Wits end...toxic dorm?

[gottalovepluto]

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

It sounds like she's doing everything she can and so are you. Senior year of college is an absolute nightmare stress-wise. She's got the vitamins, the air cleaner, the lysol wipes and blood work, I really can't think of anything else. Hopefully, she'll get to be home for an extended time over the holidays? (Our school's RAs got to leave, but not for long if I remember right.) The only thing I can think of is getting stress off her, and only you might know what will do that. Also- start thinking about ways to get the stress of her next semester when she has to go back to school. (I hesitate to say it because it's drastic but this is a drastic sounding situation: Leave of Absence. You might want to familiarize yourself with her schools- and her scholarship's/financial aid package's policies regarding that- yes, it's a dramatic step but if she gets home and is at her wits end and her health's end this may be something she needs to consider.)

 

[gottalovepluto]

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.

Hahaha, glad some schools care about their students, we had mushrooms growing out of the shower ceiling and extensive mold and our school didn't do anything (people weren't getting sick they said) until our parent's got lawyers involved... I'll never rule out the dorm after that experience!

 

[MKCP5]

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.

Yes. Trying to get her to through the last of the semester and then home to rest for a month and try and rebuild her immune system

 

[MKCP5]

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?

Depending on hey blood work will set look into a different path.

 

[MKCP5]

It sounds like she's doing everything she can and so are you. Senior year of college is an absolute nightmare stress-wise. She's got the vitamins, the air cleaner, the lysol wipes and blood work, I really can't think of anything else. Hopefully, she'll get to be home for an extended time over the holidays? (Our school's RAs got to leave, but not for long if I remember right.) The only thing I can think of is getting stress off her, and only you might know what will do that. Also- start thinking about ways to get the stress of her next semester when she has to go back to school. (I hesitate to say it because it's drastic but this is a drastic sounding situation: Leave of Absence. You might want to familiarize yourself with her schools- and her scholarship's/financial aid package's policies regarding that- yes, it's a dramatic step but if she gets home and is at her wits end and her health's end this may be something she needs to consider.)

Praying an extended time of rest at home will help. She going to take an online course over winter break as well to alleviate some of the spring stress by reducing her courseload. She already has a job lined up and offer letter signed post graduation, and although that should be comforting I think it adds stress knowing she has to complete everything or it will be a big problem

 

[wendow]

My dd17 has been sick for just over 2.5 years. She got strep, followed by mono 6 weeks later and she has never recovered. She was diagnosed with Lyme Disease just over a year ago. What happens is sometimes there are 'opportunistic' bacterial and/or viral infections that kind of lay dormant in the body until an opportunity when the immune system is down and then they begin to really show themselves. We've learned that all stress, both good and bad, causes her to relapse. My dd has been in intensive Lyme treatment for over a year and she's still no better. These types of infections are really difficult to treat. We've been told that any mold exposure keeps the body from healing, and keeps the immune system in a state where it is basically attacking the body (autoimmune). I hope this is not what your dd is dealing with and that a nice break will help her to recover but just want to share in case it doesn't.

 

[stsomewhere]

My daughter was sick for 3 years before she was diagnosed with POTS. She just can never get well.

 

[punkin]

DD was constantly sick last year (first year college). Strep, sinus infections, weird rashes. This year she's in a new dorm, and "knock wood" nothing serious so far. I really believe some buildings just make you sick.

 

[wendow]

My daughter was sick for 3 years before she was diagnosed with POTS. She just can never get well.

Interesting, my dd has POTS as well as a complication of her Lyme. Does your dd have any other infections? What caused her POTS?

 

[MKCP5]

My dd17 has been sick for just over 2.5 years. She got strep, followed by mono 6 weeks later and she has never recovered. She was diagnosed with Lyme Disease just over a year ago. What happens is sometimes there are 'opportunistic' bacterial and/or viral infections that kind of lay dormant in the body until an opportunity when the immune system is down and then they begin to really show themselves. We've learned that all stress, both good and bad, causes her to relapse. My dd has been in intensive Lyme treatment for over a year and she's still no better. These types of infections are really difficult to treat. We've been told that any mold exposure keeps the body from healing, and keeps the immune system in a state where it is basically attacking the body (autoimmune). I hope this is not what your dd is dealing with and that a nice break will help her to recover but just want to share in case it doesn't.

I’m so sorry. We have friends with chronic Lyme and it is a truly brutal disease. There is hope. There are things that work but unfortunately Insurance rarely covers the costs. I will say a prayer for your daughters healing and for the stamina for your family to manage it all

 

[MKCP5]

My daughter was sick for 3 years before she was diagnosed with POTS. She just can never get well.

