Acadie Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Dd19 is doing an internship 2,000 miles away and has been really fatigued for a week. She's also had some headaches, a tickle in her throat and a little nasal congestion, which is resolved. Headaches have pretty much gone away. Fatigue is definitely the most marked symptom. It's kept her from going into work and is really unusual for her. The new city has been a bit of an adjustment but she's found people she likes and neither of us think it's primarily psychological, though definitely a bummer. She's had 3 Covid tests--rapid and PCR last week and another rapid yesterday, all negative. Our amazing pediatrician is on vacation for 6 more days. Her office said Friday that with negative Covid tests it's most likely a summer cold, and if she doesn't feel better this week to see someone locally. The symptoms started a couple days after she returned from camping with friends and they got very little sleep, at least for her. 5 hours one night, after a busy week. It was a national park with lots of people around. I'm encouraging her to take it really, really easy. She had Covid in April and had returned to normal, athletic activity levels. But in the past week when she tried to do short runs a few times she's gotten really exhausted, started coughing, and felt an ache in her lungs. No more running for now! She has seen a pattern where she feels a little bit bitter, tries to do more and feels worse the next day. Her last attempt at running was the day before yesterday (APA--against parental advice) but she's finally agreed to lay off all workouts for now. So I'm looking up providers in Boise, where she is, and just super confused what to do. 3 urgent cares are covered by our insurance and I'm reading reviews and thinking, okay, do I really want to send her somewhere with an hours-long wait and crowded waiting room right now? And if she's stable, just fatigued, is urgent care even the right place to go? Do I look for another type of provider? Possibilities in my mind are Long Covid, mono, tick-borne illness, mold in her new apartment, Covid despite testing negative... Ped returns in 6 days and dd flies home in 12 days, a few days before we're supposed to leave for Ireland. How do I help my girl?? I'm at a loss. I've ordered groceries and Covid tests delivered, and encouraged her to get crazy amounts of sleep, hydrate, eat healthy food and not work out. Just some stretching and a little walking for now. And watch some fun shows and have friends over to her apartment roof for takeout. WTM aunties, what would you do? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Honestly? I would do what you have. Fatigue without other symptoms (especially with negative Covid tests) is remarkably hard to tie to a cause and treat. Any chance of a tick borne disease? (Only bringing this up because she was camping). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted June 21, 2022 Author Share Posted June 21, 2022 7 minutes ago, Jean in Newcastle said: Honestly? I would do what you have. Fatigue without other symptoms (especially with negative Covid tests) is remarkably hard to tie to a cause and treat. Any chance of a tick borne disease? (Only bringing this up because she was camping). Thanks, Jean. I feel like our healthcare system just isn't great at this sort of thing, and we'd probably have better luck with our ped when she returns, and specialists here if it persists. She did a thorough tick check when she got home from camping and didn't find anything. But tick-borne illness is certainly still possible. I know so many people with Lyme who have had to seek alternative care just to get diagnosed. I wonder if there's anything a conventional doctor could do in terms of testing or if it makes sense to throw antibiotics into her system with no evidence of a tick or rash, and the minor cold symptoms she had.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Like a new illness that is like a cold at the one week point where some symptoms had passed (headaches, conjestion), I'd not panic. Maybe urgent care in a couple days if not seeing noticiable gradual improvement. None of the urgent cares there will allow an online check in or have in person wait times shown online? That is the best thing to come out of covid here. That is harder if there are crazy wait times, etc. With the low sleep and new city, that might be just enough stress to make something set in a little harder and last a little longer than it usually would. I have noticed this pattern both with me and my kids at times where we're out of routines and get something. Has she had a fever at all? If she has run a fever for a week, I'd be more concerned. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 It’s most likely a cold just wore her out more than usual because of being post-covid. At the point it’s been 10 days some doctors would suggest an exam, but because she’s getting better I’d probably wait 2-3 weeks from initial symptoms. Unfortunately there’s nothing much to be done for post-viral fatigue. If the virus triggered something else (autoimmune or liver issues come to mind) an exam might find that. Or she might find out it’s walking pneumonia, but generally symptoms are getting worse not better with that too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted June 21, 2022 Author Share Posted June 21, 2022 1 minute ago, catz said: None of the urgent cares there will allow an online check in or have in person wait times shown online? That is the best thing to come out of covid here. That is harder if there are crazy wait times, etc. With the low sleep and new city, that might be just enough stress to make something set in a little harder and last a little longer than it usually would. I have noticed this pattern both with me and my kids at times where we're out of routines and get something. Has she had a fever at all? If she has run a fever for a week, I'd be more concerned. Thanks, that's a great idea to see if the urgent cares have online check-in or wait times available. No fever. Totally agree about low sleep and stress compromising immunity and dragging out minor illness. She's sleeping 11+ hours a night and wakes up not feeling rested. If she had more in the way of cold symptoms it would make more sense to me. Intense fatigue as the major symptom just seems so weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted June 21, 2022 Author Share Posted June 21, 2022 1 minute ago, Katy said: It’s most likely a cold just wore her out more than usual because of being post-covid. At the point it’s been 10 days some doctors would suggest an exam, but because she’s getting better I’d probably wait 2-3 weeks from initial symptoms. Unfortunately there’s nothing much to be done for post-viral fatigue. If the virus triggered something else (autoimmune or liver issues come to mind) an exam might find that. Or she might find out it’s walking pneumonia, but generally symptoms are getting worse not better with that too. It really hasn't been that long, you're right! I might make an appointment with her ped for when she comes home, and we can cancel if she's feeling better. And get her to urgent care there if she really starts feeling worse. Adding walking pneumonia, autoimmune or liver issues to my mental list. Far down the list, in order of my personal preference! