Need Advice Daughter with Mono

[jeepgirl30]

I had mono at a very young age, i think I was in 7th or 8th grade. No it was not from "kissing". My doctor was wonderful and was explaining I could have even gotten it from a water fountain.

My mom used to give my sister and I a list of chores every day. I was always tired and she kept telling me i was just lazy. One day I was vacumning basement steps and fell asleep on the vacumn cleaner while it was still running. Mom took me to the doc and we found out I had mono.

I was to be in bed 16 plus hrs. I remember being frustrated because after the first week or two i was just bored and could not sleep that much. I would tire quickly but i did not just want to sleep all day like a lot of people do that have it. I have heard others say they had it two weeks.

Talk to your doctor.

 

[DVCsince02]

Not to scare you but if you do go, be careful of her spleen. With mono, your spleen enlarges and some the rides can shake you around a bit.

 

[jnzimm]

Not to scare you but if you do go, be careful of her spleen. With mono, your spleen enlarges and some the rides can shake you around a bit.

Very true. That is why doctors limit sports while recovering. Fact or fiction? The less rest you get the longer it takes to fully recover.

 

[8 Ears]

DS now 14 has had Mono twice

Everything other posters have said. She could feel better any day to not feeling "right" for a couple of months.

And yes, if you go I would have the Dr. check her spleen just before you leave. DS's enlarged some and we just kept an eye on it for it while. All turned out fine though

Good luck in what ever you choose

 

[mjkacmom]

Rotten way to learn a lesson, though. Hope she's OK soon.

What lesson?

 

[G-Duck]

She is still having acute symptoms with bad headaches, swollen glands and severe sore throat. When she talks it sounds like her tounge is swollen. We pick at her to try to lighten her spirits. She is not able to get confortable to sleep, so the Dr. has her on medicine for pain that helps her sleep. So far their is no problem with her spleen. They have checked it twice and all is well.

 

[4forMe]

Not to scare you but if you do go, be careful of her spleen. With mono, your spleen enlarges and some the rides can shake you around a bit.

This would be my concern also. I had mono sophomore year of college. The doctor told me no contact sports for one month due to the enlarged spleen. It took about 6 full weeks for me to recover with lots of rest.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Ugh, Mono. I had it when I was 14 and when I returned to school some people called me "Mono Lisa" (Mona Lisa).

I think I had it for a while before I was diagnosed because I was always tired. Then I would have severe pain and vision blackouts when I would move my head fast, swollen glands.... Yuck!

I remember I had to take almost a month off of school. I had to take the rest of the year off of gym because of my spleen. I was told that for the month I was home I was not to get out of bed unless I had to shower or use the restroom. I also came down with tonsillitis while at home and that was awful!

Anyway I remember it was months before I felt better. I couldn't have walked Disney World so soon after being diagnosed. However, there was another girl at my school who had it not long after me and she was only out of school for a week and seemed totally back to normal after 2 weeks. So who knows? It runs it's course differently from person to person.

 

[cerilene]

I had mono when I was 15 and I was in bed for an entire month. I woke up only to eat and go to the bathroom. By the 4th week, I was finally well enough to get out of bed and go upstairs to watch TV. One day I decided to go get the mail, got to the mailbox and spent a long time trying to figure out how in the world I was going to get back inside. (The mailbox was really not very far away from the front door.) I can't imagine trying to walk from the hotel room to the elevator, let alone actually wandering around the world. My suggestion would be postpone the trip, but maybe she will have a better recovery time than most people. Good luck!!

 

[SalandJeff]

I had mono when I was 15 and I was in bed for an entire month. I woke up only to eat and go to the bathroom. By the 4th week, I was finally well enough to get out of bed and go upstairs to watch TV...

This was my experience also. I just slept for a month, and then was extremely tired for the next two months at least. Funny thing is, while I had mono, one of my friends also got it and had an extremely mild case. So you just don't know how bad it will be. JMO, I would cancel and reschedule. Even if she goes back to the room when she is tired, how much fun will you have if you are worrying about her.

 

[glesgalass]

What lesson?

In post 4 the OP referred to her daughter having a "new understanding" as to "why she shouldn't share drinks or food."

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

To OP's question, I would really consider postponing. My DD14 had it 2 1/2 years ago. She was run down and tired for several months and it got worse before it got better. When she first was allowed back to school her class took a trip to 6 Flags, the doctor said she could go, but no rides. She still wanted to go so I went along. Mid-day she had to go lay down, it was way too much for her (and this was 6-8 weeks after being diagnosed.) My experience says she could get much worse and then you are away from home. Also, 3 months after the 6 Flags re-occurance (it made her tired again for some time after over doing it, which we really didn't even think she was doing), she went away to camp. She got a horrible case of boiles over her legs that woun d up scarring her. We asked the doctor and he said it takes 6 monts or even longer to get your body back to a full "fighting things off" place, and she wasn't there yet so she easily caught other things. It took her no less than a year at least to feel totally better, but several months to get over it.

Also, my DD has yet to be kissed, (trust me, it bugs her!) She was 11 at the time and said, "and I didn't even get it the fun way." The doctor said she likely got it from a drinking fountain as it ws going around the school. Please, please if you go ahead and take her, do not allow her to use the drinking fountains. I am still weary of them and try to discourage my kids to use them, but you will no doubt pass it on that way.

