Leave in 4 weeks and DD15 diagnosed with MONO!!

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Yup, daughter has been really sick for about a week (although when I think back now, she had been experiencing fatigue for a little while). High fever, nausea, fatigue. No sore throat?? Anyway, at the ER was diagnosed (on the 2nd visit) with possible pneumonia and put on Zpack. 5 days later not any better...go to Doc's, get diagnosis of Mono. Yay! Fever is under control now, just fatigue and nausea.

Anybody with first hand experience? She is an A student and we're very concerned about her falling behind, so we'll be working with the school for sure! She's very athletic, and now no sports or gym for 6 weeks (need to protect spleen). I have been scanning the world web for as much info as possible!

Is it feasible to think she'll even be ok to go to Disney? I'd appreciate any advice from someone who has personally gone thru this. Thx!!

 

[McDuck]

No first-hand experience other than my brother got it in college, and was very fatigued for a long time afterwards. I'm thinking if she's on restriction for 6 weeks from sports/gym that Disney is going to be a no go if your trip is in 4 weeks, since we all know WDW can be pretty strenuous when you're healthy. When is she cleared to go back to school with mono? I know it's contagious for a while (not sure how long, just that people who had it when I was in school were out for what seemed like longer than most illnesses; some even got assignments sent home for them b/c they were out so long).

Only your doctor can give you adequate advice on whether the trip should happen as planned or be postponed.

 

[d1sneyf4n]

My son age 3 now had mono when he was 1. We actually came back from Disney and 3 days later I took him to the doc bc the last night of our trip he was sick and his fever was not going down. It turns out he had mono. I am thinking bc he was so young that is why he recovered fairly quickly. I say with 3 weeks he was mono free. I was told to keep him still as best I could( a lot easier said than done for a 1 year old) I also have a daughter who was 4 at the time and she did not catch the mono. I would ask ur doc if Disney will be fine. He/she may not recommend any jolting rides but at least she could enjoy some of the magic. I hope ur daughter feels better real soon.

 

[Veals_Family]

IMHO I think she will be fine, but just very fatigued. It can last anywhere from 4 weeks to much longer. I would also ask her if she wants to still go, KNOWING that she should not ride anything that could put pressure on her spleen. I had mono in college...and I was tired and didn't feel well for 2-3 weeks....BUT everyone is different. I would still speak to her doctor about it....SHE actually may want to postpone it knowing she can't go on everything.

GL

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

My opinion may not be what you want to here but this is our experience though it really depends on how bad of a case she has.

My DD15 had it 4 years ago. It was a pretty bad case. She missed about a month of school and the only reason it wasn't longer was because it was the end of the year and so summer vacation saved her from missing more. Her teachers stopped her grades where they were before she got sick rather then having her take finals. She was fatigued for at least a year after. Her class had an end of the year trip to a local amusement park and she was devistated to not go so the doctor said if I could go with her to take her and let her take it easy but NO RIDES! That is what we did, she needed to seperate from her group for breaks all day and didn't get to ride anything but at least she didn't miss going.

4 weeks is tough, and how disapointing for you guys. Hopefully it is ot a bad case. I would be sure before you leave to go to the doctor and make sure her spleen is not enlarged. If it is she really shouldn't ride things even if she feels up to it.

I hope she feels better soon, and I hope your trip works out and is enjoyable.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Thanks everyone!! We will be heading to the Doc's next Friday....will surely have a TON of questions!! I really hope she's better in 4 weeks....even if just to have a "relaxing by the pool" vacation! We are not "go go go" vacationers, and spend more time at the Resort/pool than actually at the parks anyway. Guess we'll play it by ear as we go. Have a call into the Doc's now....can she go to school Monday... don't even know!! No fever so far today....time will tell!

 

[run4me]

My DD had mono at age 14. Very sick/tired first 2 weeks. By the 4th week she was just a little tired. She would have been fine at Disney as lone as we took breaks when she said she was tired.

 

[ThanksForNoticingMe]

A few years ago I got a pretty horrible case of mono...I slept most of the time for a good week and half. I still felt pretty bad the second week, but was feeling somewhat better. By the third week I was feeling much better just more tired than normal. If your daughter' s case is anything like mine was I would say she should be fine to go...just a little more tired than normal.

