worried my dh has meningitis!

[ChicChicChicChiclana]

He is ill with suspected coronavirus.

His symptoms started 11/12 days ago and were mild at first but have become more severe as time has progressed.

His cough and breathing have not been too bad (although not great).

However, he cannot stay awake. He is sleeping for 18 hours a day and night. And he cannot get rid of his severe headache. He has taken the max daily and nightly dose of paracetamol for 11 days straight.

We rang 111 and they got back to him about 12 hours after triage. They were focused mainly on his breathing and advised him to continue self care as his breathing is not too badly affected.

But I can't help shake the feeling that he is seriously ill with something. He can't eat, he can barely move. I know COVID19 does not present mildly in everyone, and I am worried that his headache is being forgotten in all this.

Our digital thermometer is broken and I haven't been able to find a replacement anywhere, but I don't think he has a fever just now.

Any thoughts?

According to this link, it is "extremely rare" for CV to cause meningitis.

amp-ibtimes-sg.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.ibtimes.sg/can-novel-coronavirus-cause-meningitis-japan-has-answer-40647?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=15853183616276&amp_ct=1585318389799&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibtimes.sg%2Fcan-novel-coronavirus-cause-meningitis-japan-has-answer-40647

However, if you feel he is becoming seriously ill, I would trust your gut instinct and keep seeking help. Can you speak to your GP? If not, I would ring 111 again.

I had meningitis a few years ago and although the details are a bit hazy I do know I had a high temperature, splitting headache, stiff neck (couldn't bend my chin towards my chest), and although I was very hot my hands and feet were absolutely freezing. I did not have the rash or aversion to bright light.
The 'Meningitis Now' website has a full list of symptoms and a helpline you can call. Hope this is of some help.

My heartfelt thanks to you both for getting back to me! DH has slept again for almost all of the day. He can tolerate daylight and has no neck symptoms, and headache is just about controllable. I think I am possibly calming down slightly now although he is still very ill and it's scary.

Thank you so much for replying x x

I'm really glad to hear that he is improving a little (I think that is what you mean by the headache being controllable?).

It must be a very scary time for you. Keep posting here for a handhold when you need to.

It's hard, worrying about someone you love when you feel you can't do anything. Please take care of yourself too.

This is a longshot but does he normally drink a lot of tea or coffee or fizzy drinks loaded with caffeine and then suddenly stopped when he got sick? Maybe he went through sudden caffeine withdrawal?