TravelingChris Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 My youngest is an exchange student in New Zealand and was on school break and travelling on the south island. She got a sick very fast with a high fever, massive headache, shakes and vomiting. She was taken to a hospital and then transferred to another since they suspect bacterial meningitis. They did a lot of tests, including a spinal tap, and have given her bunches of antibiotics (her words) and she is feeling better. All her classmates had to leave to catch the plane back to Wellington (she is at Victoria University in Wellington) but she is having a New Zealand representative of her US program coming to be with her and will help her get back to Wellington when she is good enough to leave. She is feeling a lot better since they started the antibiotics. I know others here have had experiences with bacterial meningitis so considering she is feeling better, will she be able to leave that hospital soon? She has at least figured out where she is - a city called Invercargill. We didn't get news of this until today and I am a bit unclear as to when she actually got sick. She is now good enough to be able to text us. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 7, 2017 Author Share Posted September 7, 2017 Oh and yes, she had menigitis vaccines but I guess there can be another bacteria that causes it too? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 (edited) I will include your DD and the doctors and nurses who are taking care of her in my prayers. There's a reason why universities like Tech (Texas Tech University) require proof of a vaccination for Meningitis. Tell your DD to rest and take it very easy! ETA: I just read post #2. She had the vaccine? I don't know then. Apparently there is more than one type? Edited September 7, 2017 by Lanny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Can you get there to be with her? I'm so sorry she's so sick! You must have been terrified when you found out she had meningitis! :grouphug: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Hugs to you and good thoughts. This is scary, and so hard when you are so far away. I hope your DD gets well soon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 The doctor would have to give the all clear for your daughter to be discharged from hospital. Being well enough to text you is a good thing. This article explains about meningitis in New Zealand. https://www.southerncross.co.nz/group/medical-library/meningococcal-meningitis-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment-prevention "There are five main groups of the meningococcal bacteria – A, B, C, W135 and Y. In New Zealand, a particular strain of group B meningococcal bacteria accounts for approximately 62% of all cases of meningococcal disease. Group C meningococcal bacteria account for approximately 38% of all cases, with the other groups only rarely causing disease. Up to 15% of the population carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat without becoming sick. However, for reasons unknown, these bacteria sometimes cause disease in some people, spreading to the bloodstream (causing blood poisoning) or the brain and spinal cord (causing meningitis)." Southern Cross has a hospital in Invercargill. Their contact email is on this link if that is the hospital your daughter is at. https://hospitals.southerncross.co.nz/our-hospitals/invercargill.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 :grouphug: I'm glad she's feeling better as I suspect that's a great sign, but ugh overall! :grouphug: I'm super glad it was caught and antibiotics seem to be effective. I'm not sure how quickly she'll be better. Hopefully someone with more experience (or doctor experience) will be able to answer that question. My cousin had meningitis, but his was viral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 7, 2017 Author Share Posted September 7, 2017 She just talked to the doctor. They are waiting for more test results. She feels a lot better but still has a headache though not as bad as it was at first. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 That's so scary! I'm glad she treated quickly and is feeling better :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 7, 2017 Author Share Posted September 7, 2017 I am so grateful that she was with friends who were smart and took her to the hospital. I think she got so sick so fast that she wasn't even thinking straight. And I am so happy that she was smart enough to know that she had to only go to a study abroad country that had good medical coverage. She was choosing that based on her severe asthma but of course it is equally important in a condition like this. As to what the course of her hospitalization is. I know it all depends on when her doctor discharges her but I have no experience with bacterial meningitis and so don't know if it is usual to let them out of the hospital but still taking antibiotics. I had viral meningitis as a teen so no hospitalization but it took me many months to fully recover. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Wow, Chris. How scary. I'm praying for a quick recovery for her! :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaPagnato Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 I'd be out of mind with worry! Fortunately, it sounds like the worst is over and she's on the path to recovery. What a strong and smart young woman you've raised. Many :grouphug: as you wait for more details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Sending good thoughts for a speedy recovery for your daughter, Chris. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 For those I've known with meningitis, they were in the hospital for at least a week or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Any update this morning? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Hugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Any update Chris? I hope all is well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 (edited) She is lucky her friends got her to hospital quickly and she was taken seriously. Strangely if she was with New Zealanders she may have been the only one who was immunised as it is not routinely immunised against - one of my kids was during preschool age but by the second one got pneumacoccal instead. Edited September 11, 2017 by kiwik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 Well not bacterial meningitis. Not menongitis???. Bad virus??? But she made it back to Wellington but had to get taken back to hospital there (Sunday) because she wasn't able to keep good down for days. They gave her anti nausea drugs and an iv. Yesterday she was feeling mostly better but still weak and with bad headache at times. But better than in days and she will try to go to class today- tomorrow? It is around midnight there Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 But better than in days and she will try to go to class today- tomorrow? It is around midnight there Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk tomorrow - it's not quite 11pm. Glad to hear she's on the improve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Well not bacterial meningitis. Not menongitis???. Bad virus??? But she made it back to Wellington but had to get taken back to hospital there (Sunday) because she wasn't able to keep good down for days. They gave her anti nausea drugs and an iv. Yesterday she was feeling mostly better but still weak and with bad headache at times. But better than in days and she will try to go to class today- tomorrow? It is around midnight there Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk I'm glad she's getting better but it must be frustrating to not know what is wrong and the headaches sure can't help. I hope improvement continues and she's back to herself soon. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 With an I.V. in her she will be OK. They can furnish any medication they need to through that I.V. and hopefully she will be better and stronger very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 Yes. They said it is not the flu. And it doesn't seem to be an upper respiratory infection either unless maybe a sinus one with no drainage. With normal colds and most sinus and bronchitis, her asthma flares up and it hasn't (Thank God) so I am really confused. The one thing it does sound most like is viral meningitis and so am not quite sure how they ruled it out. I want her to go get a doctor because right now she had a pulmonologist there but not a regular doctor. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 I haven't been keeping up with your thread, after my initial post - it's triggering for me, and my anxiety goes through the roof. So forgive me for not having read it all, I just peeked in to see if she's better. And it appears you don't have answers?! I'm so sorry. Did they do an LP? My son (12, at the time) had meningitis last summer. And huge complications and other things. It started a six week cascade of nearly losing him multiple times. In and out of hospitals, emergency appointments at national kid's hospitals, round the clock breathing treatments every four hours (asthma and reactive airways), hallucinations from high fevers... In case it helps you, I am going to share my son's final diagnosis. After six weeks of hell, I called my LLMD because we were out of ideas. She is an amazing diagnostician. She ran tests, and figured it out. DS contracted viral meningitis, and babesiosis. From a tickbite we didn't see. The viral meningitis resolved, but the babesiosis continued till we found and treated it. Has your DD been outside? Maybe that's something to investigate. I feel for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 SHe definitely was outside. I have no idea if they have ticks in New Zealand and what type of diseases they carry. Oh, they do not have ticks spreading diseases so not that anyway. They have one introduced tick but that is one in farm areas and apparently they have no history of any tick diseases. I am worried about it because I was so weak after viral meningitis in high school, I couldn't go back to school that year. I had to have homebound tutoring. I think she did have a lumbar puncture but am not sure. She may be having headaches from that as I remember that if you move to fast after having that, you get horrible headaches. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Praying that your dd gets correctly diagnosed and treated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Praying for your dd! Can you or a family member go there to help ensure she gets the proper medical care, or can you have her fly back home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 I hope you find answers and she recovers fast. You must be so worried. I had no idea if my son's experience would apply - I hope what lever your DD has, it resolves quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 Right now we don't see a need to fly there. She felt better enough yesterday to eat, I think, and she was feeling better until her upstairs neighbor started blaring music and then stomping around. She was planning to go to class later today (2300 our time). All of us here are monitoring her and I am now on Facebook messenger with one of her friends too who has been messaging me like when she was going to leave the hospital. I told her that we have her back and if she needs to come home or whatever, we will still get her through college. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb in NZ Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Oh and yes, she had menigitis vaccines but I guess there can be another bacteria that causes it too? There are a number of strains of Meningitis. Meningitis B & C have vaccines. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb in NZ Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 (edited) Glad she got hospital care so quickly. There are a few real nasty strains of flu going around this winter. One of them has high fever & head aches, much the same symptoms of meningitis. She may have fought one of those. I'm glad she's on the mend. Edited September 12, 2017 by Deb in NZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I hope she's continuing to feel better today and whatever happened is on it's way out if not completely gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 Yes, she is really now on the mend. Went to classes today. THanks for all the prayers, concerns and suggestions. I really appreciate the advice, support and friendships I have made on Well trained mind. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 Yes, she is really now on the mend. Went to classes today. THanks for all the prayers, concerns and suggestions. I really appreciate the advice, support and friendships I have made on Well trained mind. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 SHe definitely was outside. I have no idea if they have ticks in New Zealand and what type of diseases they carry. Oh, they do not have ticks spreading diseases so not that anyway. They have one introduced tick but that is one in farm areas and apparently they have no history of any tick diseases. I am worried about it because I was so weak after viral meningitis in high school, I couldn't go back to school that year. I had to have homebound tutoring. I think she did have a lumbar puncture but am not sure. She may be having headaches from that as I remember that if you move to fast after having that, you get horrible headaches. We don't have ticks. In fact I don't think we have anything small biting and dangerous like that and if we did it would be in sub tropical Auckland not the deep south where it is still winter. We do have several strains of viral and bacterial meningitus and this year some exceptionally nasty viruses. In hospital she will see whatever specialist they they think she needs at a given time but not a general doctor. Has she got a GP - she should be able to get one through the university. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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