You could always rent her a scooter or wheel chair if she gets too tired, but I doubt you will need to.

 

[Tricia's mom]

I have first hand experiance !!!

When I 14-15 I had mono. I started getting very sick around Thanksgiving. They thought I had the flu....Then thought I had HIV.... Finally by Dec 26th it was diagonosed as Mono..I didn't have many of the symptons either. I was hospitalized for 2 weeks (new yeaRS EVE)
My spleen had ruptured, they didn't do surgery, they letit heal it's self.

BOTTOM LINE. She needs to REST maybe for the next 4 weeks you contact the school about her having home school til you leave. She may need to sleep in alot of AM's. Sleep and rest is the only thing you can do.
I would still go to WDW as planned.BUT keep your plan at a slower pace...let her sleep in ornap in the afternoon, poolside !!
Or ( NO FLAMES PLEASE) A wheelchair rentalfor the parks.
I've been there...Just when you feel better...you go back 2 steps. Be careful of her getting bumped around...that's what caused my spleen problem...it was enlarged from the mono...and one little bump and it was ruptured.

Best of luck and havefun and take it easy.

 

[catherine]

DD 16 was really poorly with Mono in Jan. She was hopitalised for 3 days as she was unable to eat or drink anything! The doctors advised that we keep her off school for a few days (while she was at home she was doing coursework for her exams) and said that she wouldn't be able to do sports for a few weeks. However she went back to school the following week as she has her final exams before leaving school in May. She's been a little run down but apart from that she's been fine. So depending how your DD is you may be perfectly ok to go to WDW.

Good luck!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I forgot one thing. Don't let her use drinking fountians (we don't use them at all anymore.) That is how it had spread though the school when my DD got it (or so they believe.) Also, with my DD she caught everything that went around after her mom (thankfully it was summer so not as bad but still got sick easily.) So avoid the germs at the drinking fountian for sure.

I have my kids carry waterbottles filled at home now just in case.

 

[mamaLori05]

I had mono when I was in college. Luckily for me it was over winter break, so I didn't miss any school. I was pretty tired and sick for about 2 weeks, but after that started to feel much better. I was back to work and back to classes by the 3rd week. I 'd say by the 4th week I was almost back to normal. It totally depends on how bad of a case she has, but for me, I would have been fine doing disney at 4 weeks. Just let her sleep when she needs to.

With that said, I would recommend not making this a hard core trip. Take it easy, and be prepared and okay with the fact that you may not get to do everything. Take it at her pace (just like you would do if you had little kids with you)

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Thank you all sooooo much!! I KNEW if I came on the DIS I would get some answers!! Yesterday afternoon I felt so helpless and really needed to get information from people who had been in these shoes. You are all incredible and wonderful!! You people rock!! I LOVE THE DIS!!!!

I have to say....now looking back....I wonder how long she's actually had mono. I can remember her telling me many times how tired she was. But she's always on the go with sports, and after school clubs, etc. She even jumped in the ocean to support the Passion Plunge for Special Olympics two weeks ago....Bless her heart. Plus, because she is on daily medication which has a side affect of being tired...I never put 2 and 2 together!! This past week has been an emotional rollercoaster with fighting her fever, her nausea, etc. Today is the first day her eyes were actually wide open again!! Also, her temp is still 97.7!! I guess it's just a "take it easy and one day at a time" kind of deal.

Thank you all for your personal experiences!!!! I just can't tell you what it has meant to me and my family!!!!

I will keep you posted!!

 

[DCbride]

Poor thing.

DS has was dx with mono, on July 27, the week before we left for Cedar Point- no roller coasters for him. His spleen was still enlarged enough that he was not able to play soccer until almost Oct. (his senior year) He lost his starting spot, but still was able to enjoy playing the last 2 months. Having mono totally sucked for him, even though he didn't miss any school.

DD was dx with it this past Christmas week. She had the week off of school anyway. She was never given an ultrasound (DS had them monthly) due to the dr saying that her spleen didn't feel enlarged She returned to school as normal, but was out of gym for 1 week and no indoor lacrosse for 2 weeks. She went to the library during gym class and slept and slept every afternoon when she came home. But her grades weren't impacted.

I guess what I am saying is each kid is different. Just make sure she is careful and you might want to request an ultrasound to ensure roller coasters are ok for her.

