Wits end...toxic dorm?

[MKCP5]

DD is a senior in college. She is an RA and so she still lives in the dorms. Now I am very willing to say that she runs 90 miles a minute, full time student, RA, 2nd job on campus. But she has been sick virtually the entire semester. Three bouts of strep, (the first one 3 days after arriving on campus) three rounds of anti biotics, and multiple viral sore throats and colds. University health knows her by name :/ When she was home at Thanksgiving she went to her PCP who just thinks it is bad luck and dorm living. U Health finally ordered blood work last night to see if there is something else going on.
She has really tried to slow down, get more rest, she diffuses thieves oil in her room, she started probiotics and multivitamins. She's trying to eat well. She has gone through her room multiple times with antibacterial wipes and lysol, has changed toothbrushes 4-5 times this semester as well as new tubes of toothpaste. None of it seems to matter. I just don't know what to say to her any more or how to help. She called crying yesterday because she feels so awful and is so sick of being sick.
I know this isn't budget related but I feel like this is a great cross section of people and a sounding board for my life. Anyone have any ideas? Suggestions of other things to try? We are at our wits end.

 

[smiths02]

Can doctors help figure out if there is a mold problem? We had a mold issue at one of the schools around here. Several teachers were getting constantly sick. One teacher had run marathons the year before and the next year was constantly ill. (The concentration was worse by her classroom). That teacher had to move to a trailer/portable (she really didn't want to transfer schools). Other teachers had to transfer schools. The district did somewhere around a million dollars of renovation over the summer to try to fix the problem.

 

[fauna74]

I am not a medical professional in any way, but is it possible that the strep was never fully cleared? Were any throat cultures sensitized?
Barring that, maybe a air purifier in her bedroom would help? Has she been an RA before? Does she find it stressful? Or is there anything else in her life putting stress on her? My son's immune system goes on the fritz when he is feeling stressed.
I hope she's feeling better soon!

 

[MKCP5]

I am not a medical professional in any way, but is it possible that the strep was never fully cleared? Were any throat cultures sensitized?
Barring that, maybe a air purifier in her bedroom would help? Has she been an RA before? Does she find it stressful? Or is there anything else in her life putting stress on her? My son's immune system goes on the fritz when he is feeling stressed.
I hope she's feeling better soon!

She's been an RA for three years, so I don't think that is the issue, she has an air purifier in her room, but she is under s good deal of stress just being a senior and getting through everything. To be honest being sick has placed more stress on her than anything. She is so very frustrated. Thanks for the good thoughts <3

 

[MKCP5]

Can doctors help figure out if there is a mold problem? We had a mold issue at one of the schools around here. Several teachers were getting constantly sick. One teacher had run marathons the year before and the next year was constantly ill. (The concentration was worse by her classroom). That teacher had to move to a trailer/portable (she really didn't want to transfer schools). Other teachers had to transfer schools. The district did somewhere around a million dollars of renovation over the summer to try to fix the problem.

I will double check with her and see if there are others in her building having the same sorts of trouble with repeated illness. I haven't heard of any mold issues but we can double check

 

[Hikergirl]

It sounds like she has recurring strep. The strain she has could be antibiotic resistant or someone in her dorm is a carrier and she just keeps catching it.

 

[mjkacmom]

That was dd21 her first two years, dorm living. She moved off campus junior year, and was much better. She had an appointment with an ENT to discuss getting her tonsils out, but she decided to deal with illness over the pain of surgery. She made the right decision as moving into an apartment fixed the issue.

 

[LovesTimone]

Dorm living is stressful..

Maybe you could go see her, for a weekend and make her stay with you in a hotel, and this way she can actually sleep, and you can baby her a bit.

I second the air purifier in her room.

I have had strep throat a couple of times, and the last time, I thought I was good... I ended up in the hospital, and was out of work for 4 days... Really sick... Yep I will listen to the doctor from now on.

Another thought she could have walking pneumonia...
or
mononucleosis... which I have had mono twice both times in college.

I would take her to the doctors office, not the college clinic or walk-in... and get some lab work, and throat cultures... and go from there..

Hope she is feeling better soon...

 

[sharbear]

My D had a lot of trouble with an oil diffuser. Got lung problems as soon as she got it and took a long time to get rid of.

