My brother's in hospital with viral meningitis. Any experience and some advice please...

[ShowOfHands]

He's really quite unwell but obviously hoping he'll get better pretty quickly. He phoned my parents in the middle of last night sobbing and incoherent with the pain and photophobia. They called an ambulance and he's been admitted, prodded and poked and they've confirmed aseptic meningitis.

I of course require lots of stories about quick recoveries. I know of a couple of friends' children having it but being generally ok if fluey and exhausted with it but fil had it in a similar fashion and was in hospital for a fortnight.

I just wondered about visiting? My main concerns atm are me passing something to my brother (I have a cold) or me picking something up on the ward and passing it to my baby who is recovering from a stint in hospital with pneumonia and we've been advised to keep him away from all illnesses as far as possible while the scarring on his lungs heals. I'd really like to visit him but am dithering about making my brother worse or bringing something home and giving it to the baby. He's not up to visitors atm so it's a question for the next couple of days really. His ward's got v strict rules about no children and avoiding bringing anything into the hospital which might be contagious. I suppose I'm answering my own question here.

I want to visit my lovely big brother.

My friends dh has had it a few times now, and has made a swift recovery each time, although he was very ill initially the first time.

I'd wait till he was out tbh

Couldn't u just gown up and scrub?! On the way in and out?! If it were me I'd want to see my brother too! a long-time ago I chose not to go to see my best friend, she was 18 on the list for a transplant with pneumonia. I had tonsilitous and was concerned like u I'd make her worse, she even got her mum to phone begging me to come in. I said I'd go in the morning but in the morning she passed away I spent a long-time feeling v guilty I wasn't by her bed side when she wanted me. I'm not saying this is what's going to happen to you, but don't have regrets later! Def keep baby at home and make sure you scrub, mask and gown! It will probably cheer him up seeing you all gowned up looking silly! Do go

Sorry about your brother Showy

My sister had it a few years ago. Can't remember how long recovery was, but she was absolutely fine quite quickly (out of hospital in a week).

I think you should wait till he is out. Can you phone him?

Very quick and fast recovery. It's bacterial meningitis you need to worry about.

I'm not excessively worried swooosh. Was v relieved when they confirmed it as viral and as I said FIL had it and I know of children who have had it mildly. He will be just fine I know it. Just hit him extremely hard indeed. He can't talk on the phone atm. Still not really lucid and in a lot of pain. On tramadol now apparently. I'm going to ring him in the morning and see how he is. Poor bugger. Both nieces have just been in hospital this last week too. Plus ds with pneumonia. I mean I like the hospital, the custard's good but enough is enough.

I've just been to see him. He's in isolation so no other nasties to worry about, they gave me a gown as a precaution and I didn't go anywhere near him. In fact I sat about 6ft from him on a plastic chair and laughed at his drug induced ramblings.

He's much better. And does NOT like entonox apparently. As the only bit of childbirth he ever wondered about, it's not all it's cracked up to be he reckons.

Glad to hear he's on the mend

My SIL had it when she was a teenager. She was in horrible pain but once in hospital she made a quick and full recovery. It's awfully worrying for the family until they diagnose it as you can see the pain they are in and can't help.
Glad to hear you've been able to see him and that he's getting better. Hope DS is on the mend as well.

My ds had it at 2 months old. Meniningitis and septcemia and I do recommended that you wait until your better before you go. That way your brother will be responding more to meds and there's less chance of making him or your dc ill.
When ds had it he was in 10 days and then iv antibiotics at home. He was monitored very closely and he wasn't allowed any visitors who were ill
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Hope he makes a quick recovery its horrible.
Btw ds has had no side effects ( loss of hearing etc except damaged immune system)
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fazssaeed, I've already visited. He doesn't have bacterial meningitis which it sounds like your ds had (how terribly scary, I'm so sorry you went through that but glad he's recovered well). No antibiotics, only painkillers and antivirals. His is aseptic.

I'm glad you got to see him
I most of been writing the post while you was lol
Hope he makes a full recovery
Its such a horrible thing to go through
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Showofhandz so glad you went! I knew they'd fit you out with gown etc and there'd be no chance if catching or making things worse! I bet you feel better for having visited

Friend had it. She was in a lot of pain, but recovered without any after effects. She had a stiff/sore neck for about 6 months afterwards, but nothing worse, though it was v. scary at the time.

It's not very contageous either.

I highly recommend getting in touch with www.meningitis.org/ for information and support. They were fantastic for us after DD had septicaemia last year and there is a lot of information on their website too. If you need to talk to someone they have helplines you can call and they can put you in touch with people who have been through this if you want to do that sort of thing too.

I hope your brother is feeling better very soon.