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 (edited) If she can't work anyway can she get released from her internship? ETA: and come home early Edited June 21, 2022 by happi duck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSera Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Has she had blood work done to check for anemia? (and I would make sure full thyroid panel and B12 were run at the same time) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drama Llama Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Just call the urgent cares to see what their wait time is. I've waited a long time in the ER, but not in urgent care. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Urgent care is so uneven and fatigue is so vague I'm not sure they can do much. I'm so sorry. If she could come home early and see her doctor it would be a bonus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 An ER can only check for acute problems. And urgent care can really only deal with acute (but less emergent) problems. They might be able to rule out other causes of fatigue like hidden infection (uti, sinus etc.) but can't do anything if it's viral in nature unless its one of the specific things with anti-virals. If she continues to have the problem once she's home again, her regular doctor can check things like thyroid, heart, electrolytes etc. If it's something like long-Covid, I haven't kept up with the current treatments/advice but perhaps someone else knows. For my chronic fatigue, I have to keep up on my thyroid, blood sugars, electrolytes and other vitamin/mineral levels, and hidden infections. Other than that, I've had 30 plus years of doctors tell me that there really isn't anything to do for something that they can't pinpoint a specific cause with a specific fix. (Not trying to be discouraging. Just pointing out the reality of a very nebulous pervasive symptom like fatigue.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Tick panel! FULL panel, not just lyme. Having been camping shortly before this makes me suspicious. But basic lab work as well, anemia is one potential issue, but also checking sed rate, Rheumatoid factor, etc. many things can be triggered by illness. Also, any reason to suspect she is allergic to something in the area? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Allergies in her new climate? Deep fatigue is one of our primary symptoms of seasonal allergies. Can she try something like Zyrtec for the next few days? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 I would just assume she picked up some sort of bug---and being tired a week in is kind of in the range of normal, iykwim. A lot of my friends in Boise are all coming down with stuff; there's not a strong masking culture and through all of the PNW and west we're seeing a lot of influenza and other viruses circulating that normally only circulate in winter. People go camping all of the time here in the west, absent any sort of visible tick bite, I wouldn't make the connection at the one week point. Nor would I be jumping to thoughts of rheumatology. I would make an appointment with her normal provider, and just wait it out. It sounds like that's not too long in the future anyway. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted June 23, 2022 Author Share Posted June 23, 2022 On 6/21/2022 at 1:32 PM, MEmama said: Allergies in her new climate? Deep fatigue is one of our primary symptoms of seasonal allergies. Can she try something like Zyrtec for the next few days? Thanks so much, Hive! All of your experience and ideas have been really helpful in figuring out how to approach this. After a couple days of not working out, taking Zyrtec and continued attention to sleep/hydration/nutrition, dd felt up to going to work yesterday afternoon for a few hours. It's a big mental adjustment for her to take heavy exercise off the table for now, and use her daily spoons for self-care, getting to work if she's up to it, and either virtual or outdoor social time. She can also bring some work home, and I think it's helpful for her to have more purpose and engagement. Her internship and supervisor have been flexible and supportive so that's great. She has an appointment with her ped when she gets home, and from this thread I've made a list of things to discuss with the doc if she's still having issues. Part of me wanted to swoop in and fly her home or rush her out for medical care, but I'm encouraged that she's seeing improvement and hoping that trend continues. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 That all sounds good and I'm glad she's feeling better. I was going to recommend a walk-in clinic otherwise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 I’m glad to hear she’s on the other side of whatever took her down. I don’t blame you for being worried! I hope she'll continue to gain strength and that whatever it was is short lived. She’s so fortunate her boss is so understanding! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 Is she living with anyone else? Are they sick at all? I just ask as my sister had carbon monoxide poisoning when she moved to a new place and fatigue was the biggest symptom. If she doesn’t have a CO detector I would get one…..then again I make sure every place we stay has one…or more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted June 23, 2022 Author Share Posted June 23, 2022 2 hours ago, Ottakee said: Is she living with anyone else? Are they sick at all? I just ask as my sister had carbon monoxide poisoning when she moved to a new place and fatigue was the biggest symptom. If she doesn’t have a CO detector I would get one…..then again I make sure every place we stay has one…or more. Interesting, thanks for mentioning this. I'll ask her. There's a roommate she's never met, who is coming back next week. And dd's friend is arriving tomorrow to stay for a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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