What's Inside

• What I’m Seeing At Work: Mono

• Money-Saving Tip: Save On Glasses

• How To Prep Your Kid For Surgery

• Recalls & Alerts: Glowing Bunny Ears

• Funny Things: Who Are YOU? 🤣

What I’m Seeing At Work: Mono

Unfortunately, we're seeing a spike in the number of kids with mono this past week. Infectious mononucleosis, or mono for short, is an illness caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It’s common in kids, especially in teens—it’s sometimes nicknamed "the kissing disease" because it can also be spread from kissing. More accurately, it is spread from person to person in saliva, blood, and other body fluids.

Suspect mono if your child has the following symptoms:

1. Fever

2. Sore throat (with either little red spots, called petechiae, or white patches on the back of the throat)

3. Fatigue

4. Swollen lymph nodes (around the neck, groin, and/or armpits)

Mono can be absolutely miserable and make some kids very sick. If you suspect mono, definitely take your child into the doctor for testing. The most accurate testing involves a blood draw for titers (the quick finger prick mono spot test can be wrong with a sensitivity of only 70-90%). You will also want to have the doctor check for an enlarged liver and/or spleen as that can create complications, especially if your child is in sports, dance, or other activities.

Money-Saving Tip: Save On Glasses

With 4 of 6 family members in corrective lenses, we spend a lot on "seeing" at our house. Here's a few hacks:

1. If the glasses still fit, you can keep the frames and change out just the lenses. You don't have to pay for new frames AND lenses each time.

2. Instead of buying separate prescription sun glasses, try transition lenses. For a relatively small increase in cost, the upgraded lens will go dark when you walk outside in the sun.

3. Utilize rebates offered by contact lens companies

4. Take the prescription for the glasses or contacts and fill them at a cheaper location (it was over a $150 cheaper for me to get glasses for my daughter at Costco vs. my optometrist’s office).

COST SAVINGS: $20-300/year

How To Prep Your Kid For Surgery

I often joke that if it weren’t for my profession, we’d be at the doctor’s office weekly with one of our four kids. I use my skills at home all the time. Here, I’ll share a recent example from home and how I handled it, including the products I used. This isn’t an advertisement—I don’t have any financial interest in these products. I simply have parents ask me all the time about what to do in certain situations and the products I use.

I often assert that parenting is marketing. You have to know how to sell something to your child to get his/her buy in.

I spent the weeks prior to surgery day, selling my kid on how cool having her tonsils out was going to be. She would get to do all sorts of special things including eating lots of smoothies, shakes, ice cream and popsicles, watching movies all day, and staying home from school.

I chose not to focus on the details of how painful it was going to be. If she brought it up, I assured her that I would give her medicine to make it feel better, but I also didn’t lie to her. It’s going to hurt. But it’d be okay.

I also was careful to explain to her "why" it was going to happen. I explained that her tonsils were so big that it made it so she didn't get restful sleep at night. After those tonsils came out, she would have more room in her throat and would get better sleep.

Prepping for the hospital/surgery:

Two days prior to surgery, I walked her through exactly what would happen on the day of the surgery and who would be there.

1. She would take a bath the night before and sleep in her comfortable clothes. Then, I could wake her as I loaded her into the car, reducing how long she was awake and aware of her fasting state.

2. We would go to registration where she would meet some nice people who would give her and mom a wrist band that told everyone her name and that she belonged to me.

3. We would then go to a special room and change into some hospital clothes (so hers didn't get dirty and to reduce germs).

4. In pre-op, she would meet three people:

   • The Operating Room (OR) nurse who would be her friend in the operating room in case she needed anything. I instructed my daughter to look at her eyes (since the mask would cover her nose and mouth) and see what she looked like.

   • The anesthesiologist, who is the doctor that would give her medicine to help her sleep during the surgery. I told her about the mask that would go over her face with and how funny it is to see how high she can count before she falls asleep (I laughed with her that I don't usually make it to three). I told her that after she was asleep, so she couldn't feel it, they would start an IV to give her medicine that would make her forget the surgery. When she woke up, it would be like no time had passed. I told her that the nice anesthesiologist would take her to the OR. I explained that mom's aren't allowed in the OR (they can be distracting and germy).

   • The surgeon who she had previously met. She already knew him, so that was another familiar, friendly face.

5. Lastly, I explained that I would be at the hospital the whole time and waiting in the recovery room when she woke up.

The night before, I reiterated the process again and asked if she had any questions. Because she was prepped, there was no drama. She was allowed to bring her favorite stuffed animal to the hospital (not the OR) and given opportunities to ask any questions. Knowing what to expect, eliminates lots of unnecessary angst.

Recalls & Alerts: Glowing Bunny Ears

Funny Things: Who Are YOU? 🤣 

I was visiting with a cute 4 year-old the other day, and as part of his exam, I started with the following:

MD: Tell me who you are.

(Kid looks at me skeptically….)

Kid: “…who you are.”

I busted up laughing—he did exactly as I asked.

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice or medical treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or the health and welfare of your child. We do not endorse any specific products or brands mentioned in this article. Readers are encouraged to perform their own research and consult with appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on the information provided herein.