Anyone had experience with their teen having mono? I had my daughter do a blood test because she has been very lethargic and sleeping a TON the last few months. I thought maybe it was her vitamin levels or anemia because it runs in our family, but all of that was fine. the lab work showed she has had mono "in the recent past."
I initially spoke with one of the newer doctors in the office because that is who was available when they got the results back. She just said to have her rest and re-checked in a month. I was driving at the time and didn't really process it enough to think of everything to ask. I called my daughter's doctor that she's had since an infant the next day with my questions, but we played phone tag and now he is not back in the office until Tuesday! I still plan to call, but thought I would see what you all have done to deal with it.
How long do they need extra rest? Can they still exercise? I read some things on line about incubation period, how it is contracted, contagiousness, etc. I am not too concerned about that, more about how to help her recover. Should she take extra vitamins? Should I have my son tested since he may have shared a water or soda with her?
Dear, she's made it this far okay, don't fret. ♥ Get her in for an appointment ASAP and see what her doctor has to say.
I had mono when I was 14 then again when I was 26yo. Even after I returned to school when I was 14 I was not allowed to take gym for weeks after returning to school. Your daughter should really rest and eat well right now. It took me a long time to recover and according to my titers I had a mild case both times.
I can't decide if your daughter is lucky or NOT lucky to have not had a horrendous sore throat like I did with mono. I was drooling into a towel, it hurt so much to swallow. They gave me steroids to help with the swelling in my throat. I stayed in the bed for weeks to get over mono. I'm lucky beyond measure that it was summertime. I didn't go back to work (that was okay) and by the time school started, I was able to go back, but rested when I came home after school.
Your daughter didn't have the sore throat to kick her in the teeth in addition to the fatigue. If she had, she might have been able to get past it.
I would really recommend that she spend the next 3 months resting a lot, taking supplements, reading and writing and doing things with her MIND rather than with her body, so that she can get over it. A relapse would be really hard on her.
I had mono when I was 19. I was IN BED for 3 months. I was out of work, and it even took everything in me just to get up and go to the bathroom. I just remember being so very tired and my throat hurt so bad I couldn't even eat. I lived in smoothies and lost a ton of weight (and back then I was only about 100 pounds anyway). Once I was back to work it still took me another couple months before I was back to my normal self. Mono is very serious and she needs to be in bed resting.
One of my friends got mono in high school. She couldn't walk and play her trumpet for at least 6 months. She went to bed when she got home from school and got up the next morning to go to school. She didn't play at any sport events when we did the half time show, she sat in the bleachers with us when during the rest of the game. She lost several dress sizes too. She started out being just a normal size, maybe a 6, and when she was starting to get her energy back she was having a hard time getting her little sister's clothes to stay up on her hips. I think her little sister was in a tween girls size 12-14.
It can relapse if she gets active too soon.
When my sister was in the 2nd grade she had mono for close to 9 months.
Every time she felt better she resumed activity and relapsed.
It just has to run it's course.
It depends on the person, there's really no treatment but rest. My sister and I both got mono in HS, she missed a couple days of school, I was out two weeks, and then just school and home for another couple weeks. My mom had it in college and missed a semester. My DH got it and didn't realize it until he was almost completely recovered after a week or so. So just use your best judgement and listen to your daughter. Extra vitamins won't cure her, rest, hydration, and healthy foods are what she needs. As for your son, I wouldn't have him tested unless he's having symptoms (and honestly, I wouldn't then either, there's not anything to do for it so why stick him?) and you want to know for sure.
Don't rush her trying to get better. Probably don't exercise for a good long while. One of my brother's friends had mono in HS. He was pretty much laid up for a year. He had to quit wrestling that winter and couldn't play baseball that summer. A coworker of mine lost her daughter when her mono went undiagnosed. Her spleen enlarged and burst. Mono isn't anything to take lightly.
It wouldn't hurt to have your whole family tested. It can be highly contagious.
