Yikes - Son Has Mono - Leaving Next Weekend

[MrsJackSparrow]

Travellady, is you doctor checking your son's blood at these appointments, or just giving a general check-up? Having regular bloodwork done is the only true way to monitor mono, as its name refers to elevated levels of monocytes (a type of white blood cell). I had mono in college, a very severe case, and had to get bloodwork done weekly to be certain that my monocyte levels were dropping. Just make sure your MD is being thorough, as a previous poster mentioned enlarged spleen as a complication, which is true. Take care of your son. Good luck at the doctor!

 

[Tiger926]

We have already established that doctor's aren't the most thorough at times, and if no blood tests are done (I had them every week for years!), then your doc has no business even giving you this advice, because then it just becomes opinion - how can he know of your son's levels within his organs without lab tests? If he has done them, then perhaps you can use this to make your decision, but you haven't said so. I've been to a million docs in my short lifetime, and I gotta tell you, they are NOT always the best source for advice and info - they are human just like we are, and like I said, most of them read what their patients' want, and that is what they are told.

All of us who have had Mono or some derivative of it, are telling you otherwise, so in my opinion, you need to use this to make your decision. It sounds like the OP has never had Mono before, and either has the doc, I'm sure, so for me, any doc who says go to sports practice and Disney World is to be questioned. My spleen and liver used to be so enlarged that you could feel it on my weekly appointments - had to quit sports, etc. Perhaps your son is not that bad, but he could be and it really depends upon how thorough your doc is - here is an example. We have one of the best pediatricians in our city and 2x now he has missed my daughter's pneumonia/bronchitis. Why? Because he does not perform magic - he does a quick, check up and that's about it. He makes mistakes, just like we all do. The hospital caught it because they do more thorough tests, of which you haven't mentioned that your son has had. Don't get me started on medicine today, but in my city, doc's diagnose viruses and illnesses all of the time by a quick check-up - not good at all! Many people are given antibiotics for throat infections, ear infections, with no swab done and no blood tests and that's a big problem in my area!

I wish the OP luck in your decision. Not an easy decision to have to cancel things, but I've had to miss stuff my entire life - weddings, funerals, birthdays, vacations, etc. That's the way life is and I do this not only for me, but for everyone else I may come into contact with.

Tiger

 

[amybinion]

Actually the white blood cells that are elevated with Mononucleosis are Lymphocytes not Monocytes, and at least 10% or more of those lymphocytes are atypical. The Mono Spot test and the atypical lymphs are what doctors use to diagnose Mono. Just a little FYI.

 

[LakeAriel]

Contagion? Well some years ago my cousin was treated for mono that just wouldn't quit. It ended up being Hodgkins disease (cancer of the lymphatic system) stage 3B. Thank God he survived even though the cancer had had a chance to spread due to the misdiagnosis. Two years later my 17 year old son found a lump in his armpit. Long story short, the only abnormality in his blood was that he was positive for Epstein Barr! He had a stage 1V Hodgkins. It was thoroughout his body (no symptioms) It was 11 years ago and miraculously he survived after aggressive radiation and chemo. I initiated a study with the NY Dept of Health. There is a correlation between mono and Hodgkins. Not to panic people, most people who get mono do not get cancer (my daughter) but many do. Some of the comments in this thread are what made me decide to get this out there. A co worker of my husband mentioned their nephew with mono who just wasn't getting better. He told her about our experience and the boy was checked. He had Hodgkins! My son's experience may have saved his life. The thing is, the OP's son should not be around large groups of people if he is contagious OR if his immune system is compromised. If his spleen is still enlarged he is still compromised. If his DR has deemed it a mild case and he feels up to it he should be OK. I would just be 100% sure. The child he spreads it to could have serious consequences. On the other hand when my daugter had it at 7 no one in the house contracted it. I do think saliva is necessary for it to spread, hence the name "kissing disease".

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned one of the most dangerous aspects of mono which is an ENLARGED SPLEEN This can be a serious thing...this is why rest is so important and kids are pulled from their everyday sports and dance activities. Even if you use a wheelchair to push him through the park to conserve energy...it would be extremely dangerous for him to ride rough, jerky rides with a waist bar...think Dinosaur, Space Mt, Big Thunder Mt, Mission Space...need I go on?