 

[rodeo65]

I had mono in my final year of high school - this is now going back 26 years; wow that's hard to believe

I had an extreme case. I was diagnosed in early October and was out of school until the new year. They wanted to hospitalize me but my mom said she'd take the time off work and stay home so I could too.

I was too ill to go to have the blood test for comfirmation so they had a nurse come to the house to draw the blood. Our family doc also stopped by every day on his way home from work for the worst two weeks to see how I was doing. He was concerned that my fever was so high. Oh the good old days - could you imagine that now?

My biggest problem was the throat - it was so inflamed and infected that I couldn't eat anything but partially solid jello and applesause for six weeks. I also had enlarged lymph glands everywhere. The back of my neck felt like clusters of grapes. My immune system took years - literally to recover. About five as I recall.

As PPs have said it really depends on the severity and what your doc says whether she will be up to going. I was desperate to go out for New Year's Eve. I begged and begged but my doctor said no way. Looking back I'd have probably collapsed - I had lost about 35 lbs from not being able to eat and was just starting to eat "real food" again.

It sounds like your DD may be over the worst of it already if her fever is staying down on it's own. Her recovery will just take lots and lots of rest.

I wish her a quick recovery and hopefully you'll be able to take your trip as planned.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

She returned to school as normal, but was out of gym for 1 week and no indoor lacrosse for 2 weeks. She went to the library during gym class and slept and slept every afternoon when she came home. But her grades weren't impacted.

I guess what I am saying is each kid is different. Just make sure she is careful and you might want to request an ultrasound to ensure roller coasters are ok for her.

I'm hoping for that same experience...LOL!!! Although the Doc did say 6 weeks no gym. She has gym 3rd period (they only have 4 subjects per day), so she will have at least an hour everyday to sleep!!

...this first week should be VERY interesting...will she stay home? Will she go half days?? She was outside yesterday and enjoyed the beautiful weather....never slept at all. I'm so confused!! Never got to talk to the Doc yest as they were closed and referred all calls to another practice covering....guess I'll call back today and see if I can get some answers!!

Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[RMulieri]

She may be well enough, she may not.Important to realize that alot of rides or any may be OUT of the question.If her spleen is enlarged, jostling could cause splenic rupture.Your family Doc will advise you what to do and I would listen ( not saying you won't but I just had a patient rupture her spleen from not listening to docs recommendations-not mono though)At that age,I had mono and no symptoms EXCEPT the enlarged spleen which did not resolve for 8 weeks and I was barred from alot of activity.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

She may be well enough, she may not.Important to realize that alot of rides or any may be OUT of the question.If her spleen is enlarged, jostling could cause splenic rupture.Your family Doc will advise you what to do and I would listen ( not saying you won't but I just had a patient rupture her spleen from not listening to docs recommendations-not mono though)At that age,I had mono and no symptoms EXCEPT the enlarged spleen which did not resolve for 8 weeks and I was barred from alot of activity.

Thanks for the advice!! I will absolutely listen to my Doc! Whatever she decides is what we'll do!! I cannot take a chance with my precious cargo!!

 

[RMulieri]

Thanks for the advice!! I will absolutely listen to my Doc! Whatever she decides is what we'll do!! I cannot take a chance with my precious cargo!!

No problem..I hope she feels better soon..At that age Mono feels like a death sentence due to the restrictions and being at home without friends etc.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

*UPDATE*

Hi all!! Just wanted you all to know that DD15 is FINALLY going back to school tomorrow!!

It's been crazy these past 3 weeks!! She started with pneumonia, then diagnosed with mono...including issues with her liver!! Oh boy that jaundice....what a pain!!!

Went to see the Doc on Friday...she is sooo much better now!! Nothing inflamed anymore either!! She will be doing half days until after vacation. We also got the "Blessing" to head to Disney. We will have to take it easy, and when she's tired we stop. We aren't normally "diehard" park goers anyway (we only do RD plus maybe a couple of hours - then head back to the resort). No "jolting" rides allowed....she's really sad about that...but there's always next year!! Thankfully we have an 18 month old coming with us whom she absolutely adores and will be happily riding the same rides that he will be on.

I want to thank all of you for your stories and all your support during this crazy time! You're the BEST!!!