Glandular Fever & my 7yrDD

[Becci]

I've not had a little one with Glandular Fever but I had it years ago. It's very exhausting.
I would get up in the morning, have my shower, then lay on the couch for a few hours, completely exhausted. Thank Goodness I didn't have kids then!
I had two and a half months off work, so it affected me pretty badly.
the best thing I did was go to a naturapath. But not sure if you want to go down that path with a littly. She put me on a tincture and a non dairy diet for a while and it helped. I just couldn't afford the visits while on sickness benefits ( I was on my own at the time).
I did get over it though. I found that for the next few years I had to watch that I ate well or I would get run down easily. And if I got a virus I did suffer a little more than most.
But I can say I have hardly had tonsilitis since (that's where mine started) so that's a bonus.

I do hope your daughter get well soon. Be thinking of you both.

[Kristin27]

Oh your poor DD, and poor you!

I had glandular fever when I was about 20, I was so sick, my tonsils were so swollen and covered in puss, I hardly got out of bed because I was sooo tired, when I did get up to go to the toilet I would faint or have to crawl because I was so dizzy.

Anyway, my mum dragged me to a natropath (I didn't believe in all that natural stuff!) for help after my GP said it was untreatable, two day later I was as good as new!

I can't remember exactly what I was given, but I recall a zinc medicine/drink, lots of multi vitamins, and no dairy. Every morning I had a soy milk banana smoothie with a raw egg (once it was blended I couldn't taste the egg at all - perhaps don't tell DD you're putting it in?)... Not sure what that was for but gee i felt better.

I did get tired easily for the following couple of years, but I'm totally over it now (I'm 28) and have never had tonsilitis again.....

I highly recommend visiting a natropath. Good luck and let us know how you go...

[doulamamma]

thanks for the replies
I took her to a natropath yesterday and wasn't too impressed - she was giving a pillule to take once a week for four weeks - i think she needs a more intensive approach.
Tomorrow we are going to a chinese herbalist - i think her liver is really troubling her - its her most often complaint. - and she says 'it feels strange - like my tummy is moving sideways and up and down' and 'it feels like somethings moving in there' my being pg makes the last one only slightly humurous!
I think she needs a liver cleanser and all round booster - we 'll see how tomorrow goes. but with her generally underweight and low energy - i worry this will bring her down unless we address this straight away.
she is still rather clingy and pale with red under her eyes and swollen glands..
i'll keep you posted

[paradise lost]

My only advice is big breakfasts and snacks all morning. If she has a good hour or two in the morning that's the time to try to get some cals into her. Unless you are going the no-dairy route i'd be putting butter on toast, cream in porridge, giving her bits of cheese to snack on through the day... You can also get booster drinks in most supermarkets (not sure which brands you have in Aus) which are worth a go if she's finding eating hard going.

Poor kid, i hope she's on the mend soon...

Bx

[Becci]

My dr told me that liver and kidney compliants with GF are quite common.
For me it was my kidney - shocking infection, and my friend (who I got it from) had liver problems. Nothing major, just played up. Might have been all the alcohol filled years leading up to GF that didn't help though lol (well we were 19 & 20 at the time).
Hope she's feeling better soon, keep us posted.

[Kitt3n]

no experience with this with a little one, however I had it myself when i was 16. A friend of mine was actually off work for 6 months when she had it!

I agree with getting as much into her as you can in her "energetic" hours.

I found it so very very had to swallow at first though, so maybe extra liquids and some good home cooked soup. Even if she cant swallow the ingredients, much of the goodness will be in the liquid.

And lots of hugs and patience - i wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy, or even G W Bush!! Her little body just needs lots of rest and a loving mummy. Sounds like you are doing a great job.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Hoobley suggested booster drinks -
When my DF had glandular last year (and yes i realsie the massive age difference but...)
We got him to have lots of powerade/gatorade and sustagen. At least that way when he wasn't eating he was pouring in liquids etc.
Powerade etc is electrolytic which from memory facilitates muscle repair etc, so it could help a bit, and as for the sustagen - well i used that as a food replacement when i was pregnant becuase with m/s i couldn't stomach anything.

If her liver has issues as well you have to cut out as much fat from the diet as possible. From DF's experience, fat can/will cause diarrhea if she is having liver issues.

I hope she gets better soon.

[paradise lost]

Yes, powerade helps the body build muscle, i drink it after long runs (10miles+) to help refresh my legs. I have a friend whose little girl had to have chemo and they managed to keep her weight on with drinks like sustagen.

I totally forgot that fat would cause problems if her liver was ill too. Poor little love! She sure is lucky to have you doulamamma. What did the chinese herbalist say? I know they have good herbs for toning the liver but only know adults (with alcohol problems) who've used them, don't know if they'd be too strong for littlies.

Bx