Mononucleosis

Sam is finally feeling better. He still gets tired easily, but he's definitely more like his old self now. I can't help but think that he would have started feeling better much sooner if the doctors had diagnosed him properly in the beginning. It took them over a month to decide to test him for mono. By that time, he was so worn down, it's no wonder it has taken him forever to recover. He ended up being absent from school for about 1/4 of the semester and restricted to half days for another 1/4. So, pretty much 1/2 of the semester was totally shot.

When I was 21, a doctor diagnosed me with mono, but looking back, I think it was a misdiagnosis. My primary symptom wasn't fatigue, but rather terrible swelling in my jaw, throat, and neck. In fact, my throat was so swollen I couldn't swallow even a sip of water, so I was dehydrated to the point that I passed out in the doctor's office. The doctor told me that I had either mono or mumps, but since "no one ever gets mumps these days", it must be mono. He ordered a blood test to check for mono, and it came back negative. He still insisted that it was mono, and I just took his word for it. So, since I've gone the last 20 years thinking I already had mono, when Sam was diagnosed with it, I didn't worry about getting it again. Well... I'm pretty sure I have mono NOW, not way back then. Most likely, I actually did have mumps when I was 21, although I have no idea where I got it. My dilemma now - How in the world am I going to get the rest I need to get over mono??? Waaaaa!!!!

Update on Sam

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and prayers for Sam's recovery. He's still extremely weak, but the doctor is confident that it's just because he had an extra-bad case of mono. Next week is the last week of school before Christmas, and he is restricted to half-days still. We're hoping that he will be able to regain his strength over Christmas break and be able to make it for full days at school next semester.

If you have any ideas or suggestions of thing that will help him get his stamina back, please leave a comment!

Long-Overdue Update

I haven't posted on here in over two months, because Sam has been sick for a LONG time. He started out with a terrible sinus infection that resisted four different rounds of antibiotics. That weakened his immune system so that he ended up with mono. He has missed over five weeks of school (four consecutive weeks), and although he has been back to school for over three weeks now, he is still limited to half days, per doctor's orders.

He went to an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist who prescribed a round of steroids and Flonase nasal spray. He also ordered a cat scan of his sinuses. He had the cat scan last Monday. Today, we got the results. Praise the Lord, it was, in the doctor's words, "perfect". The doctor said he still has some mucus in there, but continued use of Flonase should take care of it, eventually. He goes back in six months for a recheck.

Now, we're just waiting for Sam to get his stamina back up. It's worrying to see him get so worn out from even the slightest bit of activity.

Dad

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Anonymity

Borrowed from my friend Jim Duggan's twitter:

I am not a fan of cowards who hide behind the mask of anonymity. Thankfully, our Omniscient God knows who you are and will deal with you.

Everyone is welcome to leave comments on my blog, but don't expect them to be published if you aren't truthful enough to leave you name.

Interestingly, with modern technology, IP addresses make it very easy to figure out who you are; and you, my "friend" are a coward!

Sam Is Sick

Those of you who are my friends on facebook have undoubtedly seen my recent posts about Sam. He has been quite sick. He complained about his sinuses for over a week before I had a chance to get him to the doctor last Thursday. He was diagnosed with acute sinusitis and started on an antibiotic. The next day, he returned to school but probably shouldn't have.

Over the weekend, he started running a fever. Despite Ibuprofen, it rose to almost 102°. Sunday night, I determined that if he still had a fever the next morning, I would take him to the doctor. Well, his temp was back down to normal, so I didn't take him to the doctor, but I did keep him home from school since he was obviously still feeling sick.

Last night, his temp went back up to almost 102°, and this time, it didn't come all the way back down to normal. It came down a little, but not enough. I called the doctor's office soon after they opened and was able to get him in to see the doctor this afternoon. He was put on a different antibiotic and told not to go back to school until his fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. Tonight, it was back up over 101° -- not as high as the last couple nights, but still high enough to worry me.

He will definitely not be going to school tomorrow, and at this point, I'm not so sure about Thursday. If he's not doing better by Friday, he's supposed to go back to the doctor to be examined again (and probably put on yet another antibiotic).

I sure do hope this round of antibiotics works...and soon! He's so miserable, and it hurts me to see him like that. Please pray for him that he will be feeling better and be back to normal soon!

Appreciating Mom

While perusing status updates on facebook, I came across this post by one of my friends:

Your Mom is YOUR MOM. Nobody can replace her. Nobody should replace her. Nobody can do half the things she does or has done for you. Nobody can compare to her. Only God can love you more than she does. She’s only one person, but she’s the person that matters the most. REPOST IF YOU LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOUR MOM..no matter where she is, In Heaven or here on earth. I love you MOMMY!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't have said it better myself, so I copied and pasted it on my facebook. It perfectly describes the way I feel about my mom. She's been gone over eight and a half years now, and I miss her as much now as ever. There will NEVER be anyone who can replace my mom!!!