Coping after meningitis

[KathH]

Feel a bit of a nervous wreck, ds2 who's 16 mths has just had meningitis. He's over it now and is fine but I feel a nervous wreck. He had iv antibiotics for a week and the hospital were really on the ball, they gave him the first lot after childminder rushed him to A&E after he had a fit lasting about 1/2 hr. Does anyone have any positive stories? I guess in the back of my mind I know it wont happen again, but am really on edge now about his health!

Oh Kath, how dreadful for you. You have been through one of the worst things a parent can go through and you are out the other side, so well done for that. I am so glad your ds is on the mend now.

I don't have personal experience of meningitis, thank God, but a friend of mine's son had it whne they were on holiday in Italy. He too made a good recovery, grew up safe and well and is now an officer in the army so there is a positive story for you.

Remember, your son will probably be stronger for what he has gone through now than if he hadn't. You will feel stronger too, in time, I hope.

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Thanks both for your messages, I think its one of those things that you think happen to other people rather than you. The frightening thing is how quick it happens, on the morning when he'd gone to the childminders he'd been fine which is what I still cant get my head round.

Oh no Kath, it is scary, I know how you feel.

My DD caught meningcoccal septicaemia when she was 3 years old and we were in Spain, was terrifying at the time as she got it quite bad but luckily they detected it in time and they saved her life and also managed to save her limbs too (thank god).

She's now a lively 6 year old with no side effects and if anything has been totally healthy ever since.

oh no kathh..... got no experience but i hope you will cope with it better as will takes time.. i hope you will get lots of supports on here too

How is your Dp/Dh coping with it too?

KathH - I know exactly how you feel. My DS2 had pneumococcal meningitis when he was 6 months old. We were reassured by the doctors that 'lightening would not strike twice' however, when he developed a rash a couple of weeks after leaving hospital we were readmitted. The rash was unconnected but we were so worried at the time.

DS2 is now 16 years old, a picture of health and gets shouted at as often as his 2 other brothers and sister. Eventually you will relax again and not worry about every temperature he has.

I actually remember feeling really low after he had recovered. I think it was the realisation of what could have happened. Somehow amongst it all I became pregnant with DS3 a month after the meningitis episode. No idea how that happened!!

Your poor family, Kath. I hope your DS2 has recovered completely (is his hearing OK?).

KathH, me too, ds 1 had meningoccocal meningitis at 9 months old - in IC for weeks over Christmas - not good! Now a strapping 15 year old and growing like crazy. I agee with Mears, I was very low for quite a while after he recovered and I think it was shock, IYSWIM. Only thing we noticed is that he never had a brilliant sense of balance afterwards, and his internal temperature gauge doesn't work at all, even now he has to be told that he is cold, as he can't feel it for some reason. Glad ds2 is fine, but go easy on yourself!

hi Kath, sorry to read about your little one, and hope that he is on the mend. My son had meningitis when he was 3 weeks old. He too spent a week in hospital, had 7 febrile convulsions, and had intravenous antibiotics when he came out of hosp. Medically the only thing which is apparent is that he gets very high temperatures when he is poorly (104) quite often, which used to worry me sensless. Which strain of Meng did your little one have?