My DD is 20 about to be 21. She is 5 hours away at school. She has been telling me that she felt like she was lossing weight and I put it off to stress since she is in her first year of her choosed program. This is her 3rd year at this school. So Saturday she calls and sounds awful with a cough and cold but preceedes to tell me that she has 3 new random bruises show up that day. So I already know she is losing weight and now bruising also. I told her to go to a walk-in clinic but she could not find one open so I told her to go to the ER. I know this more than likely is not a true ER need and if she was here I would have waited until today and took her to the DR. She not here so I can not judge her and she does not have a DR there. Her program has her in a hospital 2 days a week and she c an not go if she has something that others can get from her so she needs to know what is going on. The ER DR gave her some cough meds and sent her home. She still felt bad yesterday but slept most of the day. She feels worse today so I called her DR here and ask her weight in June when she has a pysical done there. DD has lost 17 pounds and she was already very slim. Tell me she has something that is not bad........ They did blood work in the ER and said everything was fine. I am waiting for her DR to get info sent to her for review. Her friend almost died last year at school from leukemia and DH Dad dies of it 7 years ago. I am so worried I can not work today.
This might be the best option. Maybe over a weekend? Or if it's not possible, can you research doctors where she is and go visit her and take her/go with her to the appointments?
Oh my goodness. I'm sorry you are going thru this. I know she is five hours away, can you leave work to stay with her for a couple days? Does her school not have a clinic? Can you google recommendations for a GP for her? I know I called a GP that I haven't worked with before and he tested me for everything under the sun when I met with him.
This - I'd send her to student health as a good first start, and then follow up with a GP visit.
Post by sunshineluv on Sept 22, 2014 13:56:27 GMT -5
Can you go see her for a few days? Those symptoms could all just be stress related, but she may just need you right now. I still got homesick and needed my mom sometimes at that age. You can help get her in to see a doctor, and be more assertive about trying to find answers.
The ER Dr suggest Mono but said it is to soon to tell. Her program is very strict but I have no problem going if need to be. I am waiting for her DR to tell me what they think.... She has class or clinicals from 8AM to 6PM 5 days a week. MyBIL was the head of the big hospital there so I would have them to look to if her Dr thinks she needs further testing. Ugh my BIL and SIL just moved away from there this summer and they where my eyes and ears the first 2 years of her going to school there. We talk often and she has a good group of friends and when to the ER with her. If it was homesick she would tell me and be calling more we talk a lot. My gut says she is sick but I am praying for Mono or something like that. I could not handle anything worst.
Post by orangeblossom on Sept 22, 2014 14:20:48 GMT -5
It sounds like she's at a school associated with a hospital, so I'm ASSuming there may be a school clinic there. I would start there with getting a primary, once all of this is settled, or really even before it, because from a MM perspective it will be cheaper, but also if need be they will refer her out to a hospital specialist if necessary.
I hope she gets answers, and starts feeling better soon.
Post by crashgizmo on Sept 22, 2014 14:27:04 GMT -5
I don't want to say anything negative about student health/clinics, but when I was in college I got really sick, with an unexplained rash that was misdiagnosed 3 times before they figured out it was scarlet fever. I didn't have insurance so student health was my only option unless I wanted to spend a ton. I'm sure plenty of the clinics are great, but they often will go with the common solution rather than looking at other options.
I would try to get her into a doctor in the area to make sure the proper tests are done if she doesn't start feeling better.
Hugs for you and I hope she feels better ASAP. I can absolutely see how you'd fear for the worst with leukemia in your family & friend history, but there are plenty of other possible explanations. It would definitely be great if she can get in to see her regular doctor, but you have to weigh that with how hard the waiting for an answer will be.
Please give us the positive update when you get it!
Still waiting........ We can get her seen that is not the problem it is just how is the best route. I know she can have lots of stuff so for my sanity I am trying to stay of Web MD and letting ya'll treat her. Her school does have a large medical department, she just does not have time during school hrs to go to the clinic but that has not been ruled out yet. I am dying waiting on our DR to get the reports to tell me I am crazy.
She is not feeling well but she can talk now. She was reviewing her ER paperwork with me last night and the diagnosed her with bronchitis but they did not tell her that. They also said in the paperwork that that where giving her to prescriptions but only gave her one. She was talking to her DR/Professor that she does research for and he felt they were also just trying to get rid of her. He can see her and I cannot so that made me feel better about pushing to find answers. He said her labs should be off because she was obviously sick. They have work together for over a year so it kinds knows her. She also pushed about being weight at the ER and they let her weight herself on the way out and did not even chart that. They told her she was stressed which is what I have been saying but 17 pounds in a month is a lot. She feels that she is not stressed and has been a lot more stressed in the past. She got to work today so I am still waiting on our DR to call me. I am not a bad Mom by no going to check on her yesterday, My DD2 had surgery this morning and did fine. I am waiting on our DR to see if I am going there or if she needs to come home.
Below is a timeline I put together for DD to take to the DR to get a blood panel done per family DR's orders. The DR looked at the ER records and said not to wait to go ASAP and get a full work-up. The test run in the ER did not show anythin but they did not check for much.
June 9 2014 Physical for school weight 121 July 10, 2014 Measured for uniforms for school Aug 18, 2014 moves into school Aug 24, 2014 School Starts Aug 29, 2014 pick-up for trip to SC 1st mention of some weight loss Sept 8, 2014 complains that uniforms are to big Sept 15, 2014 complains that jeans are to big Sept 20, 2014 sick, random bruising, & weight loss go to clinic nothing open so go to ER weight 104 Sept 21, 2014 can’t talk on phone but still feeling bad Sept 22, 2014 call family DR and she requested ER report Sept 23, 2014 ER report look normal but Dr Harlow said to get blood work done ASAP for weight loss and bruising
DD said her left arm has lots of brusing and both feet. DD still feels bad but she is able to talk more than she had been.