I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Off-Topic => Other Severe Medical Conditions => Topic started by: okarol on October 03, 2007, 09:32:03 AM
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Jenna's 17 year old sister has been sick since Friday, fever, sore throat, coughing and really tired. We have kept her home and she's been taking care of herself, but she doesn't seem to be getting better. The fever spiked up again last night.
Right before I went to bed my husband got an email from Rebecca's tutor - she wanted to let us now she's been diagnosed with mononucleosis - and won't be able to work for awhile.
I am trying not to freak out - I just made an appointment for later today to get a throat culture and hopefully it's just a cold. But my mind starts spinning about what if it IS mono, and what it means for her - missing 3 days of school already - and I believe she will miss more. The fatigue of infectious mononucleosis often lasts from 1-2 months. Then I go into a little panic about Jenna having been exposed. Mononucleosis is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus which can have devastating results on immuno-suppressed patients.
I know. I need to just wait and see what the doctor says. Will update later.
EDITED: Moved post to proper thread "Severe Medical Conditions" - Goofynina/Admin.
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Okarol, Sorry this is happening. AlohaBeth got mono her first year in college. She was sick! She was down and out for 2 months and then took 2 more to begin feeling normal. She had to withdraw that semester. Because I was mimicking so many of her symptoms, they did bloodwork on me and low and behold, kidney disease! Anyway, it does sound like mono. They said they could tell by looking at Beth that she had it. Tests confirmed and it was good at least to know what we were dealing with. Can Jenna be semi-isolated from Rebecca? You are so on top of things--I know you will find the answers you need. Again, they are lucky to have you for a mom.
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Sorry to hear this new, hope is just a flu.
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Ugh, so sorry to hear this. I got Mono when I was 31 and going through a divorce. It really sucked.
In any event, I had a HORRIBLE sore throat that wouldn't go away with antibiotics. I was also extremely tired. Went to the ER, they took blood and in less than an hour I found out the news. I was out for a month from work and it took me a couple of weeks to get back my strength. The worst part of it all was my throat, it hurt like crazy to swallow. That was the only time I ever took prescription painkillers, just to numb the pain to swallow. The only good thing was, I lost loads of weight!! :2thumbsup;
Hope you find out soon what it is. Just to be safe, I would call Jenna's Dr's to see what precautions you need to take with her.
Good Luck!
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At this point all we can do is pray for the best and prepare for the worse. I hope it isnt mono, seen my friend go through it and it wasnt easy :thumbdown; BUT the good news is she did get through it as everyone does. Is there a family member that Jenna can stay with in the mean time? :twocents;
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Geez, hang in there hun. Hopefully everything will be worked out, and whatever is wrong will go away quickly with/or without meds, and hopefully you can keep it away from Jenna. :grouphug;
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Karol, I'm praying for your family.
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:grouphug; :grouphug; hang in there my friend
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The doctor sent Rebecca for labs - said it takes a couple of days to get results -- ? His initial opinion is that it's a "para-flu" - a virus that has the symptoms similar to a flu but isn't. He is seeing a lot of it going around right now. He thinks she also has bronchitis and a sinus infection so he gave her an inhaler, nasal spray and antibiotics. He is pretty sure it isn't mono because she has no tenderness in her spleen or liver. So we will see. I hope he's right. In the meantime we are keeping Jenna away from her, using tons of hand sanitizer and hoping for the best.
Thanks for all your support! :thx;
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Dang i hope it's not serious. Is Jenna more susceptible to illness because of the transplant? Can she get it from Rebbecca?
:grouphug;
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Dang i hope it's not serious. Is Jenna more susceptible to illness because of the transplant? Can she get it from Rebbecca?
:grouphug;
Immunosuppressiom drugs keep your body from rejecting an organ, but they also suppress the natural immunities we build up over the years. So yes, she's more susceptible. However, I have to say that Jenna is so amazingly healthy right now, it's as if she never had renal failure. She started a cold when we were in New Mexico and I was worried it might get really bad before it got better, but she actually shook it off in 2 days. I am just being over cautious, I hope. That's what mom's do! ;)
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Saying a prayer that it all goes away soon...Boxman
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Hey Karol,
I hope all goes okay and she does not have mono or anything else serious.
Sending goos thoughts and prayers to all of you.
Amanda
xxoo
:grouphug;
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I hope it's not mono and that she beats whatever she has very quickly. I can only imagine how worried you are about Jenna picking up a virus. On my intro page I told how my daughter was diagnosed with mono the day before I was supposed to start plasmapheresis for my transplant, so everything was called off for the 2nd time. I did contract the virus, but never got sick. However, I think my daughter has never quite recovered completely and this was 14 months ago. It seems like she is constantly getting sick ever since contracting the virus. It's weird how sometimes EBV develops into mono and sometimes it doesn't.
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Hey Karol Hope it does turn out to be the flu, and nothing serious, sending good thoughts your way :cuddle;
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Great news Karol. Wishing your daughter a speedy recovery.
