Hi Dr. Stoll,
I have perused all of the BB for questions related to this and still feel I'd like your opinion. As we speak my 17 year old daughter is having a blood test for mono. Las week our GP examined her and although the rapid strep and mono-stat were neg., said he would like to treat it as strep. Amoxil for 7 days so far has done nothing (I knew it wouldn't). She now has lumps emerging on her head, smaller ones on the bones directly behind her ears, all throughout her neck, and as of this morning, more swelling under her chin and immediate area. If this mono test is neg, what then? I'm getting very concerned. She is extremely active and refuses to stay home from school, etc. She has a general fatigue, on and off sore throat. About 4 weeks ago, this all started with a bad headache for days on end. She also had some swelling in the eye area. She has had stuffiness alot, and now this am. tells me she also has a cold again.
What do you think?
A Hazell
Follow Ups:
Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono?
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 07, 1998 at 09:20:13:
In Reply to: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono? posted by A Hazell on November 06, 1998 at 09:46:18:
Dear A.,
If the mono test is negative she needs a biopsy of one of the nodes ASAP!
Either way, her immune system is not doing well and her best approach is to become a serious student of wellness ASAP.
AIDS research has done all of us a favor since there are now MANY ways known for any person to improve their own immune systems
Let us know what you find out.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono?
Posted by A Hazell on November 07, 1998 at 11:05:58:
In Reply to: Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono? posted by Walt Stoll on November 07, 1998 at 09:20:13:
Thank goodness, it is mono. The doctor took one look at her throat and saw two white spots where her tonsils used to be. Now the mono came back positive. He has her on steroids- 6 all at once for the first 4 days, 4 all at once for the next 4 days, etc. Why this dosage and not spread out over the day? Her liver and spleen are enlarged as expected, so she is now on bedrest until her next checkup a week from now.
I will look at your links to wellness-
I am becoming more familiar with alternative methods as my sister suffers with RSD. She has gone a more uncoventional route with her care and is doing very well. She had been diagnosed at stage 4 (I think?) which was quite advanced.
Thank you for your comments. Any further suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks-
Allison Hazell
Follow Ups:
Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono?
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 08, 1998 at 17:01:01:
In Reply to: Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono? posted by A Hazell on November 07, 1998 at 11:05:58:
Dear Allison,
I, even without seing her, believe that the cortisone dose is too small &, especially is being used for far too few days. A relapse will be worse than the original & far harder to treat.
There is no danger to her taking at least twice that dose for at least 4 times that long. When there is no danger and the risks of relapse with inadequate treatment are significant----why the extreme conservatism?
Besides, with this approach, only the symptoms are being addressed. I have yet to see a severe (or prolonged) case of mono not be gone within 4 days of daily 100 grams of intravenous vitamin C. This has NO risk. Why is THIS not the standard of treatment?
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono?
Posted by A Hazell on November 08, 1998 at 17:53:24:
In Reply to: Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono? posted by Walt Stoll on November 08, 1998 at 17:01:01:
Thank you for replying. The dose is a total of 48 pills-
6 each morning for 4 days, 4 each morning for 4 days and 2 each morning for 4 days. Does that sound any better? They are 10mg each. Could I start her on C myself orally? Or would it interfere with the steroid at all?
Thanks - Allison
Follow Ups:
Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono?
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 09, 1998 at 11:49:02:
In Reply to: Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono? posted by A Hazell on November 08, 1998 at 17:53:24:
Dear Allison,
That DOES sound a lot better. The decreasing schedule is to make it safer & I certainly concur. If it were MY daughter, though, I would do it about twice as long.
The C will not interfere in any way with what is being done. The best dose would be twice a day at her tolerance dose (determined by loose stools). Loose stools mean that she is no longer absorbing all of what she is taking and what comes out in the loose stools is wasted.
For an adult size person, I would start with at least 8 grams of esterified vitamin C twice a day and increase it by 1000 miligrams each dose each day that there were no loose stools until there ARE. THEN, back off 1000 milligrams each dose until no more loose stools.
You will find, as she gets well, that her body will tell her when she doesn't need such a dose any more since the same dose that did not cause loose stools during the worst of her illness will now start causing them. The solution is to keep cutting back the dose (on a daily basis) until no more loose stools. Her body will tell both of you when she no longer needs it.
Good luck!
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono?
Posted by Craig on December 17, 1998 at 06:29:35:
In Reply to: Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono? posted by Walt Stoll on November 09, 1998 at 11:49:02:
Doctor...
I have a question about a swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck. About two months ago, I noticed it because it had popped up overnight. I had a needle biopsy and it came back negative. The swelling has gone down considerably and the doctor wants to wait and see what happens.. otherwise he says he'll want to take it out. What do you think and what about antibiotics? I haven't been sick.
Craig
Follow Ups:
Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono?
Posted by Walt Stoll on December 18, 1998 at 10:31:02:
In Reply to: Re: Swollen Lymph nodes-mono? posted by Craig on December 17, 1998 at 06:29:35:
Dear Craig,
How many times a day do you check its size?
Are you aware that gently feeling a normal lumph node once a day will cause it to enlarge? Why didn't your doc tell you that??????
With a needle biopsy being normal, by far the odds favor your keeping it enlarged by checking it.
You will have to not touch it for about 6 weeks for it to go away by itself. By now, you probably have the habit of touching it so you may have to break the habit over a week or so. Your 6 weeks doesn't start until the only time it is touched is when you wash over it when taking your shower.
If you can honestly say that you have not felt it for 6 weeks, you can gently feel it then. If it is not dramatically smaller (or even totally gone) by that time, you need to have it removed for a tissue biopsy.
Let us know what you experience.
Walt