Need Advice Daughter with Mono

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Anyone else curious how her DD is? Hope she is doing well, a mild case maybe.

 

[slduck]

Hope your dd is doing better. I never realized how fortunate I was. I had mono at 17. It was about this same time fo year. I was a senior in high school, captain of the cheerleaders, and involved in everything I could. All of that came to a screeching halt.

I remember feeling terrible, and my throat was almost swollen shut. I was on COMPLETE bed rest for 1 solid week. I only got out of bed to go the bathroom and shower. I think that was the key.

I was allowed to return to school for half days after a week. After two weeks I was allowed to return to cheering part time. I did help that my doctor also attended game and monitored me each time a cheered. I hope that everything is better for you and your family.

 

[snowman1035]

My DD had mono 3 years ago and it took her a very long time to feel better. My DD never complained when she was sick before, but this really did her in. I would let you DD get as much rest now if you don't cancel and then while you are there take things slower. Should she get tired, I would take a break and go back to the room so she would rest and then go back to the parks later in the evening. She really shouldn't over do it, she could get worse. I hope she feels better soon!

 

[rie'smom]

My son missed 6 weeks of school with mono. Your daughter could get very ill. A trip to WDW is not worth a child's health. Could someone stay with her and you could take your 11 year old?

 

[hematite153]

Since she is 15, do you think she'd be allowed to go back to the hotel on her own and lie down if she feels like she needs it?

Are you staying on-site? At 15, with a cell phone, I'd let her just go back to the room if she's tired, or sleep in and join you later.

While these sound like good ideas, you need to keep in mind how long it can take to get back to the resort by bus and how quickly mono can knock you out. My sister had mono when she was 14 and tried to come back to school about 4 weeks after diagnosis because she thought she was feeling better. She made it about 20 minutes into the first class of the day and then walked out of the classroom to the library where she promptly fell asleep. Asking for permission to leave, trying to get home to a bed, etc. were all too much for her energy level. Several hours later, the librarian found me and the school gave me permission to try to get her home--but, it was quite the challenge.

Rather than planning on her heading back to the resort, I'd say that if you go, you/she should be prepared for her to collapse and sleep at the First Aid centres.

Not to scare you but if you do go, be careful of her spleen.

Yeah. I had a friend in high school who came back to school after 3 months with mono because she figured she really had to recover or she'd lose her year. Her spleen burst after a day-and-a-half of pushing herself (to sit awake in classes) and she was out for the rest of the year and not in great shape for the entire next year either.

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.

Yeah, when people started teasing my sister about getting the "kissing disease" the doctor said that its most common method of transmission was drinking fountains. (If someone licks the spout--which I find weird, but, see all the time--then the next several people who drink from the fountain will get infected.)

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.

Although this sounds like a good idea because it would give her more autonomy, I doubt it would work. Generally, most ECV rental agreements require that drivers be 18. Plus, driving an ECV wouldn't really give her the chance to relax and take a break that the wheelchair would.

 

[nessz79]

Agreeing with everyone who says to cancel the trip. Go when everyone is well and you can enjoy it. You don't want to rush her or stress the family out.

My DH had mono in college. He is a very tough man (he's known for taping his arm shut when he cut it open with a hedge trimmer...) and he was out for an entire semester. It took him longer to graduate as he failed a lot of his classes in that semester.

I'm sure everyone has different reactions and maybe some do not have as severe as a reaction, but why risk it?

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I agree everyone has it to different levels, my DD had a bad case. She missed so much school and even when she went back it was for as ong a day as she could handle, which wound up being no more than a half day the rest of the year.

My concern in letting her go back to the room alone is my DD could not get out of bed alone to even go to the bathroom at it's peak. Even when it was getting better, she sometimes would try to go from out couch to her room (about 20 feet away) and would lay on the floor half way because she couldn't make it. Imageine if this girl fell asleep on a bus, or perhaps worse somewhere along the way.

