Jenna's sister may have mono

[okarol]

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.

[paris]

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.

[st789]

Sorry to hear this new, hope is just a flu.

[skyedogrocks]

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!!   

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! 

[goofynina]

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    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?   

[angela515]

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. 

[angellady07]

Karol, I'm praying for your family.

[lola]

  hang in there my friend

[okarol]

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! 

[Sluff]

Dang i hope it's not serious. Is Jenna more susceptible to illness because of the transplant? Can she get it from Rebbecca?
 

[okarol]

Dang i hope it's not serious. Is Jenna more susceptible to illness because of the transplant? Can she get it from Rebbecca?
 

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! 

[boxman55]

Saying a prayer that it all goes away soon...Boxman

[Amanda From OZ]

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

 

[Jill D.]

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.

[charee]

Hey Karol Hope it does turn out to be the flu, and nothing serious, sending good thoughts your way

[angellady07]

Great news Karol. Wishing your daughter a speedy recovery.

[Joe Paul]

Hoping things get better soon, good luck to both the girls 

[Black]

Karol, I can't imagine how worried you are.    I hope it turns out to be a minor virus with hay fever/allergy complications!

[Bajanne]

Karol, I can't imagine how worried you are.    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.

[kitkatz]

Wow! I hope all is going better for the girls.

[brenda]

Best wishes to both girls. You may be over cautious but that just means your a good mom Karol.

[tamara]

Thinkin of you and the girls karol 

[Wattle]

Get well soon Becca.

Karol, it's natural to be cautious. Even in 'normal' circumstances. You are a great Mum.   

[KT0930]

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.

[willieandwinnie]

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