I am sure that it is tough to postpone a trip so close to it, but I am just sharing my experience with mono, which in my DD's case was awful. I could not imagine taking her anywhere, at it's peak I could hardly get her out of bed to bathe every few days, let alone enjoy a vacation. I do know there are various levels of mono, as there is with everything, just sharing our thoughts....

Good Luck!!!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I should have added, I am sorry for your daughter. I know there are much worse things in life but I also know how lousy it makes you feel. My daughter missed so much school and other activities. The worst was her class went on a canoe trip, she was looking forward to it for so long, but the doctor said no way. Give her lots of hugs and some for mom too.
Take care...

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

She is still having acute symptoms with bad headaches, swollen glands and severe sore throat. When she talks it sounds like her tounge is swollen. We pick at her to try to lighten her spirits. She is not able to get confortable to sleep, so the Dr. has her on medicine for pain that helps her sleep. So far their is no problem with her spleen. They have checked it twice and all is well.

I am just now reading everyone's advise and I saw this. Funny you mention this. When I first called the doctor I said my DD sounded like Stitch. He said over the phone, I bet I know what it is. Then he asked to talk to her. All she said ws hello and he said to put me back on the phone. He said it's mono, bring her in. Sure enough, he was right.

Unfortunatly he was not in the office the first time I brought her and she was diagnosed with strep (only), and given antibiodics. If you have mono and take antiobiotics you run the risk of a horrible rash. Guess what, she got the rash. Head to toe, literally, in her eyes, in her mouth. It was awful and added to her misery. Had I not loved our doctor I would have left the practice over it, but I like everyone but that one doctor (never did like her anyway) and love our doctor so I just said that I never want to have to see her if my doctor is out. They actually put it right in my kids' files, and they totally understand why.

But back on topic, that "voice" is apparently a sure sign.

 

[tinkerlisa]

I was 16 when I had mono.
My symptoms first appeared around the first week of January. I attributed it to studying for my mid term exams. Then I was falling asleep in the library. Not a light sleep either. My friends had to shake me awake when my dad was there to pick me up! After exams, the symptoms never went away. Then I got real feverish and a sore throat. So I went to the ER and they told my dad I just had Strep and to follow up with my DR ASAP. Well I went and he wanted to test me "just to be sure" it was only strep. Well the test came back positive for mono! I was so devastated.
Anyway, it lasted about 6 weeks but I still felt affected by it for another month or so. It really drains your body. I lost so much weight. Somewhere around 20 lbs and when you are already 120 lbs losing that much weight was significant.
The only thing I wanted to drink was Diet Coke! I wouldn't eat or drink anything. I remember my dad crying and begging me to eat. Every night I would sleep in my bed. But as soon as my dad would get up for work, I would go on his waterbed and sleep all day.
I feel for your daughter. Cancel your trip. She will be miserable the whole time if you don't. Let her rest as much as she wants. Hope she feels better soon.

 

[G-Duck]

Thanks for everyone's advice, and I will make a decision by Saturday it we will cancel. I had an idea from the Stroller suggestion. She should be over the acute stage by next week, so if we still go do you think a wheelchair would be an option?

 

[Nie0214]

Thanks for everyone's advice, and I will make a decision by Saturday it we will cancel. I had an idea from the Stroller suggestion. She should be over the acute stage by next week, so if we still go do you think a wheelchair would be an option?

I would check out the disabilities board. Be prepared for longer lines, uncooperative bus drivers, dirty looks from people who think she must be "healthy" because she's young, etc. It will definitely be a learning experience for all involved. I think it is definitely one way of getting around without being exhausted from walking. I'm not sure how much they are to rent, if it's not much it could be worth looking into.

What does DD think? Does she still want to go?

 

[mom23sweetgirlies]

I have never had mono but I know of several people who have and it doesn't look like any fun! I'm so sorry for your DD. If I were you, as hard as it would be I would cancel the trip or leave DD at home. It doesn't sound like she will really be able to enjoy it and going could possibly make her recovery time longer. I know you said she has a sibling that won't be going the next time so is there a way that you could just take the sibling this time and have a relative stay with your DD? I am only suggesting this because you mentioned that your DD is going in January.

 

[disneychica08]

If it was me I would cancel and not make my child feel rushed to improve or feel like she had to withhold how she was feeling in order to enjoy a vacation. Unneccessary risks tend to be how things get worse... I dont know your circumstances obviously but being from Wisconsin we take the kids once a year and even if it meant waiting longer to go I would rather do that and have my child be at 100% to enjoy the vacation with the rest of the family. I recall having Mono when I was in Highschool many years ago and it was miserable with many symptoms coming and going.... I feel bad for your daughter but being the parent im sure you dont want to disappoint the family but better safe then sorry!!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

If you do decide to go, you might want to consider renting an ECV (scooter-type thing) from an off-site place instead of a wheelchair. The disAbilities board will have information on vendors. If she is using a standard wheelchair, either someone else has to push all the time or she has to wheel herself. Either option will be very tiring (WDW is not as flat as it seems).