“Life is not normal, I’m not sure it ever will be how it was, but I’m incredibly grateful for the symptoms being recognised and getting treated quickly.”
“On Good Friday 2024, I felt a bit unwell. I had felt unwell for the week, but I hadn’t had a temperature and plodded on – as we do.
“My brother and niece visited that Friday and although I felt a bit off I was up and about. My main symptom was an earache. I’ve always been prone to ear infections, so didn’t think a lot of it.
“That evening I developed a temperature and it wouldn’t drop with paracetamol or Ibuprofen. In the early hours of Saturday I called 111 and was put on a 12 hour priority and given an appointment at 9.30am.
Believe this saved my life
“But by 7am I knew this was serious as I suddenly started vomiting and I asked my husband to take me to A&E. I honestly believe this saved my life.
“The hospital is only a few miles away, but by the time we arrived I was light sensitive and asked for his sunglasses. By late morning I was in a medically induced coma and I stayed there for nine days. I had meningoenchephalitis.
“Sedation holds were tried for several days, but I wasn’t neurologically appropriate and everyone was extremely worried. I eventually did wake up but I was very, very confused and very weak.
Remained in intensive care
“I remained in intensive care for another five days and then was put on a general ward for a further two.
“When I left the hospital I could barely walk. I have lost hearing in my right ear and still struggle with tension headaches.
“I know, however, that I got off lightly. I was extremely lucky that A&E took me seriously and I was put on antibiotics immediately. Despite no rash initially, meningitis was suspected. It actually turned out to be both meningitis and encephalitis.
Recovery has been hard
“My recovery has been hard but I am now eight months post meningitis. I started a couch to 5k and achieved this in August. I went back to my job as a SEND primary school teacher at the start of November.
“Life is not normal, I’m not sure it ever will be how it was, but I’m incredibly grateful for the symptoms being recognised and getting treated quickly.”
Charlotte first heard of Meningitis Now through our Facebook page and has since been supported through our nurse-led Helpline.
If you or someone you know is recovering from meningitis and needs our support please get in touch – call 0808 80 10 388 or email helpline@meningitisnow.org
