Viral meningitis

Mynxie almost the same thing happened in our family two years ago. My married son and daughter met up at Easter 2013 and both contracted viral meningitis. My daughter, who had a young baby at the time, recovered really quickly with no after effects, but my son started to recover and then had a relapse. I think he had five or six weeks off work (also in a relatively new job) and then a phased return. He was quite badly affected for a long time afterwards, but I'm happy to say he is now completely recovered.

Good, I am glad he is feeling a bit better. Now it is time for his mum to go and put her feet up and relax for a little bit, a well deserved rest.

Ps. You're all very welcome to spell my name any way you wish!

I am amazed by how kind you are here - thank you all, a little hand holding helps so much. It's hard to believe that this time last week I didn't know what was about to hit me next, yet already it's all over and my DS keeps asking me to tell him about the 'funny' things he said when he was completely away with the faries. I give him examples (completely random dob, thought he was 14 etc) but I still can't quite think of them as funny myself yet.....

He went back to work yesterday as planned and it went fine, just a few headaches he said but managed without painkillers as he doesn't want to get hooked ( his words not mine!) apparently been told he looks very pale and thin but I hope someone has noted his (in my view somewhat over zealous) determination not to take any more time off than he could possibly help.

Sorry, spelled it wrong, Mynxie

And to yourself too Mynxye You deserve a pat on the back for all that you have done to help your son and his girlfriend and baby. It can't have been easy but you got through it and now deserve some pamper time. Treat yourself to something indulgent. I think you are brilliant.

Hi Gill, yes, first post and thanks for the welcome

I've had them all to stay for the past week or so to help as much as I could. There were 5 of us in the house and everyone had their own bedroom and designated bathrooms! I lived in fear of catching the bug myself but somehow escaped thank goodness, as at one point I was the only one able to care for my little grandson. I'd forgotten how several broken nights in a row really takes it out of you. They went home yesterday, and tonight I am eagerly anticipating my first (almost) worry free sleep for several weeks.

Everyone is now well and truly on the mend, and of course once it's over you do forget to some extent how horrible it was at the time. I remember enough to know I don't want another couple of weeks like it again in a hurry...

I will continue to support them all as much as I can of course, they are very hard working and doing a great job of parenting despite being so young. I'm full of admiration for the way they have coped - the baby was an unplanned delight, but they have both knuckled down and are doing the best that they can and the little one is so funny and happy, a real credit to them.

Now I can 'relax' and give more attention to my elderly mother who is still reeling from my sisters death.

welcome Mynxie I havent seen you on here before? What a start eh? I have DS of that age and I would be beside myself, it is so hard isnt it? If you have the space, could you have them all to stay? Give poor DiL a bit of a break after being poorly, and maybe they would appreciate, as a young starting out family, having a dinner ready in the evening and a built in babysitter! Also means you can put your mind at rest and know that DS is well fed and tucked up in bed after a day at his new job. Your DiL sounds as if she could do with some help too, poor soul.

Thank you. I think the fact that he is a very fit 22 year old had a big bearing on his speedy recovery. He is still getting headaches but they are responding to otc painkillers. He is still very tired and will probably have to go straight to bed after work, but he's so pleased that because he's only taken 3 days off work it won't have too much of an impact on his training.

Off course I would prefer him to take the rest of this week off at least to rest up, but then again, I'm only his mother and have no say any more!!

It sounds as though your son has made a very good recovery and I hope that his return to work goes well.

I hope your son comes to no harm from returning to work so soon. I was still flat out after a week and in no state to look after two small boys for another few weeks. Mind you, my exH behaved as if I was malingering! No-one was ever ill but him.

I managed to get an emergency doctors appointment this morning and went in with him so I could hear myself what was said. To my complete surprise the Dr told my son that he was fine to go back to work tomorrow - if he had a headache just take paracetamol and work through it. Obviously this was just what he wanted to hear - no restrictions at all except nothing really physical. He can also drive if he feels ok.

It's hard to believe that only last Wednesday I was told he was in a potential life threatening condition and less than a week later will be returning to work as if nothing had happened.

