Meningitis in adults advice

Bbomb · 2022-10-07T19:12:54+00:00

Just looking for others experience.... My husband recently had bacterial meningitis 3 months ago and luckily made a good recovery. However he is still exhausted, I've suggested doing light exercise to try boost his fatigue but I'm not sure if that's for the best. His GP said lots of rest for the next 3 months? Just doesn't seem right? Any advise would be helpful X

morningchips · 07/10/2022 21:55

I'm sorry to hear your husband had meningitis. My husband also had bacterial meningitis as an adult and it was such a scary time.

Mine was off work for a couple of months after leaving hospital. The doctor was happy to sign him off for longer, but he wanted some kind of normal back I think. I'd say it was around a year before he was totally back to himself. Until that point he was always extra tired and i'd say a bit dopey/zoned out sometimes. More so in the early days. He was most definitely exhausted a lot within the first 6 months, to the point I wondered if he would ever actually make a full recovery. Perhaps going back to work prolonged recovery, I can't be sure. But it provided him with a distraction.

My only advice really would be to try and take each day as it comes and know that it's normal for things to take time recovery wise. I understand how hard that can be when the onset of meningitis itself is so quick. It can feel like waiting on things is asking for trouble so to speak. But he will get there.

Also, if you need to talk about it, be sure to talk to someone. My husbands way of coping with it was to not want to talk about it or acknowledge it at all which I found really difficult. Seeing him so horribly unwell, so suddenly and so unexpectedly was far more traumatic than I realised at the time and almost having to pretend it never happened was hard.

Wishing both you and your husband well.

dizzydizzydizzy · 08/10/2022 08:11

I would follow your GP's advice. They know about this!

ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 08/10/2022 08:13

Post viral fatigue.
Its a thing.

Montague22 · 08/10/2022 08:14

Just let him rest

Original poster

Bbomb · 08/10/2022 08:53

Thank you everyone for your help I really appreciate it xx

OP posts:

Original poster

Bbomb · 08/10/2022 08:54

morningchips · 07/10/2022 21:55

I'm sorry to hear your husband had meningitis. My husband also had bacterial meningitis as an adult and it was such a scary time.

Mine was off work for a couple of months after leaving hospital. The doctor was happy to sign him off for longer, but he wanted some kind of normal back I think. I'd say it was around a year before he was totally back to himself. Until that point he was always extra tired and i'd say a bit dopey/zoned out sometimes. More so in the early days. He was most definitely exhausted a lot within the first 6 months, to the point I wondered if he would ever actually make a full recovery. Perhaps going back to work prolonged recovery, I can't be sure. But it provided him with a distraction.

My only advice really would be to try and take each day as it comes and know that it's normal for things to take time recovery wise. I understand how hard that can be when the onset of meningitis itself is so quick. It can feel like waiting on things is asking for trouble so to speak. But he will get there.

Also, if you need to talk about it, be sure to talk to someone. My husbands way of coping with it was to not want to talk about it or acknowledge it at all which I found really difficult. Seeing him so horribly unwell, so suddenly and so unexpectedly was far more traumatic than I realised at the time and almost having to pretend it never happened was hard.

Wishing both you and your husband well.

Thank you this has really helped me, glad you're DH is feeling better X

OP posts: