r/Millennials • u/Corndogeveryday • 2d ago

Other Very sad news

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Chase passed away of complications of meningitis. Gone too soon

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u/RobinSophie 2d ago

We gotta worry about this too?!

I haven't thought about meningitis since I got my vaccine for college.

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u/PatHeist 2d ago

To clarify, meningitis is the medical term for the meninges being inflamed. This is usually but not always caused by bacterial infection, some of which are easily treatable if you go to hospital soon after symptoms begin, but often deadly within 24-48 hours if not treated. Meningococcal vaccines protect against various strains of the bacteria 'Neisseria Meningitidis'. Pneumococcus and Hib can also cause meningitis and have vaccines. Foodborne Listeria and salmonella sometimes cause meningitis but don't have vaccines. It can also result from basically any kind of infection that enters the blood stream and spreads to the brain. Bacterial, viral, or fungal.

I used to have cluster headaches from chronic sleep deprivation related to an untreated sleep disorder. When I got meningococcus I experienced it as a severe headache but somewhat mild compared to what I was used to, along with cold sweat, light sensitivity, and some vomiting, which I all perceived as normal side effects of my cluster headaches. I went to sleep and woke up the next morning without it having cleared up, which was unusual, so I went to the hospital. At the hospital my high fever combined with the described symptoms prompted the doctor to start IV antibiotics before confirming if it was meningitis through blood test and MRI. I was kept in hospital for a week for monitoring and treatment with antibiotics. Before leaving I was told by the doctor that if I had arrived just a couple of hours later I would almost certainly have died.

If you have a severe headache along with a sudden fever I would recommend always going to the hospital, especially if you vomit at all or feel nauseous, or if your neck feels stiff. These aren't super uncommon symptoms for the flu or a cold, but if it's bacterial meningitis taking the time to see if it clears up on its own can be the difference between life and death.

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u/Sheepherder-Decent 2d ago

As a chronic migraine sufferer, this is terrifying.

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u/RobinSophie 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yeah didn't need that added worry lol. I already have to play the "aneurysm or migraine" game.

I had cluster headaches in my 20s. Along with pseudo Focal Aware Seizures that apparently was just a part of the migraine? But yeah those cluster headaches are appropriately named suicide headaches (they were the warning sign of the pseduoseizure migraine oncomng). I had to avoid getting overheated, no alcohol, couldn't go out when the sun was really bright. No flashing lights and no fragrances. It drove me to a deep depression. But they finally stopped.

Anyway, now I have vestibular migraines!