Maybe Mono?

Eli has had a fever since Saturday and then yesterday began complaining of a sore throat. He had eaten little and even looked as if he was swallowing fluids gingerly. I decided that it must be strep throat and made a trip to the doctor as soon as we could get an appointment today.

First let me fill you in on the fact that Eli completely remembers what happened the last time we were at the doctor's office. SHOTS! As soon as we mentioned going to the doctor last night, he clearly expressed not wanting to go. When we could get him to verbalize why, he explained, SHOTS! Even today, as we pulled down the road to the office, he fearfully asked from the back seat, "SHOTS?" I told him, "No shots today, buddy."

Well, that eased his mind only temporarily, as he freaked out when the nurse called us back. And much to my dismay, they had to do a finger prick (not really a shot...so I didn't lie...) to check his white blood cell levels to determine whether he had a virus or something bacterial. Eli did NOT like the finger prick, cried the entire time...more due to the fact that we had to hold his cold little hand for so long trying to get enough blood to squeeze out. Thankfully the nurse let him pick out as many stickers as he'd like for being so brave. Eli loves stickers.

The doctor came in with the news that his white counts were indeed elevated leading her to believe it might be strep. She did a throat culture...only after the two of us had to force the crying toddler's mouth open to do so. But that test came back "negative." I'd be thankful except for what news came next...that it might be MONO!!! Are you kidding me???? We won't do a blood test as there is no real treatment for mono except rest and treat the symptoms. We're gonna hope that it is just a virus after all, and that we didn't infect my entire family...including the pregnant sister who is in her third trimester. Ugh!
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