Shock

LegacyUser · 10-03-2009 10:49am #1

HI
My little son who is 5 weeks old was crying constantly last Sunday week night/monday morning. We thought it was just colic or something similar. I went to work but my wife took his temperature and it was 38 degrees, high but nothing over the top.
For some reason she just didn't like the sound of his crying so she took him to our local GP.
He had a look at him, thought that there was nothing wrong, but because the little fella was so young asked my wife to take him to temple street.

In we went, still thinking maybe a cold or something.
They took chest xrays, stomach xrays and tested everything else.
Still nothing, the doctor in A&E then called for the A&E consultant who couldn't find anything wrong either.

He however told us that he was going to do a lumber punch anyway just to rule out meningitis, but he was almost sure that he hadn't got it.
Shock!, the test came back positive, our little fella had meningitis!
They started him straight away on antibiotics. They didn't know if it was viral or bacterial but they assumed the worse, bacterial, and proceeded with the treatment.

Results from the cultures came back on wedneday, he has pneumococial meningitis, but they are almost certain that they caught it in time and the little fella is now being allowed home every day after his antibiotics, to return in the evening. He should be out next tuesday for good.
He had a brain scan last Thursday and all was perfect, thank god.

Just thought i would share this and just to say, never think that you are being a neurotic parent by bringing your child to a doctor( as my wife thought she originally was) This saved his life.

ogriofa · 10-03-2009 11:17am

that's brilliant! All too often people just post their sh1tty experiences.
Sounds mad cause I dont have kids, but WELL DONE!

star-pants · 10-03-2009 11:26am

Fair play to you for not just accepting one persons opinion, something like meningitis can be so dangerous. But it can also be hard to detect. A friend of mine when she was a baby was cleared by her GP just sayign she'd a cold, but her mother knew better, knew something was really wrong and brought her to another GP who sent her straight to the hospital with meningitus. Always best to get a second opinion, it doesn't hurt anyone.

I'm very happy your little lad will be ok - and so happy they caught it in time. x

banshee_bones · 10-03-2009 11:41am

So glad to hear that you caught it so fast and that hes going to be ok. Alot of parents would feel like how you described and wouldnt want to be bringing the baby to the doctor when theres "seemingly" not much wrong. Guess you just have to trust your instincts.

Glad it worked out for ye

BB

missmatty · 10-03-2009 11:58am

So pleased you managed to catch it in time

My cousin had it when he was 2ish and ended up badly brain damaged, dependent on his family for life. So glad that didn't happen in this case.

LegacyUser · 10-03-2009 12:19pm

I am a firm believer in a mother's instinct. That she knows her child best, no matter what anyone else thinks or says.
Well done to her for spotting it.

Thank God he is fine.
A little treasure.

lolli · 10-03-2009 12:29pm

Dear Op,

I had bacterial meningitis 12 years ago, it is a very scary and quick acting disease. Only for the quick thinking of my GP I would not be here. The hospital said if i got there 10 minutes later I wouldnt have made it.

It is a very distressing time for any parent, I remember the first thing I seen when I woke up was my parents standing over me crying, my dad never cries so I knew then it must have been serious.

Congratulations to you and your wife for being so quick thinking. You are lucky, your son is alive and well... many people havent been so lucky.

It took me about a year to get over the illness but I think its something that my parents will never get over because they have always watched all our health like a hawk ever since.

My best wishes to you and your family.

Redpunto · 10-03-2009 6:52pm

Wish your little fella a speedy recovery - remember even though they are so small they are much tougher than us.

10-03-2009 7:44pm

puts life's little problems in perspective.. hope everything turns out ok

Salome · 10-03-2009 7:56pm

It's nice to hear good news for a change - this recession is bringing us all down. It's good to be reminded of the things that are more important.

Hope your little one feels better soon!