I usually never respond to these types of threads, but.................

mono has been making it's rounds up here and I swear I had it in January. I had all of the symptoms...........extremely tired, slept about 16 hours a day, could hardly stand up, sore throat.......the whole thing. The last place I would have wanted to be was WDW. And I know because we were there in December and I think that's when it started. My DH was so disappointed that I couldn't tour the parks as much. He took the kids most of the time by himself.

My friend just had mono but didn't know it. Her spleen ruptured and they did surgery to save her life!! She has 4 children and the littlest is 6 months. I'm not trying to scare you, but I never knew this could happen. It's nothing to mess around with.

My other friend said she had it in her early twenties but she just kept going like it was some inconvenience or something..........well, she wound up struggling trying to get over it for 6 MONTHS! If she just would have rested, she would have been better off.

When you spend so much money on a vacation and you want everyone to have a great time, is it really worth it when one of your children is going to be in bed more than usual and not being able to tour the parks as much?

Every mono case is different. And no one on this board can tell you how your son is going to be one week, two weeks or one month from now. Is it something you want to take chances with?

Sorry, I know this isn't what you want to hear. I KNOW how important vacations are. I just don't think I would risk it. Sorry.

 

[liv4pixiedust]

Pretty much everyone has a mono story featuring themselves or someone near and dear. Naturally, the atypically severe stories are more dramatic, and stick with you longer. BUT, no 2 people experience the same manifestation of any disease, including mono. Some disease syndromes, such as mono and lyme disease, are influenced almost as much by the individual's immune system as by the causative organism. In some instances, the viral load in the blood may actually be higher prior to onset of symtoms, not during.

Do some research at reputable websites (webmd, CDC site) and go to your son's final pre-trip check-up armed with questions. Push for diagnostics (bloodwork, radiographs or ultrasound to evaluate splenic size) to increase your (and your DR's) comfort level with whatever decision you reach. Then, trust your DR's judgement, not ours. For all you know, we're all a bunch of yahoos .

Worst case scenario, he relapses or plain feels too bad/tired to go. End of the world? No. Sad and disappointing? Definitely.

Maybe he could take one for the team and stay with a relative back home while the rest of you enjoy your trip. You could always receive credit for his airfare, and promise him another trip later on. Maybe just you and DS? Might actually be something to look forward to while he completes his recovery.

If he is cleared to travel, enforce a very non-commando approach to your vacation. Maybe rent an ECV for him to buzz around the parks. Get him a face mask to minimize his risk of contacting more pathogens or spreading his own to others. Take lots of hand sanitizer. Throw in a pirates eye patch and a fake shoulder parrot for good measure.

 

[Lizzybee]

I thought the OP was just asking mostly about whether POR was relaxing enough or if she should spend extra to stay at WL or AKL? I think the OP, the child's mother, and the doctor, are those best equipped to decide if he is well enough to go. As far as being contagious, I assume that in any given crowded place, there will be contagious people and I bring my hand sanitizer. I don't get how this turned into a debate.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

Like the others have said - coughing, sneezing, touching a door handle, ride bars to pull down, lightswitches, etc. will all pass this virus around. In regards to doctors, no offense to any on here, but your doc's reaction doesn't surprise me. Docs very much read what patients want, and that is what they tell them - again, talk to the doctors in Orlando and they'll tell you of millions of stories of visitors who claim their docs said it was ok to travel, but the docs who deal with all of this crap in Orlando will tell you otherwise - people need to stay home!!! Mono is VERY easily passed - that's why he has it in the first place and the Strep, tonsil thing is right behind it - had my tonsils out by emergency surgery at 16.5 yrs. old as 4 years of being sick solid with my 'episodes' of Chronic Fatigue/Epstein Barr (they still to this day can't agree on what my issues are) and severe tonsillitis nearly killed me (severe Scarlet Fever as well - all related) and despite getting my tonsils removed, most days I feel like I've been driven over by a truck, still to this day - that's what Mono feels like. Your son is probably having trouble coping on a day to day basis, never mind going to Disney World.

For his safety, and the safety of all of the other thousands of people he could potentially infect, I urge you to rethink your vacation plans.

