Mono, really..... really?

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I've been feeling kind of bleh the past week, and yesterday I started feeling even worse. I thought it was just stress getting to me, or maybe a little bug. I'm usually borderline insomniac, going to sleep late and waking up early, even needing a Benadryl sometimes to help me get to sleep. Hardly ever do I nap. The past almost week I have slept between 12 and 14 hours at night then gone back to sleep for about 4 or 5 more after being up for 2 or 3 and doing my housework. I've been so very tired, and yesterday I started feeling actually bad. I stayed in bed all day and didn't do much of anything, just basic housework and didn't even get dressed for that, just did it in my night clothes. I had a headache all day and today the headache was worse. I'm having fever now. I'm also weak as hell. I had to sit down twice while making a sandwich earlier.

So, I go to the ER thinking it's some bug and I can get something for the headache. Wrong on all counts there. The Dr was a new boy, real young but real nice. Obviously his first or second time in our rural ER. He was by himself with two nurses covering the ER and the hospital. That's actually ok, one doc is enough for that and they have two nurses on the floor. The only floor. Oh, and a lab tech and an xray tech. So, they are fully staffed there for a weekend night with seven skilled people, two unit clerks and one housekeeping lady. Anyway, I go and he thinks I have mono and does a blood test. Yep, I have mono. No treatment for that he tells me, but I already know that. My youngest had it years ago. My head is pounding like someone had recently beat it with a baseball bat so he gives me a Toradol. I have a choice between a shot or a pill. I take the pill. Bad idea. By the time I get home and eat something, I'm getting sick. I throw up my food and then all subsequent liquids for the next hour. Back to the ER I go. I need something to stop the vomiting, and also something stronger for the headache because now instead of a baseball bat beating it feels like somebody is actively driving a railroad spike into the back of my head.

Well, there's a problem he says. He tells me of the policy of the ER, which he was informed of. They do not give narcotics unless the person has trauma or something like cancer. Too many people come there drug seeking. In other words, I'm s**t out of luck because a bunch of rednecks use the ER as a dealer when their dealer is dry. Of course it would be much simpler to simply make a decision on a per case basis about who is and isn't a drug seeker, but that would take sense and that's something that isn't in any of these local folks who staff the place's skill set. So, I get an Ultram. And Zofran. The Zofran helps the nausea thank God, so at least that's been taken care of, but my head is still pounding. Then the boy, bless his heart, when he has the nurse bring me the Ultram (the one 50mg Ultram) he asks if I drove myself. He's concerned about me driving home after taking one 50mg Ultram. Really.

So, I'm home with mono, not throwing up but my head is still about to just freaking explode. If it does, I don't know who will clean it up, since I doubt I'll be able to.

I'd sell my soul for a 10mg Lortab right about now.

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
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sorry the docs are stingy with your pain relief. too bad you don't live close to the Canadian border so you can get some 222s. anyways, have you thought about mixing 2-4 advils and 1-2 500mg Tylenols? 4 advils= one 800mg ibuprophen. that works for me, and if I have a migraine, a caffeine tablet added to that works synergistically. in years past when I had no access to narcotics I would use some cough syrup with codeine in it. it didn't really get rid of my cough but it did tamp down the pain somewhat.

Oh God Mono. The only good side of mono is that your insomnia will be cured for a very long time. 11 months since I had it, and my severe insomnia still isn't back all the way. It took me six months before I could stop going to bed early.

As far as pain relief, no one offered and I never asked. I took the maximum dose of Acetaminophen, and it neither relived my high fever, writhing body aches, or the "oh please let me die" headaches. I would double up w/ Ibuprofen like auntblabby suggests, but don't expect anything but a drop from a level 11 to a level 9.

My advice would be to give in to the fatigue. You won't be in as much pain when you're unconscious.

I'm feeling pretty good now. He gave me a Medrol pack. Prednisone. I love prednisone. I have energy and an appetite and I can't really sleep right now, but that's ok. I'm having a nice time chilling on the couch, crocheting and watching all of Mad Men.

My youngest daughter is feeling better too. She's got it too. Unfortunately, my youngest son has it as well and he feels like crap. I took him to the ER today but there was about a 45 minute wait and there were three other people there ahead of us and two of them were loud rednecks playing music in the waiting room and his head hurt so he just wanted to go home and lay down. So I took him home, dosed him up with Tylenol and advil and he felt better. I told him I'd take him back later on if he wanted when it wasn't busy, but so far he hasn't wanted to go back. He probably will tomorrow though (or today actually since it's after midnight).

_________________
I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

Hope you feel better soon! 2 years ago I had atypical pneumonia (referred to as 'walking pneumonia'). I had had a nasty cold/flu and could not recover. But, at the same time, I did not feel that bad and was still working almost normally. Like, mono, it's dangerous maybe because it is so sneaky and pernicious. Like you, I was so weak and I'm positively awful at resting. I only missed, in sum total, maybe 5 days over the course of 6 weeks. So take care and force yourself to rest. Hope you don't so much need narcotics though as they'll not help in the long run. Pharmacists are oftentimes the very best at recommending medicine (rather than an ER doc).

So, chicken soup with lots of garlic, watch DVDs, post on the Wrong Planet, wear pyjamas, and nap lots.

cannibis. very relaxing. cures insomnia. great supplement to any medication that doesnt cause drowsiness. (this is not intended as medical advise )