Does she have Lyme? POTS is often a Lyme complication. One of our friends children uses thc (marijuana) drops to manage her POTS symptoms Praying for her recovery and for your family

 

[MKCP5]

DD was constantly sick last year (first year college). Strep, sinus infections, weird rashes. This year she's in a new dorm, and "knock wood" nothing serious so far. I really believe some buildings just make you sick.

Agreed

 

[MKCP5]

Blood work back. No mono. They offered to put her on antibiotics again which she declined for now. Will visit an ENT over Christmas break, and a naturopath who may be able to help us a path to boosting her immune system and sort through some more blood work. Not sure what else to do. . Thank you for all your support and good thoughts and prayers. I truly appreciate it.

 

[4shinystars]

I also have a DD in college. I may not be popular, but some things that worked for her was she cut out the Lysol and antibacterial wipes. Antibiotics only for a proven bacterial condition. She was allowed a small humidifier, and that all helped a lot. Stress is of course the major factor, and telling them to slow down usually doesn't work, but we can try. I sent care packages with vitamins,tea, soup mix, instant oatmeal, and things to help her relax like crayons and coloring books (yes the little kid kind-was a huge success!), play-doh, gummy candy, popcorn, little encouragement notes etc. She loves them and shares them with her friends. For a few hours, she is a kid again.
When oldest went off to college, her doctor recommended she get local honey and fruits/veg from the closest farmer's market. The honey being local somehow gets their immune system to accept the change. I never understood it, but she was less sick than her roommates.

 

[TwoMisfits]

When oldest went off to college, her doctor recommended she get local honey and fruits/veg from the closest farmer's market. The honey being local somehow gets their immune system to accept the change. I never understood it, but she was less sick than her roommates.

Raw honey is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. I always have a jar on hand for winter b/c a spoonful is perfect to help sooth throats and decrease coughing during colds (especially before bed)...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My first thought isn't the dorm it's actually this:

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.

Your body can only handle so much. When you run yourself ragged your compromise your immune system and then add on stress too which releases cortisol which comes with its own health consequences.

Couldn't say for sure but it's possible it's not even a 'toxic dorm' but just a normal dorm filled with germs. It's also possible given that she has 2 jobs that it may not even be the dorm where she gets the jerms from.

IDK about you but when I'm able to get rest, like real rest when I'm sick I feel better faster.

 

[bear_mom]

Blood work back. No mono. They offered to put her on antibiotics again which she declined for now. Will visit an ENT over Christmas break, and a naturopath who may be able to help us a path to boosting her immune system and sort through some more blood work. Not sure what else to do. . Thank you for all your support and good thoughts and prayers. I truly appreciate it.

I️ would have them culture for strep again and this time if it comes back positive, have them do a sensitivity also. This will define what antibiotics the strain of strep she has will respond to. She might have a strain that is resistant to the antibiotics that have perscibed.

 

[yoopermom]

I just started working at a midsize university this past June. What I see with my student workers (many who close with me at 2 am) is this:
1)terrible sleep habits (sleep HAS to be a priority according to every doctor I've ever seen, and cannot be "made up", you need a consistent amount every night)
2)irregular eating habits (many of my students maybe eat one real "meal" a day, and roll my eyes at me when I say they need to eat better and more regularly)
3)inability to say "NO"(whether it's to friends wanting to do something, jobs that want even more from them, or classmates who need help, etc)
4)shortsightedness in that they don't realize that immediate decisions have long term consequences (yes, they can push themselves healthwise now, but it can develop into a chronic, possibly lifelong illness, who wants that?)

I'm not saying any of this applies to OP's daughter, but it sure applies to 90%+ of the college students I work with.

(Our library only closes from 2 am-7 am, and there are always notes in the suggestion box asking that we be open 24/7. I literally tell them at 2 am, "Go home and get some sleep!".)

Terri

 

[bear_mom]

I just started working at a midsize university this past June. What I see with my student workers (many who close with me at 2 am) is this:
1)terrible sleep habits (sleep HAS to be a priority according to every doctor I've ever seen, and cannot be "made up", you need a consistent amount every night)
2)irregular eating habits (many of my students maybe eat one real "meal" a day, and roll my eyes at me when I say they need to eat better and more regularly)
3)inability to say "NO"(whether it's to friends wanting to do something, jobs that want even more from them, or classmates who need help, etc)
4)shortsightedness in that they don't realize that immediate decisions have long term consequences (yes, they can push themselves healthwise now, but it can develop into a chronic, possibly lifelong illness, who wants that?)

I'm not saying any of this applies to OP's daughter, but it sure applies to 90%+ of the college students I work with.

(Our library only closes from 2 am-7 am, and there are always notes in the suggestion box asking that we be open 24/7. I literally tell them at 2 am, "Go home and get some sleep!".)

Terri

What university?

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Sounds like when I had mono. I'd def look into that!