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Mono Mom

My daughter was diagnosed with mono.  She got sick in February 2010. Went to the family doctor thinking she had strep throat or a regular flu/cold infection.  I took my daughter to the doctor 5 times that month.  He prescribed an respiratory infection antibiotic which seems to help some, but the fatigue persisted, swollen glands, sore throat.  After taking the medication (cephalexin) for about 5 days, she started having breathing problems, chest pain and sweating.  I decided to head to the hospital where my daughter was diagnosed with mono after a blood work was taken. The doctor stopped the antibiotic.  Now it is April.  My daughter slept alot for 2-3 weeks. Not much else accomplished.  Very little school work was done, couldn't attend much, couldn't go to her part-time job and she seemed endless exhausted. She perked up into the fourth week, went to school some, worked some, but today is April 13th, and she is once again tired, restricted breathing.  She was sent to hospital for a pulmonary test, and couldn't even get past the first test which was exhaling.  She is short of breath. When she sleeps, she snores and her breathing sounds restricted.  Like breathing through a straw.   She complains of on and off stomach and abdominal pain. I wonder how much is still mono, or are the doctors missing something?  For a daughter who was always busy, always overly energetic, always running her and there, it is upsetting to see her so down and unenergized.  She is depressed, has gained some weight which hasn't helped, and I wonder whether there is light at the end of the tunnel.  She is being reassessed again next week - any ideas what my doc should be doing or looking for in the aftermath of mono? What blood work should be done?  What checks should be done to ensure they aren't missing something else?


This discussion is related to Mononucleosis -.
3 Responses
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1282678 tn?1275186261
Oh and try some liquid probiotics and some vitamin A. My natural path doctor suggested this. I have found MD's ignore symptoms and rush you out instead of suggesting anything that might speed recovery.
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1282678 tn?1275186261
Epstein Barr syndrome which causes mono or is mono? has been linked to things like CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) I was diagnosed with CFS, which of course i am not accepting of this diagnosis, because there is no specific test, but I also have shortness of breath before i gained the weight and many many other issues since this 2 yr run.
  I was tested for the antigens of Epstein Barr and was positive, however I am 30 and my mom and cannot remember me getting mono. I think if i recall correctly, its a herpe virus  which can cause problems. I hope she gets better soon.
having something like that slows everything down which could be why she has gained weight and feels depressed. Take care. Let me know what happens
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962875 tn?1314210036
I really feel for your daughter! I had mono as a teenager and had to stay home from school, and only get up to eat or go to the bathroom, for about 2 months.

It can take a very long time to recover from a severe case of mono--as much as 6 months or more--and the tiredness and weakness is often accompanied by depression as well.

Her doctor will know what blood work, etc., would be indicated in regard to her mono, and should  evaluate the liver and spleen in regard to the abdominal pain.

I would be most concerned at this point about her shortness of breath.
You mentioned that she has "gained some weight."  If this has moved her into the category of obesity, that could certainly affect her breathing and could even contribute to sleep apnea.  However, if her pulmonary function test is still poor, it would suggest something else is going on.  When she had the last test did they mention any possiblities, such as bronchitis, asthma, or anything like that? Be sure to emphasize how much of a problem she is having with breathing, and ask what differential diagnoses the doctor is considering in regard to this symptom, and what additional testing might be necessary.

Best wishes to you both...
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