Meningitis

Natas said:
i've had an lumber puncture before... lets just say its not the coolest thing to have done to you out there!!

Meningitis is serious but its not that easy to catch. The chances that you have it are slight, but if you have any of the symptoms, then you should have yourself checked out. the symptoms are stiffness in the neck, photo sensitivity, sensitivity to loud noises, a constant headache, dizzyness, nausea...
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I hate when people give symptoms like this. Remove the stiff neck and I've got all those symptoms, but I know I don't have meningitis, those symptoms are part of ADD as well :confused:
 
Depending on the type of meningitis it can be easy to catch and it can kill within an hour. Meningococcal Meningitis is such a dangerous type, luckily
preventitive meds do exist which should be taken in cases of exposure, eg
a person with this who circulates it to other people via AIR CONDITIONING.

Here is a good link:
http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.htm
 
teraside said:
I hate when people give symptoms like this. Remove the stiff neck and I've got all those symptoms, but I know I don't have meningitis, those symptoms are part of ADD as well :confused:
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Meningitis symptoms can be those of the common flu. In fact viral meningitis is often caused by the same viruses which cause flus and flu like illnesses.
Meningitis does not always cause a stiff neck however but usually causes
a significant headache. The headache later leads to changes in mental functioning - even confusion and coma (v late), vomiting and features
such as double vision and stroke like effects (paralysis of an arm).
Those features occur late in the illness but can progress quickly in cases
of bacterial (eg Meningococcal) meningitis. Less fast for viral meninigitis.
 
PeterCH said:
Depending on the type of meningitis it can be easy to catch and it can kill within an hour.
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Had a family friend with a headache 1 evening, 5am next morning she was dead :( Scary stuff
 
PeterCH said:
Meningitis symptoms can be those of the common flu. In fact viral meningitis is often caused by the same viruses which cause flus and flu like illnesses.
Meningitis does not always cause a stiff neck however but usually causes
a significant headache. The headache later leads to changes in mental functioning - even confusion and coma (v late), vomiting and features
such as double vision and stroke like effects (paralysis of an arm).
Those features occur late in the illness but can progress quickly in cases
of bacterial (eg Meningococcal) meningitis. Less fast for viral meninigitis.
Click to expand...

Thanks ;)

No offence, but I'm out of this thread, I've got this real "goosebump", freaky feeling of disaster reading these posts and I hate that.

Ciao.
 
PeterCH said:
Sorry to hear that.

Did this person die of a meningitis?
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Going to assume your replying to me. Yes she did, not sure which 1, i was just told it was meningitis
 
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teraside said:
Thanks ;)

No offence, but I'm out of this thread, I've got this real "goosebump", freaky feeling of disaster reading these posts and I hate that.

Ciao.
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Just because someone in Cape Town has meningitis, it doesn't mean you
are any more likely to get it. I think things like this bring out our own
fragility as people - our susceptibility to disease.
 
Maybe we should not scare Natasha like that. At least she did the right thing to go to the doctor to get herself checked out.
 
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PeterCH said:
Just because someone in Cape Town has meningitis, it doesn't mean you
are any more likely to get it. I think things like this bring out our own
fragility as people - our susceptibility to disease.
Click to expand...

I completely agree and it breeds fear, because I do have some of those symptoms, but I've had it for weeks, so reading these posts make me uncomfortable.
 
teraside said:
I hate when people give symptoms like this. Remove the stiff neck and I've got all those symptoms, but I know I don't have meningitis, those symptoms are part of ADD as well :confused:
Click to expand...

That's the problem with diagnostic medicine! Especially when you think you have something... most of the times your symptoms can fit the description!!! Its like when I studied psychology 101 at varsity.... I think in that one year I diagnosed myself with over 15 different psychological problems.. you sit in lectures and while the lecturer is talking you go "Hey!! I have that... I get that! Oh **** I get that too sometimes!!.. Oh ****, I must have Insert name of some rare and obscure psychological condition"

But if you have a sound reason to believe you have something, and where you have in fact been exposed to a confirmed case of something, then it is best to go see a doctor!

But I generally dont trust doctors.. even if you have somehting they dont always pick it up.. BOTH my parents are doctors and I have NEVER been to see a doctor. I have however heard LOTS of horror stories of gross negligence by doctors... like a mother of 2 dying of Tetnis.. she had ALL the symptoms including lock jaw, and her doctor didnt pick it up.. she died.. my advice is to find a good doctor and to stick with them..
 
PeterCH said:
Just because someone in Cape Town has meningitis, it doesn't mean you
are any more likely to get it. I think things like this bring out our own
fragility as people - our susceptibility to disease.
Click to expand...
What fragility? I'm invincible! Being a bubble-boy has its perks ;)
EDIT: On a more serious note... I had a lumber puncture when i was small, i dont remember much, dont really remember the hosipal nothing... But i remember 1 tiny detail, me curled up being held down by nurses PAIN!!! and my mom crying
:(
 
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Natas said:
That's the problem with diagnostic medicine! Especially when you think you have something... most of the times your symptoms can fit the description!!!
Click to expand...

Very true.

I was convinced i had narcolepsy a few weeks back. I had difficulties sleeping at night, and would suddenly fall asleep 2-3 times during the day :eek:
 
Natas said:
That's the problem with diagnostic medicine! Especially when you think you have something... most of the times your symptoms can fit the description!!! Its like when I studied psychology 101 at varsity.... I think in that one year I diagnosed myself with over 15 different psychological problems.. you sit in lectures and while the lecturer is talking you go "Hey!! I have that... I get that! Oh **** I get that too sometimes!!.. Oh ****, I must have Insert name of some rare and obscure psychological condition"
Click to expand...


That's just silly. And why on earth would a student (first year or whatever year, for that matter) think that he knew enough to make the diagnosis? :D
 
Natas said:
That's the problem with diagnostic medicine! Especially when you think you have something... most of the times your symptoms can fit the description!!! Its like when I studied psychology 101 at varsity.... I think in that one year I diagnosed myself with over 15 different psychological problems.. you sit in lectures and while the lecturer is talking you go "Hey!! I have that... I get that! Oh **** I get that too sometimes!!.. Oh ****, I must have Insert name of some rare and obscure psychological condition".
Click to expand...

True. People are only capable of experiencing a fixed number of symptoms and this varies among individuals too. Secondly some people have lower pain
thresholds. Then some people tend to dismiss their symptoms and don't report
them while others over report.

A viral like illness can be a bad cold, a flu, an acute stage of HIV (or other
virus infection), an established virus infection (eg hepatitis B), side effect of medication, effect of a metabollic or hormonal illness, effect of alcohol or
drugs, false symptoms (psychiatric or psychological illness) and so on....

So it can get difficult to pick up things especially in people who complain of symptoms all the time. You can't do CAT scans, Lumbar puctures and blood cultures on everyone with a headache and aching muscles, you know.
Those procedures themselves are not without risks too.
 
Doctor says it is quite unlikely I have it, as the headaches I have had this week would have been unbearable.. I also would not be able to move my head..

Says to give it 48 hours and if all is still fine by Monday, I am in the clear..

:D

Got a bit of a fright this morning..

Thanks for all the replies..
 
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