Yikes - Son Has Mono - Leaving Next Weekend

[fran99999]

Just a heads up sharing spit is also coughing, sneezing, drinking from a water fountain, wiping your mouth with your hand then touching something. I say this because I contacted mono in my 2nd year of high school. I got it from my friend while playing a game of monopoly (I think) she was coughing into her hand then touching the board/pieces. I was and am now very germ consious prior to this. I never shared drinks/food, even before this, I was never closer than 3 feet across a table to play. I ended up home from school for 5 weeks. I had Strep/mono this occurs a lot. My tonsils were so swollen I couldnt swallow the pills I had to push them thu my tonsils to swallow them. My fever was from 100-106 ( I do tend to run high fevers).

I catch Strep very easily and always have. That is why I still have my tonsils at 48 years old. I dont get the sore throat just the swollen tonsils.

Please go at yours sons pace if U do go to disney I know I felt fine then as another has posted I just dropped off to sleep.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Fran9999,
I had the same thing with the swollen tonsils. That's why I lost so much weight. I couldn't eat for a week.
To the Mom with the sick son, keep in mind that mono is passed similar to a common cold. If I sneeze in my hand, then touch a door nob, then you come behind me and touch the same nob, then your mouth...you may get sick. It sound like your doctor considers him mono to be no big deal. Just be cautious with your son. You know him better than any of us. Hope he feels well soon!

 

[Pats Dragon]

I would stay at AKL because it is really neat to sit in AC and watch the animals in the middle of the day or find an overlook or sit in the lobby. I would rent an ecv or wheel chair and the buses at AKL are perfect because they are less crowded than other resort buses. Transportation is very good there. Mono makes you VERY tired and walking or standing may be too much for him. Disney anytime is perfect for a stress reliever. Have fun.

 

[csaribay]

I would highly recommend that you consider deferring your trip until your son is better. Planes, trains and Disney will be here for a long time, but nothing is more important than your son's health. Corporate America can be difficult when changing travel arrangements, but they are usually willing to bend penalties and make exceptions when a serious illness is encountered.

If you decide to go, count on a good amount of down time. Chauffeuring your son around in wheelchair while in the parks may be a good idea, that'll preserve any energy he happens to have on a given day (manual wheelchairs are available on a complimentary basis from your Disney resort, pending availability- call ahead). Changing to the WL may also be an option that you can explore, since it is very likely ya'll will be in that hotel room quite a bit more. AKL is also a good option- could watch the animals on your downtime.

 

[Tiger926]

Like the others have said - coughing, sneezing, touching a door handle, ride bars to pull down, lightswitches, etc. will all pass this virus around. Strep is a BIG problem in Orlando, just ask the pediatricians or emergency room doctors down there and you'll get an earful! My DD was beyond sick and it's all because of the amount of germs passed around at this time of year - incidentally, Strep is at its peak at this time of year. If you decide to go, you need to have housekeeping totally disinfect your room as well - they will come and sanitize your room - although again, hardly seems fair for them to pay extra money for housekeeping when you are knowingly bringing a sick, and infected child to their resort.

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

 

[fran99999]

opps forgot to mention. I had Pneumonia last Jan. I called Delta told them I was sick with pneumonia. They asked for my Dr. name and they gave me a full (no change fee) credit for a future flight. I remade the flight plans for May (see signiture) with no change fee. I now have a small credit as the flight is less expensive for May than Jan.

I called Disney and told them I was sick they gave me a Full refund of my room only reservation. I was told if it was a package reservation they would have given me a full refund of $$ paid.

Both Pneumonia and Mono are just as contagious. Hope your DS gets well quick.

I am not sure how U are getting to FL from WA but I dont know if you can fly with Mono I was told the airplane air system would pass the pneumonia around to all on the flight. I may be wrong about this though.

Have a great trip whatever U deceide.

