Friday 24 July 2015

Jack had Viral Meningitis - I never thought it would happen to us


A week ago Wednesday we had, had a great day, I had took the boys to playgroup, then my sister had popped over and we had took all the boys over to the wacky warehouse down the road, Jack seemed to be fine at playgroup and once in the pub had become a bit irritated didn't really want his bottles he was a bit whiny, and unsettled but I put it down to his teeth, he was teething and I knew was not unusual for babies to behave the way he was, eventually I managed to get him to settle down for a nap.

At around 7pm he still hadn't woken up, so I decided to wake him as the other two boys had gone to bed and he needed his last bottle and his pyjamas on, as soon as I lifted him out of his pushchair, he started to cry, well he was screaming hysterically, I could feel he was really hot too touch, I picked up the thermometer and checked his temperature it was 38.9 which is really high for a baby - I gave him some calpol but an hour later he was still crying and his temperature hadn't budged.

I rang Jacks dad and we took him straight down to the walk in centre, the doctors were really concerned about his noisy breathing and the fact his temperature was so high, they sent us up to the children's admission unit, where they gave him more calpol, and ibuprofen, after a couple of hours his temperature had subsided and they told us, the reason for his temperature was most likely due to a viral infection and to take him home.


I wasn't really happy as he still wasn't well, but I was relieved they didn't think it was anything more serious we took him home it was the early hours of the morning, I was still really worried about him - I didn't sleep very well I got up a few times, to check on him by 6am he was awake and crying again, his temperature was high, so I did what the hospital had told me I gave him calpol and ibuprofen which settled him for a while.

He still just wasn't right, at around 10am it was time for his next bottle he was really warm again, I started trying to give him his bottle, to be honest he didn't really want it, he was messing about, as he pulled his neck back I noticed a dark mark under his chin, it was difficult to see as Jack is quite a chubby baby. On closer inspection it looked like a little purple bruise, I pressed it remembering all the information I have seen around it didn't disappear, I must have repeated this about four times, I put his bottle down and stripped his vest off him he was covered in a rash - it wasn't all the same, some of it was pin prick rash with raised red bumps, that did disappear under a glass then in between that rash, there were little bruise type spots that didn't disappear.

my son had viral meningitis

This is when I started to panic, I asked my neighbour to look after Liam and Adam, my dad had come over so he took us straight down to the hospital, and to be honest thank god I did, the doctors were not happy with him and as they were examining him, there were more of the rash and purple type bruises appearing, his temperature was high and he was really unsettled, it was heart breaking seeing him so poorly and not being able to do anything for him - the doctors decided there and then they were going to put a cannula in, take bloods and give him some big doses of antibiotics and fluids through a drip, as they suspected meningitus.

my son had viral meningitis

He would have to stay in hospital to determine, for definite what was wrong with him, he was really poorly those first 24 hours Jack was really ill, as a mum it was heart breaking, his temperature remained the same he was sick and had diarrhoea as well it was horrible, and really frightening, I don't think any of us had slept much for a few days it was physically and emotionally draining for us all.

By the time a few days had passed his temperature had subsided and remained the same, he was beginning to feel a bit better and he looked a bit better, although the rash - the pin prick one had spread all over it was on the bottoms of his feet to his hair on his head but the purple bruise type ones had started to fade.

By Monday morning he had been free from his temperature for over 24 hours he was crying less and was smiling more they diagnosed him with viral meningitis - the doctor just said how lucky he was, I am not really sure he was lucky I am just glad he is still here to tell the tale, although he is like a different little boy he is very clingy and cries a lot more now - but its too be expected when he had been so ill. I still don't think he is 100% well, but he is getting there - I never thought meningitis would happen to us I thought it was something that happened to "other people" I am glad I went with my instincts, I am glad I took him back to the hospital, sometimes as a mum you don't want to be a nuisance, sometimes I think I am worrying for nothing but the best advice I can give any mum is if you think something is wrong with your child take them somewhere to be seen, its always, always better to be safe than sorry.

   


A Cornish Mum









SHARE:

15 comments

  1. How scary! I always think go with your instincts - I have always pushed with doctors when I have thought something wasn't right and so glad I have done. My husband had viral meningitis a few years ago and it was awful but it must be so much worse with a baby. So glad he's getting better and hope he is 100% soon #binkylinky xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its awful what ever the age to be honest these things come to test us but at least they are here to tell the story xx

      Delete
  2. Oh wow..that sounds like such an emotional ordeal. You did great taking him to hospital, Mothers instinct obviously worked. I'm so glad he is feeling so much better, I hope he continues to get better :-) #binkylinky

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ahh this is so important, thank you for sharing. It's really important that everyone trusts their instincts but that can be so hard. I feel so upset for you reading this, it must have been so scary. Really glad Jack is ok #picknmix

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it was there is nothing worse seeing your little one so poorly and not being able to do anything xx

      Delete
  4. How frightening I have always just gone to hospital straight and demand reassurance and treatment it must of been really tough on you thanks for linking to the Binkylinky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think if you don't shout these days no one listens thanks x

      Delete
  5. That must have been so frightening. It's something you read about all the time and hear about it on TV, but never actually think that it could happen to you. I hope he's on the mend now. He's been very lucky. Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. its exactly my point Emily your right you don't think these things will ever happen to you it was a bit of a wake up call! xx

      Delete
  6. Its really scary and worrying that it could actually happen to our kids no matter how healthy they are. Hopefully, jack is feeling better now! #PicknMix

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes I know it is scary thanks he is getting there xx

      Delete
  7. Oh lovely this must have been horrendous! I'm so glad he's on the mend, but it's awful seeing them in a hospital bed and having to watch them have a cannula put in isn't it?! Well done you though for this post, which should help others know the signs to spot in case the hospital wants to send them home as well! Really hoping he's back to his normal self soon,
    Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix
    Stevie xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it wasn't very nice I wouldn't wish it on anyone to be honest but he is getting there - I guess we are one of the lucky ones xx

      Delete
  8. How scary that must have been for you. We had a scare a few weeks ago where they initially thought Ava had it when we arrived at A&E she was so poorly, luckily it was a bad bacterial infection. You are definitely right, and the hospital said how important it is to trust your instincts. Thanks for linking up to #PickNMix

    ReplyDelete

Blogger Template Created by pipdig