Tiger

I just wanted to add that my DD caught mono at the age of just 3. I can't even begin to describe the horrible things that happened to her. She endured so many blood draws, visits to a kidney specialist and finally an oncologist because her initial tests didn't pick up mono. We lived in fear for 9 days because we thought she had a rare form of leukemia. Finally, mono showed up. Because of it though, she suffered ear infections, strep throat, and colds. Eventually she had problems with sleep apnea and had to have her tonsils and adenoids taken out because she was ceasing to breath at night. You can't possibly imagine what she had to be put through and the HE** (-hockey sticks) that we went through as a family because of this illness!! If your son is contagious, please think of others. The next person might not be so lucky. Sorry to rain on anyone's parade. I truly am!!

 

[eeyore45]

I thought the OP was just asking mostly about whether POR was relaxing enough or if she should spend extra to stay at WL or AKL? I think the OP, the child's mother, and the doctor, are those best equipped to decide if he is well enough to go. As far as being contagious, I assume that in any given crowded place, there will be contagious people and I bring my hand sanitizer. I don't get how this turned into a debate.

I couldnt agree more!!

 

[eeyore45]

When my daughter had mono the doctor told her to go to school, go to sports practice, whatever she felt like doing as long as she didn't wear herself out. I was surprised, and asked a relative who is a nurse and she said, sure, people always overreact with mono.

We got the same information - my SIL and her dh are nurses... same info!

 

[DisnyMama]

As the previous post stated my brother in-law's niece had mono last year and was told by her doctor that as long as she felt up to it that she should go to school as usual and continue with soccer. The only thing she was instructed to do was to not share anything (food or beverage, make-up, etc.) and to get plenty of regular sleep and eat healthy and drink lots of fluids. She was feeling really crappy for about 6 months but loves to play soccer and was a real trooper. Each case just has to be evaluated on an individual basis.

 

[txm]

Mono is not as contageous as cold or flu, but it still is a contageous disease. (How does one get it int the first place?) I think it is very insensitive to intentionally expose a contageous disease to large number of people, some of them could have weakened immune system (very old, very young) and can get sick easily.

Going to school is not the same thing as going on a vacation. It obviously is very hard to keep a kid out of school for months and you can look at the risk (it is not an extremely contageous disease) vs. benefits. But come on! No body HAS to go to WDW right now. You can postpone your vacation or leave your son at home.

 

[RescueRanger]

I thought the OP was just asking mostly about whether POR was relaxing enough or if she should spend extra to stay at WL or AKL? I think the OP, the child's mother, and the doctor, are those best equipped to decide if he is well enough to go. As far as being contagious, I assume that in any given crowded place, there will be contagious people and I bring my hand sanitizer. I don't get how this turned into a debate.

A child has to go to school it is a necessity. However, WDW is a luxury not a need. It turned into a debate because there are so many people who are selfish and will expose the rest of us to illnesses needlessly just so they can say that they went to WDW. As I said before, I have a Dr friend who said the kid may be up to it, but the risks of secondary infections and exposing others in his mind are too high. In school, he would be around kids his age. At WDW, there will be a large amount of infants and toddlers who don't know that they should not put their hands in their mouths because of germs. Pool hop all you want, use old refillable mugs for your drinks, and stuff as many people in a room as you want. I really don't care. Just keep your sick kids at home and away from my family. WDW will always be there.

 

[shellybaxter]

A child has to go to school it is a necessity. However, WDW is a luxury not a need. It turned into a debate because there are so many people who are selfish and will expose the rest of us to illnesses needlessly just so they can say that they went to WDW. As I said before, I have a Dr friend who said the kid may be up to it, but the risks of secondary infections and exposing others in his mind are too high. In school, he would be around kids his age. At WDW, there will be a large amount of infants and toddlers who don't know that they should not put their hands in their mouths because of germs. Pool hop all you want, use old refillable mugs for your drinks, and stuff as many people in a room as you want. I really don't care. Just keep your sick kids at home and away from my family. WDW will always be there.

I'm curious, if your child had a cold, green running nose, cough, etc, would you go on vaction? Or do you wait until your whole family is completly well before traveling?

 

[ticktock]

When my daughter had mono the doctor told her to go to school, go to sports practice, whatever she felt like doing as long as she didn't wear herself out. I was surprised, and asked a relative who is a nurse and she said, sure, people always overreact with mono.