I feel bad for them to have to make this choice but as difficult as it will be (I am going the same time as them and I would be heartbroken to have to do this) I think they will decide to postpone. having been through mono with my DD I know I would. For a temporary illness, it is very intense and takes a real toll on your body for some time. My DD still sleeps more than she did before. I know she is a teenager and that sometimes comes with the territory, but I have asked about it and was told yes, it can take years to fully get over.

 

[mickeylove2]

My DD had mono when she was 5, yes in Kindergarten, and I would definitely cancel the trip, or like another poster said, take the 11 year old and let your DD go in January, even then though she may not feel up to going. It's definitely not fun, my DD would be out of school for 2 whole weeks then go back for a day and then be home for 3 or 4 days, go back for a day or 2 then be home for a week or longer. You can never tell she may wake up 1 day and be able to run circles around you then the next 2 days be dead to the world. I wouldn't risk a trip to WDW. Lots of pixie dust your way, your DD will definitely need it!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

My DD had mono when she was 5, yes in Kindergarten, and I would definitely cancel the trip, or like another poster said, take the 11 year old and let your DD go in January, even then though she may not feel up to going. It's definitely not fun, my DD would be out of school for 2 whole weeks then go back for a day and then be home for 3 or 4 days, go back for a day or 2 then be home for a week or longer. You can never tell she may wake up 1 day and be able to run circles around you then the next 2 days be dead to the world. I wouldn't risk a trip to WDW. Lots of pixie dust your way, your DD will definitely need it!

Oh, my gosh, the poor thing. That must have been awful. I never heard of someone so young getting it.

 

[BlueBayou]

She never had it 'acute.'

Her birthday just misses the cut off for Kindergarten - so we had her tested for early admission. The only thing that kept her from being approved was her gross motor skills. We did not think anything of it and went on with life the next year. She had very little stamina - and was 'lazy'.

We had her in a summer school before the start of Kindergarten. That teacher suggested having her tested to see if she was anemic. She was tiring so easily.

Our doctor did an in office test and it was negative for the anemia. But she sent us out for the full blood work-up. Turns out she had mono. Somehow they could tell that it was probably chronic (had for a long time) but was about to be finished. Sure enough - she was a different person within 4 or six weeks.

She probably had symptoms for more than a year. She never had anything worse than a common cold at onset. She was just sluggish for at least a year.

I think we went to Disneyland twice durning that time - but did not realize she was ill. But she was stroller age.

 

[BlueBayou]

Oh, my gosh, the poor thing. That must have been awful. I never heard of someone so young getting it.

I was told it has much fewer symptoms when you are younger. That lots of kids probably have it and never know.

 

[NeonArmadillo]

hope your daughter is feeling better. I had mono about four years ago. One of the girls I worked with had it, and I drank out of her soda can (stupid me). I'll never forget it. I'd wake up in the morning at 9 and was asleep again by 10:30. I just figured I wasn't sleeping enough (duh lol) finally one morning I woke up and my eyes were swollen shut. I went to mednow and they told me I had a sinus infection and sent me home. About three days later I came down with a fever and pulled a mussel in my chest from vomiting. I end up at the ER were they told me I had mono. For a month I couldn't eat anything, I couldn't stand up, I couldn't sleep because the glands in the back of my head swelled up. I just remember sitting there crying. It took me almost a year to get back to normal.
Hopefully your daughter won't have a really bad case of it. I'd ask her doctor what he thinks. Good luck, and hope your daughter feels better.

 

[mickeylove2]

Oh, my gosh, the poor thing. That must have been awful. I never heard of someone so young getting it.[/QUOTE]

Evidently neither had her doctor...they tested her for everything BUT mono until months later! They swore she had cystic fibrosis, that was more likely than mono!!!! She was very sick for more than a year prior to her being diagnosed and the doctor felt horrible and has not stopped apologizing even now 2 years later. She still isn't fully recovered, still gets very tired and in and out of the doctor's office and ER with various illnesses. It's not been fun that's for sure, we went to WDW last year and had to have a stroller for her, you should have seen the looks we got for having a 6 year old riding.

