College daughter diagnosed with mono...

[WDWorld2003]

My DD was diagnosed with mono and strep throat and is away at college. She doesn't want us come and does not want to come home as she will fall so far behind in her classes. She's in a program that only allows a certain number of students and could lose her place.

Any suggestions on what I can do or send to her at school that will help her feel better? She sounds so miserable and this is the first time she's been sick and I haven't been there.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I got mono my senior year of high school... I was soooooo tired and it was the WORST sore throat I ever had!
Tell her to SLEEP!! DH and I were dating then and he remembers me just eating and sleeping the entire time...

Hot tea is good and lots of fluid!

Maybe send her an assortment of teas..some honey..some pj's that are nice and snuggly,,maybe some DVD's like Pretty Woman, etc

 

[cats7494]

This happened to me my freshman year - it is NOT fun! Send soups and tea
She needs her rest - but I remember I did not have time to miss classes or homework so I did not take time off.
Best wishes to her!

 

[becka]

I also go mono my freshman year and was diagnosed the week before spring break so at least I had a week off to sleep while I was recovering but I did still go to classes when I was sick. I would just suggest sending some hot liquids like soups, tea, hot chocolate, etc.. and if she does not already have it stuff like ibuprofen to help with the symptoms. She will be tired and will need to sleep a lot more than normal. She will need to conserve her energy if she is going to continue to go to class. She may not be able to give it 100% but just do enough to keep her head above water and as she starts feeling better she can get things back on track.

 

[mommasita]

You have some great advice already. I just wanted to add vitamins, vitamins, vitamins. I remember being 17 with Mono, and the pharmacist telling my mother how vital they are in feeling better faster, and stronger.

I hope she gets well soon

 

[poohandwendy]

Soup, tea, those popsicle things you can freeze, gatorade/powerade... definitely liquids. Maybe a cushy pillow comfy blanket. She probably feels pretty miserable. Any kind of comfort item will be appreciated, I am sure.

Please also remind her that she needs to go back to the doctor asap if she has any abdominal pain or if she gets to the point where she has difficulty swallowing. It's not uncommon for the liver and/or spleen to enlarge and dehydration is also not uncommon. Really important to keep her eye out for these kinds of complications. Probably won't happen, but important to take it seriously if she has signs of any of the complications (I know young people hate to 'bother' the doctor sometimes, that is why I mention it)

I had it real bad and was hospitalized. I feel for her. I hope she feels better soon!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

When I was in college my group of friends came down with it my freshman year. I went and got tested but apparently I was just a carrier as I never got sick.

Your poor DD. Others have given good advice. And maybe send a long a little fun thing. Perhaps a new stuffed animal or the like, if she would be ok with that (I wouldn't have minded, my mom sent me a Gator barbie in a care package ).

 

[horseshowmom]

You have some great advice already. I just wanted to add vitamins, vitamins, vitamins. I remember being 17 with Mono, and the pharmacist telling my mother how vital they are in feeling better faster, and stronger.

I hope she gets well soon

Same here. I had mono my freshman year of college and missed a week of school. The doctor did put me on vitamins.

You probably won't have to tell her to rest. After she goes to classes, she probably won't have the energy to do anything else.

 

[minniecarousel]

awww...poor girl!

No other suggestions - just a wish that she starts to feel better soon.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Your poor DD. I had mono my Junior year and all I wanted to do was sleep. Maybe send her a really soft blanket that she can curl up in or new pajamas? I agree send lots of soups, broths, hot tea, DVD's.

 

[Kath2003]

Yeah definitely new PJs and a nice throw to sleep under.

LOADS of college kids get mono so the staff at her college will understand. If she has a laptop, buy her a pad so that she can use it safely in bed. Tell her to cut down on the partying, sleep, and use the time she's awake to study the best she can.

Send plenty of easy-meals (mac and cheese, soup etc.) so she doesn't have to cook by herself. If you do want to go up, go and sit with her and also sort out things like laundry and cleaning for her.

 

[mickeylove2]

This is probably uncommon, but when my 6 year old had mono last year at 5, not only did her spleen become enlarged but her whole left sife of her head and neck swelled too...neck, throat, cheek, behind her ear, yeah it was bad and so she had to lay with a heating pad on that side, so if she doesn' have 1 you might want to buy her a heating pad just in case.

 

[wilderness01]

Lots and lots of rest. Push her fluids and no contact sports at all. Hope she feels better soon. We are at the tail end of this ourselves.

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks everyone.... I talked to her today and she sounds a little better. She has a great roommate that is taking care of her. Hard to be far away when they're sick. I will send a care package with many of the things you suggested!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I hope your dd gets better soon. I had mono in my junior year and college. I had straight A's that semester and it was toward the end of the quarter. I kept going to classes. Finally, I almost fainted at work and my boss ordered me to the student health center. The doctors actually pulled me from classes for 2 weeks and put me on steroids. It took me over a month to get well. Luckily, with a doctor's note I was excused from the last 2 weeks of classes. I still had to do my finals, sick as a dog and did't do well on the tests, so I ended up with B's. Hope your daughter gets well soon!