. There really wasn't much they could do for him but at least we knew what it was and we kept him out of PE and sports. He missed about 1 1/2 of school that year.

 

[rae519]

When I was still active duty, I got mononucleosis - was very, very ill for months and never felt the same afterwards. Too much stress (emotional or physical) and I start feeling a bit worn down, if I don't deal with it quickly by resting more, I get worse.

Have seen several specialists and finally the conclusion was chronic fatigue syndrome - I have a type that is recurrent. During remission, I am fine but when I get it, I get pretty sick for about a week. It's just something I have to live with and work around.

I am NOT suggesting this to you, but don't stop getting him tested and do all the precautionary things you and I both knew from nursing school are required for good health.

Best wishes,
Rae