 

[PJAY]

I was unfortunate enough to contract mono in high school and it was the worst four weeks of my life. It peaked around the second week or so when I had fever around 104 for three days. After that, lethargic but after week three, got back to feeling about 70%. Have heard of people being okay after a few weeks up to years but hopefully, she feels better soon. At the very least, she could hang by the amazing pool at CSR...
I would go but if you are worried about spreading, maybe buy her a mask? Although as PP pointed out, it is passed through saliva...
Good luck!

 

[taximomfor4]

geez, I saw the title to this thread and thought I had posted it! Then I read the post. We don't have a WDW trip scheduled.

Anyway, my dd got a headache last sunday. Monday, no medicine would make it go away. Made an appt to see the ped on Tues. Ped checked her out, said we need to see a neurologist (appt made for Thursday). Wednesday dd woke up with another symptom-- a fever. Called the ped, who said take her to the ER. The ER checked her out, saw blisters in her throat (another new symptom!) Rapid Strep test came back negative. Blood work showed certain blood cell counts were VERY VERY high (these certain cells point pretty much to mononeucleosis). Did a mono spot test....surprise: NEGATIVE. They said to keep the appt with the neuro the next day.

So Thursday, went to neuro (dd now has had a headache, and been dozing all day every day, eating nearly NOTHING, for 4 days). Neuro sees the blisters in her throat are now BIG ulcers. Checks her over, looks at the labs, says he's pretty sure it's mono...and to call the pediatrician back.

Talked to the ped on friday. She said the blood count results REALLY look like a whopping mono case, but that the mono spot test is pretty inaccurate the first week of illness. So we go back on Tuesday.

In the meantime, dd is out of school (mostly laying down on and off all day). She MIGHT try coming to dance class tomorrow, but probably will just watch and take notes on the new steps. If we did have a WDW trip scheduled, I would DEFINITELY postpone/cancel it. If your dd's spleen enlarges (usually around the 2 or 3 week mark), contact sports, rough rides, or whatever could cause it to rupture. Also, immunity might be down. Kids with mono often develop strep throat, too. So being far from the pediatrician might be worrisome.

Good luck, whatever you decide. I just know that mono can really wipe a kid out for a few weeks, and that attacks of severe fatigue can continue for several months.

 

[taximomfor4]

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!!!

You're not kidding! my dd (with probable mono) is only 10. It tends to run a milder course in children, teens tend to get the symptoms the worst. And my little 10 yr old dd and I were getting such LOOKS from people in the waiting room, when I took her to the neurologist on Thursday. Her hair was all matted from laying down so much, she hadn't taken a good shower in 3 days, had fallen asleep in her clothes (6pm the day before), and I'd woken her up to leave. So she was in the same clothes again.

She looked a fright, for sure. But as bad as she looked, she felt worse. Honestly, with her head pain, I didn't care to make her shower.

 

[taximomfor4]

From the Mayo Clinic * http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mononucleosis/DS00352: Infectious mononucleosis (mono) is often called the kissing disease. The virus that causes mono is transmitted through saliva, so you can get it through kissing, but you can also be exposed through a cough or sneeze, or by sharing a glass or food utensil with someone who has mono. However, mononucleosis isn't as contagious as some infections, such as the common cold.

You're most likely to get mononucleosis with all the signs and symptoms if you're an adolescent or young adult. Young children usually have few symptoms, and the infection often goes unrecognized.

The virus typically has an incubation period of four to eight weeks, although in young children this period is shorter. Signs and symptoms such as fever and sore throat usually lessen within a couple of weeks, although fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes and a swollen spleen may last for a few weeks longer.

 

[cjb71870]

I had Mono in grade school. And, you don't just get it from kissing obviously. As someone said, I got it from the drinking fountain. I remember I was out for weeks.

 

[chasegoestodisney]

I had mono in the 4th grade (I'm 41 now!) and I still remember the exhaustion. It's takes a while for the body to recoup from mono. Going to DW is too special, too expensive and its exhausting when you're in tip top shape.....I think you will all regret going without her being fully recovered.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I had mono twice- not good either time - I also gave it to my youngest brother who was only 2 at the time. If I were the OP, I would cancel at thsi time & re-schedule. Why have a trip that is going to be remembered as the trip that XXX had mono?