My Dad has bacterial meningitis help!

Hi My Dad has bacterial meningitis. He is in the hospital. He can't talk. I'm wondering how long it will take for him to start getting better? Also would bacterial meningitis cause shingles? Any help would be appreciated! Prayers would be wonderful too please! His name is Jeffrey.

[windhorsepixy]

You have my prayers. Please keep us posted.

[Blim]

So sorry to hear about your dad. I had BM 4 years ago. Everybody is different and so is the road to recovery. I was in hospital for 2 weeks but was still very ill when I came out. I have been left with a brain injury and many difficulties as a result. There are others on this forum who were in hospital for a lot longer. It is great that your dad has your support. Sorry I can't be specific for you. The folk on this forum are really supportive and you can look back at other people's journey.

It might be worth calling the meningitis help line. (I can't remember the number but you can get it from the Internet. They were lovely to talk to and sent me some very helpful leaflets. When I was ill my husband found that the staff in hospital didn't really know much about meningitis.

No idea about shingles.

He's in my prayers. I hope you start to see some improvement soon.

Best wishes. Blim

[Vespalover]

I had shingles that within 5 days turned into Menigitus. Shingles is from the Zosta varicella virus and the virus broke the barrier into my spine/menigis.

You mentioned you father has bacterial Menigitus. The BM may have reduced his immune system which let the shingles virus rise. We all have the shingles virus in us if we have ever had chicken pox as a child. So your fathers body was under stress and his normally good immune system was compromised and could not keep the normally sedate Zosta varicella virus in check.

I was under a cute stress both physical and emotional when Zosta/shingles hit me.

Hope this helps.

Ana x

[ElizabethEckstadt]

Hello, Sorry to hear about your Dad. I was diagnosed with BM on January 13 this year. I was in a comma for 6 days and incubated. Moved to Intermediate care for 3 days and then in a regular room. Came home on IV Antibiotics twice daily for 5 days. I had hallucinations and couldn't tell the difference between that and reality. I am 6 months out and have been unable to work. I have neurological problems i.e. I have trouble with my short term memory. I hope your Dad pulls through and please don't get discouraged by his slow improvement. My Infectious Disease Doctor told us it would be months not weeks and possibly years to be better. Hang in there, and let me say, yes I will pray because I truly believe that is why I survived. Beth

[ElizabethEckstadt in reply to ElizabethEckstadt]

That was intubated not incubated, and that was auto correct not me lol Beth.

[Schmooschmoo]

Hi hidden,

Hope your dad is well, I wish I'd seen your post earlier. My mum died from BM a year ago. She also couldn't talk. Make sure the Drs give your dad a CT scan. The pathetic Drs in Australia that were treating my mum didn't do one on her ( WT! Given she was suffering a brain illness you would think the Infectious diseases dr would have known this) and she had an aneurism. Don't trust your dads dr's. Find out as much as you can & have them do a cat scan every couple of days. Wish your dad luck cause he needs it.

[Runnerma]

I am a 59 year old survivor of bacterial meningitis since December 2015. My prayers go out to your Dad, you & your family. Please continue to support your Dad as he will need lots!

[Johnwm]

I too wish your dad a speedy recovery. It took about a month to get better and then about 2/3 recovery at home. But we are all different.

The most important thing is your dad gets his meds on the dot when they are due.