“I wish this guidance had been in place when I was released from hospital, maybe I would have felt less confused, less hopeless and less alone.”
Here she shares her thoughts on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, published earlier this month.
“I am so glad to see we are finally moving in the right direction to getting information and support to people about meningitis.
“In 2019, I was admitted to hospital. Luckily the fast-thinking doctors and nurses started treating me for sepsis. However, it wasn't until 36 hours after I was admitted that they finally found that I had meningitis.
“I am incredibly lucky that they started treatment early; otherwise my story could have ended very differently.
“The more awareness for diagnosing, treating and dealing with meningitis, the more lives can be saved. That's why guidance like this is so vital in the fight against meningitis, it is genuinely lifesaving!
Never going to get out
“I spent just over a week isolated in hospital. I remember feeling like I was never going to get out of there.
“Then I was, I was released from hospital and everything felt so overwhelming.
“There was no real support, I was released and left to my own devices with no idea what had happened to me.
“I remember feeling like I was never meant to come out of hospital. I went to some really dark places and it took me a long time to realise that I deserved to survive.
Important to spread the word
“As you can see, just from my story alone, it is so important to spread the word and have guidance like this in place, because no one should suffer through meningitis/septicaemia alone, no one should be released from hospital with no support.
“I wish this guidance had been in place when I was released from hospital, maybe I would have felt less confused, less hopeless and less alone.
“We still have a long way to go in the fight against meningitis, but this guidance is a very important and reassuring step in the right direction and I am very happy to see it.
“Anyone reading this, know that you are not alone, there is help and support out there for you, there are people who understand.”
