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Guest post: “Christmas is often peak season for meningitis and septicaemia - I found out the hard way”

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MumsnetGuestPosts · 19/12/2017 10:00

In three minutes on 23 December 2014, my life changed forever.

My husband John was a GP and on Monday 22nd December he walked through the door as his normal, happy and slightly over the top self. We ate tea and wrapped our boys’ Christmas presents.

We went to bed at around 11pm. At 3am he woke me and said he had a temperature and felt as if he had a virus. I gave him paracetamol and ibuprofen and he went back to sleep.

At 7am he woke with a fever and rigors (which wasn’t unusual for him due to his eczema) and said he felt sick. I phoned his Practice Manager to say he wouldn’t be in. He never missed work and he said down the phone “I’ll be in later.”

I wasn't at work that day and went out to get Christmas veg. I came back at 10am and he was sleeping. He was breathing normally and looked peaceful, but I now realise he must have been in a deep unconscious sleep.

At about midday I heard some movement upstairs so I went to check on him with my youngest, Tim. John was sat up on the bed and he just said, “call an ambulance” and then fell back. Over the phone the operator told me to get him on the floor and start CPR, which we did. We carried on with the resuscitation until the ambulance arrived but we knew after three minutes that he had died.

A week later it was found that John had died from meningococcal W septicaemia (MenW).

John, despite the long hours he worked, was a brilliant involved Dad. He was school governor, coached Richard’s rugby team and ran the line at the boys' football matches.

Ours was a sudden loss with no warning and, although he knew how much we loved him, not having that chance to tell him one last time was so hard. Phil, Rich and Tim miss him so much but I am so proud of the way they have dealt with their loss.

There’s a common misconception that only babies are affected by meningitis, and while babies, young children and teenagers are at the highest risk, all too often adults get it too.

I’m now an Ambassador for the charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), helping raise awareness of this deadly disease in the hope that others don’t have to go through what we have.

The MenW strain is particularly deadly and cases have been nearly doubling each year since 2009. What’s most worrying is that MenW doesn’t always present with the normal symptoms. John didn’t get a rash. He really just seemed to have flu. The symptoms are so subtle, the only way to stop it is through vaccination.

The MenACWY vaccine helps prevent four types of meningitis and septicaemia – Men A, C, W and Y. Most 14 – 20 year olds and first year university students aged under 25 are now eligible for this free life-saving vaccine.

You may wonder why this age group is vaccinated. It’s because the bacteria that can cause meningitis are most commonly found living harmlessly in the nose and throats of teenagers and can be passed on to others. If everyone who is entitled to the vaccine free gets it, this will not only protect them but over a few years, it will also help protect everyone else too because there will be less of the bacteria around to spread.

If you’re a parent of a teenager or university student, please visit this link and book them in for the vaccine if they are eligible. You never know whose life you might be saving.

The bottom line is, meningitis and septicaemia can kill quickly, and many survivors are left with after-effects, some as serious as brain damage, amputations, blindness or hearing loss.

It’s fantastic that the Mumsnet Christmas appeal is raising funds for MRF. Your support will go directly into MRF’s work in awareness, research and supporting people; helping to defeat this heart-breaking disease and provide a better life for those living with the after-effects.

This Christmas Mumsnet raising money for the Meningitis Research Foundation to help defeat meningitis, in honour of CatThiefKeith. Mumsnet will be matchfunding donations made up to £10,000, so please, click here to donate anything you can spare.

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AnotherDunroamin · 20/12/2017 07:33

@Modestine "Rigors" are when your temperature is so high that you start shivering uncontrollably. It almost always indicates a serious infection requiring urgent treatment. I just think it's potentially dangerous to describe it quite casually as a normal eczema symptom on a site frequented by parents of young children, amongst whom eczema is so common.
Obviously that doesn't detract from the tragedy of the story or the importance of the message re vaccinations.