<p>Mom of kid who has mono, speaking. S was seen by the health center after complaining of sore throat, swollen gland, ear pain, headaches and a general yucky feeling. Rapid throat culture and mono spot were negative, but put on Z-pak for the tonsillitis. He came home the next weekend and was seen by our family doc since symptoms were worsening, especially the swollen gland. Another regular throat culture and mono spot were done, once again negative. Put on 10 days of Keflex. Although S started to feel a little better, the swollen gland remanied and looked like a marshmallow under his skin and the corresponding tonsil was still enlarged and red. Back to the doctor and a surgical biopsy of the gland was scheduled but the doc decided to run one more mono test in the meantime since mono doesn’t always show up right away. Sure enough the third test was positive and we have been able to cancel the biopsy. He is doing much better now and the gland has started to return to normal.</p>
<p>The main thing I wanted to say was that if your S doesn’t improve or worsens, keep going back. After the initial negative tests at the health center, they didn’t really take his continued complaints too seriously. Persistence was needed to get the right diagnosis. Best wishes to your son.</p>
<p>Thanks all again. I just talked to him and he is a bit better…on the antibiotic and advil, drinking plenty. Was going to venture out to pick up the grandma’s chicken soup I had sent…(a CC tip from a while back that I stored in my memory bank for just such an occasion).<br>
I have been stressing paying attention and going back to the clinic if he doesn’t continue to feel better.<br>
He talked to his boss today and she was fine with him staying out for the week…
Yeah, apparently you only get mono from kissing strangers, not friends!
I’m hoping that it is just a sore throat, cold and a leftover tiredness from the Spring Break he took to Amsterdam.
According to one of my friends if a bad sore throat is the only thing he brought back from there, we should consider ourselves lucky! I don’t wanna know…</p>
<p>ebeeee – the only way to rule out (or to positively identify) mono is a specific blood test. So I hope your S had one of those. </p>
<p>He should look out for fatigue and lethargy – and feeling tired as soon as he wakes up. For my D these were the first signs of mono – the sore throat came later. </p>
<p>I can tell you my D had a very good experience with NEU’s clinic & doctors, both when she came down with mono, and later, with an unrelated issue. A a doctor there correctly diagnosed a problem with her knees that went undiagnosed by a bunch of doctors who previously treated her. Your S should be in good hands.</p>
<p>katliamom,
No blood test yet. They seem to think it isn’t mono…good to hear your experience with NEU clinic/doctors. So far he has only been there twice, once for a hand injury which they referred out to a specialist and once this time. I was encouraged to hear that the nurse practitioner brought the doctor in to make sure.<br>
Good to hear everyones advice re: mono so I can keep an eye on him and make sure that he is watching for symptoms.</p>
<p>When my youngest was 13 she got mono - I thought it was just a viral sore throat but when I took her to the pediatrician - she walked into the room took one look at my kiddo sitting on the table, turned back to me and said she had mono.
I was shocked. There is a mono “look” - they just sit there with a vacant look, their mouth open and think about not swallowing.
Anyway - the dr was correct she did indeed have mono.</p>
<p>Reminder - one needs to have symptoms for a week or so for an accurate monospot. It appears too soon for your son to have been tested anyway - time will tell.
Perhaps he will turn the corner in the next day or two.</p>
<p>D had the worst sore throat of her life (her description) in September. Called in the middle of the night to tell me “if my throat closes up anymore I won’t be able to breath at all”. By the next day had a temp of 103 that was gone by the time she was seen in an emergency clinic. She had no other symptoms. All tests came back negative. Dr. diagnosed a viral infection and gave her vicodin only. She ate bread dipped in broth for 3-4 days and LOTS of fluids. Gradually the swelling went down and she was back to normal in about a week except for losing weight she couldn’t afford to lose. That took quite a while to gain back.</p>
<p>I am going to use this thread to ask for some advice also. My daughter has been sick for a few weeks. 2 days ago she got worse, so I convinced her to go to the infirmy. The doctor did the blood test to see if she has mono, but also gave her anibiotic for possible infection. The test result shows slight positive for mono. He told her to act like she has mono - no exercise, rest,etc. </p>
<p>What does it mean for the result to be slightly positive (can’t be slightly pregnant, right)? How long do people have mono? Any side effect? If this is an early stage, is there anything she could do to not get a full blown mono? Her throat doesn’t hurt. She has been coughing a lot with mucus. In the last few days, her nose has been more congest (it’s more like she got re-infected with another cold).</p>
<p>I am worried because she is not home… I tried to find the thread about mono on this forum, but can’t seem to find it, so I am asking the question again.</p>
<p>I don’t know what slightly positive mono is, but it is possible to have had mono and not even know that you ever had it. In fact, our doctor said that this is common in much of the adult population. One of my kids had mono and never knew it; we discovered it in a blood test at a much later date. The other had “full blown” mono as described above.</p>
<p>The monospot is a quick test and used for screening. It is not perfect. It basically tests for antibody production of the Epstein barr virus.
There are other more accurate tests but they are more expensive. Either way the result is the same. There is no cure - if it is mono then she will eventually get better.
The monospot also may not be positive until one has had symptoms for one to two weeks.</p>
<p>There is probably nothing she can do to prevent full blown mono other than treat her symptoms. Rest and lots of fluids.
A cough is not usually a symptom of mono. She may have a sinus infection or another infection like bronchitis - so if the cough and congestion do not respond to the antibiotic and she gets worse she definitely needs to return to the clinic.
It could be that she is getting over mono and that she developed another infection as well.
I would tell her if she has not improved - cough, congestion -by Friday to go back - before the weekend.</p>
<p>take lots of vitamins and get lots of sleep! mono weakens your immune system (since your body is trying to fight the virus), making it more likely that secondary infections will occur. Also, don’t go back to running around too soon- your daughter might think that shes ready to go back to the gym/athletics (non contact, obviously), but she might not be. I had mono this fall and only felt sick for about 10 days or so, but it was longer until I totally felt myself again.</p>
<p>Everyone: I have been away from the computer (except the blackberry) for a blessed four days touring NorCal schools with DD. DS is doing much better-back at his coop job, and finished the antibiotics. Looks like it truly was just a big bad sore throat and not the dreaded mono. Thanks for all the information, I will mark this thread but hopefully won’t need it again.!</p>
<p>My daughter is a bit weepy tonight. Her professors have excused her from examins and classes this week, so she has decided to come home tomorrow for a few days. I think it is a plus to be within driving distance of home.</p>
<p>She is home sitting next to me now. My parents are Chinese. When they heard she has mono, which they have no clue what it is, their immediate reaction is to make her some Chinese herb soup with chicken. They are coming over tomorrow with a big pot of it. I don’t know what’s worse, having mono or having to drink that herb medicine.</p>
<p>She is very tired and pale. We are having her pediatrician check her out tomorrow, maybe more test. It is kind of funny she is still going to her pediatrician at 19. They like her and we just haven’t made the switch yet.</p>
<p>I think it’s great to go to a doctor that you are familiar with when you are feeling that lousy. My kid did the same. I do hope that your daughter feels better soon.</p>
<p>good ole CC! I searched on CC for mono… D has one of those “killer” sore throats, and has had it for a week now, along with fatigue and many of the “symptoms” … She’s going back to the health service today. (They said no to strep and mono the last time, but it’s getting worse) I’ll add my vote to all those before me who say how crummy it is to be so far away when your kid is sick! Luckily, her dorm friends are keeping her full of chicken soup and making frozen fruit juice for her. arg.</p>
<p>AUGHH! Now my first year D has had the very bad sore throat for over a week. The college clinic said it was just “post nasal drip”. Did not test for strep. This is highly unusual for this child, usually my energizer bunny kiddo. We suspect she had mono a few years ago, but if so it was an extremely mild case (the blood tests indicated it might have been tale end, but a bit inconclusive).</p>
<p>Of course she’s across the country. I’ve already looked up local doctors for her to follow up with if the college clinic doesn’t seem “helpful” today. She’s continuing to maintain a pretty intense schedule (off season athlete, but there really is no off season) but she is going to crash and burn if she doesn’t start feeling better very soon.</p>
<p>What is it with college clinics?
With my oldest she complained incessantly - they say there is nothing wrong, wont give me meds etc etc. It would tell her that it was just her to stop whining. My second - different school - same complaints! third child - yet a different school - same thing.
when they are home together they compare horror stories of the college health center! :eek:
They, however, have all survived!</p>
<p>vulture - hope your daughter is feeling better soon!</p>
<p>I agree about college clinics. Daughter is also across country. Sore throat off and on for a week and some tiredness but not overwhelming. Went to university clinic Monday with massive sore throat. They said allergies (although she has no history of this), continue taking motrin and decongestant and add antihistamine. You’ll be fine. Spent day in bed as earache increased in intensity. Up all night in horrible pain with both ear and throat. I insisted she go back to clinic Tuesday. They said, no fever, must still be allergies, just take above and oh yeah, why are you back again. She tells them I took prescription Motrin (800 mg) and topped it off two hours later with tylenol and pain in ear so severe couldn’t sleep and have been up all night. This did nothing. Oh, and I can’t swallow am not eating or drinking. They didn’t seem to believe her and didn’t want to give her any other pain killers. She begged and finally they gave her something so she could sleep. </p>
<p>Couldn’t get out of bed this morning. Got her into an off campus Doctor. Has lost 3 lbs in 2 days. Nurse looks in her throat, says wow, that’s really swollen. PA comes in, has never met her before, and says, “oh my, you look really sick”. How come campus health clinic couldn’t even see “you look really sick”? Does strep test, mono, etc. In office strep not positive but says that not always accurate. Daughter hasn’t eaten for three days and hasn’t been able to drink for two. Is definitely facing dehydration issues. They gave her antibiotics, steroids for throat inflammation and will call with results of bloodworkup as soon as it comes in. They go over dehydration signs, etc and explain she will end up with IV if they can’t get this under control in day or two so let them know if anything worsens. University clinic just says - allergies, you’ll survive. She is across country like so many others and end of semester is really bad timing. Hah, wait until she shows up at health clinic again Friday morning as I am going to make sure they assess for dehydration before weekend comes and they are closed. Not hopeful they’ll believe the other Dr. Particularly if meds do the trick and inflammation is down some. Dr. office is too far away and she doesn’t have car. It just seems to me they should realize not all students are whiny slackers who just want drugs. Sometimes, these kids really are sick. </p>
<p>She needs her Mommy. Or maybe she doesn’t need her Mommy as much as I need my kid. I was fine with her going across the country for college but at 19, this is just crummy. She shouldn’t have to be going through this alone although she is doing an admirable job considering how sick she now is. And you shouldn’t have to fight for someone to take you seriously when you are this sick. Fortunately, I asked her to sign HIPPA form at Drs and she gave authorization for me to access any and all medical info so I’ll be talking to the Drs after test results. Can’t even send soup because she is too sick to walk to PO and can’t swallow anyway. </p>
<p>I hope all your kiddos are starting to improve as I know mine will. But does it have to be so darn hard?</p>