 

[Lizzybee]

To the OP regarding trundles at POR, if you are not tall you should be fine on the trundle. I'm 5'5" and a half and not "tiny" and I was very comfy on it. In fact I slept so well my 5'7" senior citizen mother commandeered the bed from me the next night. We fought over the trundle the rest of the trip, partly because whoever didn't get the trundle got to bunk with my daughter whose nickname is "space invader" AKA "princess knees n elbows".
My Dad had open heart surgery a few weeks before our first trip to Disney and he borrowed a wheelchair from guest services at POR. He took it to the parks some and when he felt up to it he left it in the room. Oh and I'm guessing your DS will be lots easier to push in a wheelchair than my Dad...whew what a workout!

 

[Hedy]

Honestly, speaking as someone who had mono this time last year, I highly suggest you don't go. Go when your son can enjoy it.

 

[thedisneymom]

I know its a heartbreak but listen to the experienced mono survivors. A dear friend has had this terrible illness (a teenager) and you are truly endangering your child regardless of what the Dr says. You should wait until you no longer view any symptoms and that could be awhile. Mono will knock you down so fast and a good day is followed by a hit the wall, crash in the bed, and can't get up feeling that can last a week or more. Her doctor was also the non'cautious type and she suffered immensely for it. I hope your child is well soon. I will say some prayers.

 

[RescueRanger]

At the same time, we all really need this vacation as we're all run down,...

No, YOU may need the vacation, but what your son needs is rest. I am not going to be politically correct or try to sugar coat this. Stay home. You would be putting your son's health at risk, not to mention the health of the thousands of visitors who could get the disease from your son. This is not a common cold or even a stomach virus. This is mono, a serious illness. I called a Dr friend of mine after reading your post and he was shocked that your doctor would even consider letting your son go to WDW. Although he said that your son possibly could be up to it, the risk of getting others infected would be too great. He also said your son would be at greater risk for secondary infections because of the amount of people and germs he would be exposed to. I can't believe you would even consider taking him.

 

[sskem96]

You don't have to worry about the contagious issue as people carry Epstein Barr in their saliva for approx. 1 year after contracting mono. Most people were exposed as children (kids under 5 rarely have symptoms) and won't get it again. A rare few will get it more than once, but that is not how the virus generally works. My daughter was tested last year before our Disney trip because of similar symptoms, and was shown to have already had it and is now immune. It may have been what was causing her symptoms at the time, and she had already had it long enough by time we had her tested that she already showed immunity but wasn't over it yet. Try to talk him into letting you push him around in wheel chair much of the time. My daughter was 8 and rode in a stroller much of the time. She did fine til the last day when she woke up with a fever. We took her to the doctor the next morning and she had come down with strep. I don't know if she was exposed while we were on vacation or before we left, but she ended up missing a couple extra days of school. I felt bad mainly because I never would have planned to take her out of school for a week for vacation is I had known she was going to end up with so many sick days that term. Luckily (kind of) she was the sickest over the week of spring break, so that saved her and extra 5 sick days that she would have missed. Plan on making it a relaxing trip, no commando touring, go at his pace, and enjoy yourself.

 

[Tiger926]

sskem96 - Many people do carry the virus, as mentioned, but when you are fresh from being diagnosed, with symptoms present as OP's son is, then you are contagious. He is struggling through an episode right now, therefore, more than likely contagious. Again, your advice about telling her to go is just not appropriate for him, nor the thousands of other people that will be there. By the way, Strep frequently follows as already mentioned - this is peak Strep season as well, so when fighting an immune problem such as Mono, his resistance is way down; therefore, going to parks filled with many sick people is not a good idea - he will more than likely pick up secondary infections like we all did, and then believe me, if he thinks life is rough now, wait until this happens!

Again, I know that OP is struggling with a hard decision, but posts like yours in which you encourage people to take their sick children to the parks as you did, are irresponsible. Read your post - did you do any research about secondary infections and bringing sick children to the parks? Did you do any research about what viruses/infections are at their peak at this time of year in Orlando? Obviously not since you were suprised your daughter got sick with Strep and then missed more school. Not trying to be rude, but I bet you did more research and planning (as most people seem to do on these boards) for your trip, then you did about your child's health. Call up an Orlando Children's hospital, clinic or health unit and they'll give you an earful about how rampant viruses, etc. are this time of year due to climate factors, but mostly because sick guests go to the parks!