 

[MKCP5]

Dorm living is stressful..

Maybe you could go see her, for a weekend and make her stay with you in a hotel, and this way she can actually sleep, and you can baby her a bit.

I second the air purifier in her room.

I have had strep throat a couple of times, and the last time, I thought I was good... I ended up in the hospital, and was out of work for 4 days... Really sick... Yep I will listen to the doctor from now on.

Another thought she could have walking pneumonia...
or
mononucleosis... which I have had mono twice both times in college.

I would take her to the doctors office, not the college clinic or walk-in... and get some lab work, and throat cultures... and go from there..

Hope she is feeling better soon...

They have cultured the strep each time. She never pops with the quick strep. It is always some strain that shows after it has been cultured. She just got off two weeks of augmentin and is sick again. Maybe they will put her on a prophylactic dose for the rest of the semester, but i have concerns about so many antibiotics. They are doing blood work this morning to check for mono and I don't know what all else. Her PCP didn't think mono because she was sick...not exhausted. Idk what to think about that as I have never had it and don't know how it presents. Happy there will be labs drawn though.

I can't manage a hotel stay this month. I work multiple jobs and am straight out through the holidays. I did clear Saturday to go out and spend the day with her, help her clean and disinfect her room again, and take care of her a little bit. Thank you for your good thoughts

 

[MKCP5]

My D had a lot of trouble with an oil diffuser. Got lung problems as soon as she got it and took a long time to get rid of.

SHe just started that a couple of weeks ago in hopes of helping, so the problem has been there for three months prior. Thank you though

 

[LovesTimone]

They have cultured the strep each time. She never pops with the quick strep. It is always some strain that shows after it has been cultured. She just got off two weeks of augmentin and is sick again. Maybe they will put her on a prophylactic dose for the rest of the semester, but i have concerns about so many antibiotics. They are doing blood work this morning to check for mono and I don't know what all else. Her PCP didn't think mono because she was sick...not exhausted. Idk what to think about that as I have never had it and don't know how it presents. Happy there will be labs drawn though.

I can't manage a hotel stay this month. I work multiple jobs and am straight out through the holidays. I did clear Saturday to go out and spend the day with her, help her clean and disinfect her room again, and take care of her a little bit. Thank you for your good thoughts

When I had mono, at first I was just tired... then the other stuff started in... due to the fact I was run down...

 

[Alesia]

My first thought is that it's probably stress related.

My second thought is mono.

 

[hsmamato2]

When I had mono, at first I was just tired... then the other stuff started in... due to the fact I was run down...

Yeah.... fairly common story...starts with high stress.... lots of viruses,etc that just never resolve....and most docs and tests miss the underlying things that cause chronic viral/bacterial illness.... I don't have an answer, but I know for me personally traditional docs and tests told me nothing.(you have a virus. really? thanks for the info!) I found a doc who is an N.D. and well versed in seeking out underlying causes of illness- who did extensive blood tests etc to uncover exactly what was causing the symptoms. And for some, it turns out, the "mono" virus (aka Epstein-Barre) can be a recurring,chronic,lifelong battle. But first and foremost, that high stress lifestyle isn't helping her get better, maybe look into changing something there?

 

[ajwolfe]

My first thought was mono. When I had it that's very much how it presented itself. I was wore out and feeling awful. Made me extremely emotional too just from the stress of it all. So if the Dr didn't test for that I would make sure they do soon. Takes a good little while to get over as well.

 

[kymom99]

The bloodwork should give you some answers. Let us know.

I had mono in college and the doctor looked at my throat, ruled out strep and sent me for bloodwork. He could tell by looking, but still did the necessary tests to get the right diagnosis.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Assuming she is coming home for winter break soon, if she fully recovers and then illnesses start back again once she's back in school, it's most likely stress and school germs. I work on a college campus, though not in the dorms, and I do know that if a person raises the question of air quality facilities maintenance will bring in a machine to test it, at least at my university.

 

[tvguy]

College dorms and Nursing homes are the center of the universe for germs and illnesses.

 

[cruisin5]

Will she be home for a few weeks during the holidays? DS had mono for a month before diagnosis, kept saying it was ear infections and giving antibiotics.

 

[holden]

Augmentin can wreak havoc on your system too. That could be contributing to her feeling horrible.