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Hoping things get better soon, good luck to both the girls :thumbup;
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Karol, I can't imagine how worried you are. :grouphug; I hope it turns out to be a minor virus with hay fever/allergy complications!
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Karol, I can't imagine how worried you are. :grouphug; I hope it turns out to be a minor virus with hay fever/allergy complications!
That is my wish for you guys too.
Caring thoughts and prayers are coming your way.
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Wow! I hope all is going better for the girls.
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Best wishes to both girls. You may be over cautious but that just means your a good mom Karol.
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Thinkin of you and the girls karol :grouphug;
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:cuddle; Get well soon Becca.
Karol, it's natural to be cautious. Even in 'normal' circumstances. You are a great Mum. :grouphug;
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My brother got mono less than a year after my first transplant, and since my mom had been volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House at the time, the director offered to let me stay there in order to keep me from getting it. I stayed at home, and never got it, thank goodness! Karol, I hope it's just the flu, but whatever it is, hope everyone else stays healthy and Rebecca gets over it soon.
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Karol,
I hope things are improving for you. I had mono when I was about 13 years old and it was tough. Take care.
willieandwinnie
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Thanks. No lab results yet.
Does anyone have any idea how long mono is contagious? Even if Rebecca doesn't have it, there's still the issue of the tutor coming back to work here in our home - she feels that she might be back in a week or two. Is this still a risk for Jenna?
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Mono, short for mononucleosis, is caused by an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a virus in the herpes family of viruses. As with other herpes viruses, EBV stays in your body for the rest of your life, although it won't cause you to get mono again. However, there are other viruses you can catch that can cause you to have a mono-like illness, too.
Frequently referred to as the "kissing disease" because you can catch it from the saliva of someone who has the virus, mono can also be contracted by sharing a toothbrush, drinking straw, or eating utensil with someone who has the virus. Don't worry about giving your friends or family a quick peck - it takes more than that to catch it.
Once you get the virus, you generally don't have any symptoms for 4 to 7 weeks. When symptoms begin, you'll probably have a fever, sore muscles, headache, sore throat, and loss of appetite. Two indicators that you may have something more than the flu are being tired all the time and having swollen lymph nodes (glands) in your neck, under your arms, and around your groin. Some people also have an enlarged liver or spleen. A blood test, known as the Monospot test, can help your doctor determine whether you have mono.
Mono can't be cured and needs to run its course naturally over about 2 to 4 weeks - and some people feel tired for several weeks longer. There are some things you can do to feel better and help yourself recover. First and foremost, get plenty of rest. Drink lots of liquids, such as water, juice, soup broth, and tea, and try to eat a well-balanced diet. You can take nonaspirin pain relievers, such as Tylenol or Advil, which will help your headaches and sore muscles while reducing your fever. (Do not take products containing aspirin, as they may cause Reye syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal disease.)
Answering the big question about how long you are contagious is tricky because doctors and researchers aren't exactly sure. You can spread the infection for the entire time you have symptoms and probably for a few months after your symptoms are completely gone. It may be a good idea not to share that ice cream soda for about 6 months - until after you start feeling better. You also should avoid open-mouth kissing, too. Remember, that might be how you caught mono in the first place!
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Thanks glitter - your post helped a lot.
I just heard from the pediatric nurse - she said all Rebecca's labs came back normal :clap; What a relief!
The nurse also said that when the tutor comes back there should be no risk to Jenna, unless they swap spit, so I can relax.
:grouphug; You guys are great! :thx;
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:bow; :bow; Oh thank God, i can just imagine how relieved you are my friend, now you can relax ;) ;)
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I'm so happy for you Karol.
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Good news! :yahoo;
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:thumbup;
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YEAH :yahoo; :thumbup;
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Whew! That is WONDERFUL news, Karol!!! :2thumbsup;
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:clap; YEAH!!!
So glad to hear the news.
willieandwinnie
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Thats wonderful News. YAY!
:2thumbsup;
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What a relief. Happy for the girls and their mama.
:cuddle;
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Great News!! :yahoo;
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:bandance; glad you can rest easy now
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:2thumbsup; :grouphug;
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Yay :)
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Missed this thread somehow anyway sorry about the bad news that she is sick happy for the good new that it's not Mono. I had Mono when I was 17 and had to be hospitalized for 2 days missed like 2 weeks of school and was miserable the whole time. At least you don't have to worry about Jenna getting Mono.
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:bandance; :yahoo; :clap; :2thumbsup; :bandance; :yahoo;
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Well, here we are, six years later, and now Jenna's younger brother has been diagnosed with mono. He is home for 4 weeks from college and has not felt good for weeks.
I am glad I was able to find this thread.
It was good info to read, to be reassured that most likely Jenna will stay safe while Johnny heals.
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Hi Okarol,
I wish Johnny the soonest recovery. Hope your daughter Jenna stays away from the infection. Happy New Year to you all !