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Original poster

boyfriend sent home with suspected meningitis?

20 replies

grcxo · 26/12/2021 17:25

my partner has has throbbing headache for the last 4 days. so severe he hasn’t been able to sleep or anything. he went to a&e today and had his blood pressure checked and spoke with a doctor (no blood test), they’ve told him he has an infection and gave him co-codamol and sent him away. he said if the headaches are still there tomorrow to go back as it could be meningitis

i’m sure the doctors know what they’re doing, but surely further checks should have been done? considering meningitis can be really bad no???

to say he has some kind of infection though, but not give him any antibiotics either.

he still has the headaches just not as severe. am i right in saying he should go back anyway for a second opinion? he’s not one to complain about pain either…

OP posts:

tribpot · 26/12/2021 17:42

If the doctors think it is a viral infection, antibiotics would be no use. Meningitis can be bacterial or viral. From what you've said, it sounds as if the doctor suspects viral meningitis.

He should go back tomorrow as directed. I hope he's feeling better soon, it sounds awful for him.

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 26/12/2021 17:45

I don’t think that’s “suspected meningitis”.

It sounds like they think he has a viral infection which will clear up - but if it becomes worse or continues then they will need to rule out a more serious cause.

Has he had a covid test ?

Original poster

grcxo · 26/12/2021 18:44

he has done a covid test which came back negative. i’ve got an 18 month old who’s non stop been ill recently whos luckily fine now!! but now bubbas ok , he’s ill. i can’t cope haha

the tablets are wearing off and he’s in complete agony again, i’ve said he needs to go back tomorrow. it’s horrible seeing him like this, he never complains nor agrees to see a doctor if something is wrong.

OP posts:

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 26/12/2021 19:10

If he has no more medication and he’s in agony I’d go back now tbh.

oftenbaffled · 26/12/2021 19:12

What infection?

They do not just say infection

gettingfedupagain · 26/12/2021 19:25

I can't see how they would diagnose an infection without a blood test?
It sounds like they mean viral meningitis but be vigilant for any signs of bacterial meningitis and ring an ambulance if a non blanching rash develops

www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/

Original poster

grcxo · 27/12/2021 01:50

to confirm no he was not told what type of infection, nor was he given a blood test to see what infection it could even be

he is back down there in complete agony.
seen by a nurse who confirmed should it be an infection he should of been perscribed antibiotics.

he’s seen another doctor who’s told him he just has a migrane and that the nurofen he’s been taken the last few days won’t work because they’re not iburprofen. (WHICH THEY ARE.)

seeing him like that broke my f heart if i’m honest

he is NEVER in pain, he NEVER usually goes to the doctors when something is wrong. so for him to go to a&e, for a migrane? no way.
they’re still refusing to give him a blood test, he’s now been told 3 different things it could be.

i’m only ranting on here solely because it’s almost 2am, i cannot sleep, and impatiently waiting for updates and to know he is ok. he was blacking out, he couldn’t string sentences together, could barely walk, he had a tempreture of 41c, cold shivers, bright lights don’t bother him and it’s only to the left side of his head

i don’t understand how this can be passed off as a migrane.
i could launch the man into space sometimes but honestly seeing him this way is hurting me and his parents a lot.

might i add what adds to my fuel of nerves is my mum was misdiagnosed this year with an infection and ended up with sepsis and on the drip for two weeks extremely poorly

OP posts:

oftenbaffled · 27/12/2021 08:57

It sounds very serious

I just can’t get my head around the hospital vaguely saying “it’s an infection”
Nor your partner asking “an infection of what?”

TeeBee · 27/12/2021 09:05

Quite honestly, I would refuse to leave until they look into it further and take blood tests. Ask for a second opinion, ask them to give you the number of PALS within the hospital and call them now. It sounds serious.

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 27/12/2021 09:10

Your update sounds more worrying.

He needs to ask specific questions such as “How will I know if it isn’t x?” And “how long should I expect to feel like this for ?”

And in relation to the migraine “is it usual for a migraine to last 4 days ?”

If not satisfied ask for a second option as pp says.

Borderterrierpuppy · 27/12/2021 09:29

Hope he he is ok op, sounds like they need to have a thorough look at him x

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 27/12/2021 09:30

A migraine doesn't cause a temperature of 41.

Bagelsandbrie · 27/12/2021 09:33

Is there another a and e he could go to? They sound utterly useless.

peridito · 27/12/2021 09:36

How is he OP ?

SpookyScarySkeletons · 27/12/2021 09:38

@grcxo if it helps at all I have had viral meningitis before. My headache came on during the night and the pain was so intense that I actually couldn't lift my head off the pillow. I couldn't move or open my eyes and had to be stretchered to the ambulance and blue lighted to hospital. The only thing that relieved it was IV morphine.

I'm hoping and keeping everything crossed that with the headaches and symptoms you have described that it isn't meningitis as it doesn't sound severe enough.

They really should be doing more tests though as there a lot of things that can cause those symptoms.

SpookyScarySkeletons · 27/12/2021 09:42

Sorry just remembered when my GP came out to see me (to be fair I was pretty out of it) and called the ambulance she suspected a brain haemorrhage so the first thing they did (after the lovely lovely morphine) was to do a CT scan.

Can he push for that at all while he is in A&E? I'm not sure what the procedure is if you self-present?

Original poster

grcxo · 27/12/2021 10:01

he went to the hospital last night about 8pm. it’s currently 10am and he’s still there. he’s now had a ct scan, blood test, and about to have some spinal fluid taken.

he was given tablets for the pain which werent working, which he’s now on the drip and also being given fluids.

he was told early hours it’s meningitis again, then this morning during shift change another doctor told him it’s not

so really we’re still in the same place as yesterday, just thankfully now they’re doing checks

OP posts:

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 27/12/2021 10:03

I’m pleased to hear they are now taking it seriously at least.

CorrBlimeyGG · 27/12/2021 10:12

Would your boyfriend be OK with you ringing and speaking to the doctor? When you're in pain and scared you don't tend to take in what you're being told. If you call yourself you'll get a much better idea of what is going on. He just needs to let someone know that they're OK to talk to you.

VictoryLap · 27/12/2021 10:20

Yep I was going to say he needs an advocate but I'm assuming at the moment they are not allowing friends/family to be there with you. Sounds like they're taking it more seriously now. Hope he feels better soon.

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