Thanks for all your help advice and flowers (!), I'm posting this outcome in the hope that it might help others in the future to see that viral meningitis, scary as it is at the time, can sometimes go as quickly as it came. I am extremely thankful and relieved as you can imagine.

My ex husband had viral meningitis some 20 years ago and after he was discharged the day after his lumber puncture, he was at home then for about 3 weeks until he went back to work. I had just had a miscarriage at the time. My brother was found collapsed with it too around the same time. My SIL had a miscarriage, my other SIL had a breast lump and my BIL was having brain scans. It was a terrible time as we were all in our 20's and otherwise fit and well.

Maybe your son would be better off with you and leave his girlfriend to it for a while? Or is she too ill too? You do sound like you have got a lot on your plate and I send condolences for you, please do look after yourself at this very upsetting and stressful time.

Very true!

No, in fact when my other son says how hard it is with a 4 year old, I inwardly smile because little does he know that this is just the beginning, and as you so rightly say, we never stop worrying do we? A friend of mine once told me that a mother is only ever as happy as her least happy child and I believe there's a lot of truth in that!

Oops! Just noticed I misspelt your name, sorry
We don't stop worrying when children leave home do we?

Aww thanks Loopy!

It was the Infections Consultant who discharged him so you'd have thought he'd have been given a bit more advice and information than he was (ie none) Sadly I wasn't there myself at the time as I was looking after the baby and I think he was so keen to get out of hospital, he didn't think to ask! I've told him to try and get an appointment with the doctor tomorrow, probably unlikely as it usually takes at least a week round here.

Rant away Myxie, life's dealing you a bummer isn't it?
The headache is from the viral meningitis and possibly the lumbar puncture too, it should go fairly quickly I'd have thought.

Try to persuade him to see his GP.

I didn't have any follow up 30+ years ago, mainly I guess because it's a virus that will clear of its own accord.
He's had antibiotic cover just in case of secondary infection, and as a precaution.
Take care, x

Thank you all for your replies. I'm wondering if the slight headache could be an after effect of the lumbar puncture he had on Thursday? He lives with his GF and their 9mth old DS so I am not able to 'nurse' him as I would like to. Of course I worry about them all no end, as they have all been poorly with a horrible tummy bug that also hospitalised the GF twice in 2 days, once with an anaphylactic reaction to some drugs she was prescribed. There is no other family support for them, her parents have been as much use as a chocolate teapot, not even visiting the hospital when she was admitted by ambulance or even babysitting for the odd hour or two. Just to add to the stress, my sister committed suicide a month ago and I am still trying to come to terms with that as well as support my mother as best I can.

Sorry, this seems to have turned into a self obsessed rant!

If your brain gets a problem (like a bump on the head or an infection) it can take a while to get back to normal and sometimes there are trying problems that go on for a few weeks or so - memory, balance, getting stuff in the right order - all sorts of little things that we normally take for granted. He does need to look after himself and take enough time to get properly better before he thinks of driving or going back to work.

I agree, definitely a trip to his GP, sooner rather than later. Very negligent of the hospital not to give advice re aftercare for something so serious.

I was a young(ish) mum of 33 when it hit me. So quick in its onset - one minute I was walking my kids back from the park and feeling fine; the next, I had a raging fever, vomiting and the worst headache ever. My parents had to come and help with the boys. It took a good three weeks to be anything like normal, though I'd been perfectly fit beforehand.

I had this when I was 19 and a student nurse. It was very scary and unpleasant.
The only advice I can give is to rest, take analgesics and drink plenty of fluids.
I was off work for 6 weeks and still felt rather listless for about 3 months especially if I attempted anything strenuous.

I'd make an appointment with his GP for a check over and further advice Mynxie

He should definitely have been given aftercare and advice - this is truly negligent on the part of the hospital if they gave him a diagnosis of viral meningitis.

You do need to keep an eye on him and, if he deteriorates in any way, get him straight back to the hospital. And you may find that there will be a fairly lengthy recovery period with things like dizziness and memory lapses etc. You need some advice I think.