cave canem Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 (edited) How bad does this sound? My son is in college far away. He seems to be very sick. He says he has an unbearable sore throat and earache which has been getting worse since Sunday. He can’t swallow. His went to campus health and the doc swabbed for strep (negative) and then sent him away. He is miserable and not functioning. I am concerned that he could be dehydrating. I also wonder whether his airway could become compromised if his throat becomes more swollen. I am really concerned! Should he go to the hospital? I am not sure what to tell him. Edited March 1, 2019 by cave canem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 Is there an urgent care or minute clinic that he can walk or Uber too? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cave canem Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 I imagine so. He is in a sizeable city. I should look. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cave canem Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 They didn't. He said the doc's attitude was a shrug. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 Just now, kand said: Did they test him for mono? My university health clinic missed it when I had it. Sore throat is one of the symptoms. I was going to suggest mono, too, or possibly the flu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 Just now, cave canem said: They didn't. He said the doc's attitude was a shrug. I think he should see a new doctor ASAP. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cave canem Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 He says he can get back to campus health in the morning. Is it OK to wait or should I tell him to go out tonight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 1 minute ago, cave canem said: He says he can get back to campus health in the morning. Is it OK to wait or should I tell him to go out tonight? If the campus Dr. wasn't any help the first time, I'd advise him to check out an urgent care/walk in clinic with a different Dr. that may take his symptoms more seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 If there is a university hospital with an urgent care, that might be a good option because lab test can be run in-house. My kid gets an earache when his ears are clogged while sick. Clearing some ear wax helped in his case. We also use wasabi to clear the nose and throat, it gets the nose running and kind of activate the gag reflux for my kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 I agree that he needs to be tested for mono. I had it as a teen, and by the time they figured out it was mono and not strep I was so dehydrated that you could pinch my skin and it would stay that way. They told me if I'd waited another day to come in I likely would have died. He needs to get checked asap. Dehydration can happen fast when you're that sick. Tell him to demand IV fluids if he can't swallow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 (edited) 48 minutes ago, cave canem said: How bad does this sound? My son is in college far away. He seems to be very sick. He says he has an unbearable sore throat and earache which has been getting worse since Sunday. He can’t swallow. His went to campus health and the doc swabbed for strep (negative) and then sent him away. He is miserable and not functioning. I am concerned that he could be dehydrating. I also wonder whether his airway could become compromised if his throat becomes more swollen. I am really concerned! Should he go to the hospital? I am not sure what to tell him. A quick strep test is not the end. They should/usually run a long culture but he won't get the results for 2 days. I'd try to get him in some where else. Does he advocate well for himself when he is sick? My boys don't so I really need to push them to be specific and not to leave any symptoms out. I'm really sorry! Edited March 1, 2019 by unsinkable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 15 minutes ago, kand said: Did they test him for mono? My university health clinic missed it when I had it. Sore throat is one of the symptoms. I agree, sounds like mono. Urgent care if he's not drinking and having trouble breathing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 Definitely check for mono. My throat almost swelled shut on me before I was diagnosed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 I just had these same symptoms and I am still recovering from it but the severe sore throat and ear ache only lasted a few days. It was viral and didn't require any treatment. I was able to stay hydrated by just drinking one 32 ounce Gatorade everyday. He can probably wait til tomorrow and mention mono when he goes in then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 I know he said he can't swallow...But I'd try children's liquid ibuprofen, bc it helps with swelling. There are also feverall acetaminophen rectal suppositories, which are a hard sell for most people. If he can reduce the pain even a bit enough to get hydration in, it would help a lot. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 There is a nasty virus going around that has these symptoms. Liquid Tylenol,ice pops, warm showers, and tea kept us going here. The elderberry and vitamins I think helped us, too. It was miserable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cave canem Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 Thank you, everyone. He hasn't answered since I started this thread, so I am hoping he finally went to sleep. The nearby urgent care clinic opens at 8 tomorrow. I hope he can head over there in the morning. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 I'd send him to urgent care. There's a reason many college kids nickname their school's clinic "Student death clinic." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 If you're worried, tell him to go to urgent care today. You can't make him go, but you can urge him really very strongly to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 My dd had something similar last fall. They sent her home, too. They did test for sfrep and mono--negative in her case. She survived on ibuprofen, salt water gargling, and throat coat tea. They said come back in 5 days if you are still experiencing the same symptoms. 5 days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 how is he doing this morning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cave canem Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 My son went back to his campus clinic this morning. His monospot was negative. They gave him an antiobiotic for tonsillitis. He also takes ibuprofen and acetaminophen. He tells me now he feels worse and can't eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 How far away is "far away" from you? Can you drive to him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 3 minutes ago, cave canem said: My son went back to his campus clinic this morning. His monospot was negative. They gave him an antiobiotic for tonsillitis. He also takes ibuprofen and acetaminophen. He tells me now he feels worse and can't eaten. How big is the college? Can you call the head of Residence Life? Or even Dean of Students? And ask for someone to shop for him/check in on him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cave canem Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 (edited) Too far to drive. Direct flights are cheap, though. I have considered going there. Right now I am at a music festival with a younger child. Edited March 1, 2019 by cave canem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 His symptoms are like my 18 year old son’s from a few weeks back. It turned out to be strep and mono. He was very close to being hospitalized. He couldn’t swallow...and only because I was on top of him day and night did we keep enough liquid down him to avoid dehydration. i hope he is better today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 I'm glad he's on antibiotics. I was going to suggest tonsillitis. If your ds can manage, the antibiotics should start kicking in after 24 hours. My dd had tonsillitis a number of years ago. Her throat was really painful and swollen, but the antibiotics did the trick. Gargling with warm salt water as often as needed helps. It helps take away the pain. He can try warm tea with honey. The honey might feel good on his throat. Or warm chicken broth. And keep up with pain meds. Does he have a roommate or someone who can help him? My dd ended up having more tonsil issues later, and actually ended up having both her tonsils and her adenoids removed. It solved her constant throat infections once and for all, and stopped her snoring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.