“I’m determined to keep my life going. I’m going back to university and trying to rebuild my life and figure out what my new normal looks like.”
“The day before my 24th birthday I was at work when, halfway through the day, I started to feel hot and cold and feverish.
“I left work early at lunchtime and went straight to bed, hoping I would be able to sleep off whatever illness I had. I didn’t wake up until the next day, when my mum came into my room to wish me a happy birthday.
“My memory of this is hazy now but I remember having an extremely sore throat and headache and I spent the day sleeping.
Getting more severe
“Throughout my birthday my headache was getting more severe and painkillers weren’t helping with the pain and I was still feeling very feverish. After continuing to deteriorate and feeling worse, on the day after my birthday my mum phoned 111 who said to take me to hospital as soon as possible.
“In the A&E waiting area I was falling asleep whilst sitting, wearing sunglasses as the light was very painful on my eyes and I was vomiting. After waiting a few hours I was called in by the doctor and I passed out when I stood up to follow the doctor. It was at this point that I was taken into a side room and given antibiotics and fluids for presumptive meningitis.
“I was then taken to a ward and I had three different IV antibiotics administered, as well as medication to treat ketoacidosis which was caused by the infection.
Week in hospital
“I spent almost a week in hospital where I was struggling with hallucinations and still feeling triggered by light.
“To officially diagnose meningitis you have to have a lumbar puncture to test your spinal fluid. Over the course of three days I had multiple failed attempts, which left me with a reduced sensation in my left leg. By the time the doctors were able to successfully obtain spinal fluid I had been on antibiotics for many days, so the results were inconclusive. So, I was never definitively diagnosed with meningitis, although it is believed that I may have developed it from a strep throat infection that I had for a month prior to going into hospital.
“The after-effects of meningitis left me with continuing headaches and migraines that are triggered by bright light, reduced sensations on my left leg and fatigue. Due to this I was let go from my job and faced with the potential of being permanently disabled.
Everything has changed
“Now, everything has changed. I’m unable to drive, work and help around the house like I used to. I’m reliant on friends and family to help me out. In July of 2022 I had just graduated university with a first class degree, and my post graduate job only lasted 3 months before I caught meningitis and was let go.
“However, I’m determined to keep my life going, even if everything has to be adapted and considered more than pre meningitis. I’m going back to university to study my masters and I’m slowly trying to rebuild my life and figure out what my new normal looks like.
Wish there was more support
“I wish there was more support out there for people after they leave hospital, because I’ve felt in a constant medical limbo since, with doctors not being sure what is causing the symptoms I’ve had since having meningitis.
“I contacted Meningitis Now’s helpline and the nurse on the phone made me feel more validated, even without an official diagnosis of meningitis. I also had someone come to my home for a chat and I was able to join the Christmas Zoom party, and that support has been invaluable to me.
“I felt less alone, and I learnt that after-effects of meningitis are much more common than you’d think! Prior to having it, I thought meningitis was an illness that only young children got!”