My cousin's doc gave her mother the same advice. She went to cheerleading practice, ruptured her spleen and DIED. She was 13. She hadn't been tired, she thought she was better. She felt good for the first time in two weeks. And then she DIED. Just like that, gone forever.

The point is, every case is different. A doctor really doesn't know what is going on in your body. Even with blood work, they can only base their advice on past experience. That experience is dealing with someone elses body, not yours. There are sooo many cases were they are wrong. Why would you risk it?!?

My aunt didn't know the risks. Her doctor didn't tell her. I guess he told her what she wanted to hear, like so many posters have mentioned doctors do. So it wasn't her fault that her daughter died (though she still blames herself 7 years later). BUT, for someone who had been warned of the what could happen???

That is my little story. Like someone posted, everyone has a story of someone they know etc..

 

[Leota]

Please keep in mind that WDW is the main destination for Make A Wish children and other organizations that send chronic & fatally ill children on theirDream trips. These children have severely compromised immune systems. Knowingly bringing mono into contact with them is very dangerous & not something I'd want on my conscious. And no, Purell is just not enough for these kids.

My son is Immune Compromised. Our neighbors thought Chicken Pox was no big deal & sent their daughter to school with it. My son got it & spent a week in Pediatric Intensive Care.

So, what you may think is no big deal can be a very big deal to some children. You will never even know which ones they are, but rest assured, they are there to fulfill a dying wish. I wouldn't want to be the one who makes things worse for them than they already are.

Go another time.

 

[txm]

I'm curious, if your child had a cold, green running nose, cough, etc, would you go on vaction? Or do you wait until your whole family is completly well before traveling?

Not for a mild cold, but for something as serious as Mono or a bad flu, I would postpone the vacation. It's one thing to do stupid things to your own (or your children's) body, but it's another to intentionally increasing risk to others.

 

[ticktock]

I'm curious, if your child had a cold, green running nose, cough, etc, would you go on vaction? Or do you wait until your whole family is completly well before traveling?

If my child had a common cold I would think about canceling a trip. For the child's sake as well as other's (since I believe in accountability and personal responsibility). But, for something that could be sooo possibly life altering or life ENDING as mono, I would diffenately cancel.

WDW is full of babies, small children and immune compromised individuals (cancer and AIDS to name just 2). I honestly can't believe any one could be sooo selfish as to put complete strangers at risk for chronic illness or DEATH just to have a little fun? That is insane. I'm not saying the op is crazy, I just don't think she has all the facts. Like my aunt didn't. She of course would have made a different decision had she known what she knows now. And my cousin would be in college right now. Not in a box in the ground.

Not trying to flame anyone, but it's kind of hard to read people say this isn't a big deal when that little baby I held in my arms when I was 14 is gone forever. Maybe if the person she contracted mono from had stayed at home to recover instead of spreading their germs around like it was their god given right she would still be here with us today!!!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I thought the OP was just asking mostly about whether POR was relaxing enough or if she should spend extra to stay at WL or AKL? I think the OP, the child's mother, and the doctor, are those best equipped to decide if he is well enough to go. As far as being contagious, I assume that in any given crowded place, there will be contagious people and I bring my hand sanitizer. I don't get how this turned into a debate.

I wasn't debating.......just telling my opinion. But fine. OP.......go, have fun, hope nothing bad happens to your son, hope you have good weather and like wherever you stay. I guess I'll keep my mouth shut next time.

 

[Tiger926]

It's funny to me how people wonder how these types of posts always turn into debates - how can they not? People constantly ask for advice on bringing sick people to Disney World and it makes no sense to me how one would think that this isn't a topic that is going to be sensitive for so many of us with health issues, sick children, etc. There are certain topics on the DIS that generate tons of posts: refillable mugs, pool hopping, Dining Plan adults/kids meals and bringing sick people to the parks are a few that come to mind. It's kind of scary to me that so many people post about bringing sick people on vacation - shouldn't you already know the answer to that question? WDW is a breeding ground for germs mostly because so many visitors go to the parks sick - I've spoken at length to Orlando physicians about this very topic. A little more altruism is definitely needed in this world - especially at WDW where there are a ton of immune compromised people.

That being said, I'm wondering if the OP may be afraid to post an update here, but I was wondering what decision they have made for their vacation? Hopefully all of us with suppressed immune systems, health issues, or stories of sick relatives will have helped her in her decision.

Tiger