Sorry about my anger with this topic, but I have terrible memories of being in the hospital with my very sick baby due to other people's ignorance on this topic (the money was never an issue, as WDW will be there again!). I am so tired of seeing these types of posts on these boards - it's irresponsible to take contagious/infectious people into places where they will contact thousands of others, plain and simple.

Good luck with your decision, OP. Hopefully, you'll make the right one for your son, and for the thousands of others he is going to come into contact with.

Tiger

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

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.

 

[MareQ]

No, YOU may need the vacation, but what your son needs is rest. I am not going to be politically correct or try to sugar coat this. Stay home. You would be putting your son's health at risk, not to mention the health of the thousands of visitors who could get the disease from your son. This is not a common cold or even a stomach virus. This is mono, a serious illness. I called a Dr friend of mine after reading your post and he was shocked that your doctor would even consider letting your son go to WDW. Although he said that your son possibly could be up to it, the risk of getting others infected would be too great. He also said your son would be at greater risk for secondary infections because of the amount of people and germs he would be exposed to. I can't believe you would even consider taking him.

Ditto - I had mono when I was 22.My life was horrible for 6 months, I was so sick, then I would feel better but get a cold and be run down all over again. I drove to the pharmacy 6 weeks after my diagnosis to get a prescription and almost passed out when I got there because it was way too much for my body to handle.

Your son NEEDS to stay home - he doesn't need to travel in an airplane, doesn't need to be in a hotel at WDW, doesn't need to be in a pool, eating in restaurants - he needs to be home, as isolated as possible - not just for the other people's healthy but for his own as well!!

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I hate to continue a mono debate, but according to our doctor, it's just not the case that one can't do anything.

He said most people that get it never know they have it and that it's a very small percentage of people who get it and are wiped out for months.

If your son is very, very tired and doesn't feel good, then I agree, maybe you should postpone, but if he's feeling OK, go for it. Just make sure you pay attention that he doesn't overdo it.

 

[disney-itch]

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?

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

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 and kids are pulled from their everyday sports and dance activities.

Our family doctor and my daughter's coaches told her to go to track practice every day if she wasn't too tired. They just told her to be cautious and not over do.

Look the best person to talk to is your doctor, but it's just not true that everyone with mono needs to jump in their beds and stay there. I would for sure ask the doctor if he should go, and if you get the OK, what a great place for your son to relax and recover at! Have fun.

 

[MareQ]

Our family doctor and my daughter's coaches told her to go to track practice every day if she wasn't too tired. They just told her to be cautious and not over do.

Look the best person to talk to is your doctor, but it's just not true that everyone with mono needs to jump in their beds and stay there. I would for sure ask the doctor if he should go, and if you get the OK, what a great place for your son to relax and recover at! Have fun.

It's not JUST a matter of resting - it's staying away from other people to avoid getting THEM sick as well.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

It's not JUST a matter of resting - it's staying away from other people to avoid getting THEM sick as well.

Kids, including my daughter, are at school all the time with mono. It just isn't an illness that doctors keep you away from other people.

Really, they don't have to take my word for it, they should call and ask their doctor for his advice. But our doctor is very good and he told dd to go do everything normally, unless she got tired.

 

[shellybaxter]

Sometimes I just can't believe these boards.

OP follow the advice of your family doctor which you apparently know and trust. If he says its okay, then go. I mean how unfair to your son, he can go to school but not Disney, doesn't make any sense to me.

You'll love POR. Its a great resort. Its pretty spread out. You might want to ask for a room close to the bus stop and the food court. They have a decent food court and a good gift shop. We enjoy breakfact at Boatwrights but not dinner so much. We always get a King room so I can't give advice about the beds. The grounds are very pretty and tranquil, which makes it a great place to relax.

I hope things work out for you and your son is feeling better.

Shelly