I first felt the symptoms of viral meningitis when I was in my university lecture, and I couldn’t concentrate on what my tutor was saying. I then noticed my hands began to shake and had an episode of black flashing lights in my vision. From that, I knew something was wrong.
Within the same day, I had developed a twitch in my neck which had spread to my muscles in my whole body. This was later explained by doctors who told me this was the virus attacking my central nervous system. Over the next couple of days, I began to feel extremely unwell and developed; a fever, stiff neck, noise and smell sensitivity, photophobia, nausea, headache, irritability, muscle twitches, disorientation, dizziness, a temperature, full body shakes and fatigue.
I went to the doctors after a few days of feeling unwell, and they took my blood pressure. It was extremely low and I was rushed to Royal Preston Hospital in an ambulance with suspected sepsis and meningitis. I couldn’t process what was happening.
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I remember feeling like I needed urgent help; my heart rate was through the roof with my body fighting so hard, I was terrified.
From urgent care they swiftly found space for me on the A&E ward called AMU and at this point I couldn’t walk and my partner had to get me a wheelchair.
I begged for some form of medication and help as I was scared I was dying. They gave me paracetamol and took my bloods where my infection markers were presented as high. This stabilized my fever, but it would only last two hours before I was struggling again asking for more. I stayed on this ward for three days.
I was then moved to a neurology ward with a bed, where they carried out multiple different neurological tests and scans over two weeks. I was fortunate enough to have an incredible team of neurologists and consultants who investigated me thoroughly.
For these two and a half weeks in hospital I struggled, my body was so exhausted, my mum had to help me shower and I could barely walk, eat and talk. I was having to have blood thinner injections every night in my stomach to prevent blood clots along with antisickness and pain relief.
Fortunately, after regaining some strength and my symptoms stabilised, I was able to recover at home and given a recovery period of three to six months. I remember being so upset that I had to pause my education, but my cognitive function had depleted as I had an awful memory and brain fog, unfortunately I wasn’t ready to return.
I recall going to the doctor’s multiple times after hospital because of the aftereffects. Some being chronic sinusitis, sore neck, hearing changes and major health anxiety.
I even joined Facebook groups of people affected by viral meningitis and contacted the charity Meningitis Now for guidance into recovering physically and mentally. I highly recommend this charity for anybody who has been affected by any form of Meningitis in any way.
Often known as a milder variant of meningitis, viral meningitis is a serious virus that causes inflammation of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord that is triggered by different viruses called enteroviruses. There is no specific treatment for this, however antivirals may be offered to patients in the acute illness.
Witnessing the news of the MenB outbreak in Kent was gut-wrenching and my heart goes out to those affected and the two students who tragically lost their lives.
From my experience and the current stories being shared about meningitis I wanted to spread awareness because I want others to be safe and vigilant when it comes to their health. It can save lives.
It is so important to know that symptoms can show up in different orders. In adults, it often looks like an extreme headache, rapid fever, stiff neck, seizures and light sensitivity. It mimics the flu, but symptoms progressively get worse such as confusion, vomiting and in bacterial cases a rash that does not fade when pressed upon. Children and babies experience the same symptoms but can appear as unusually drowsy and can have mottled skin. Other signs for babies are they cry continuously, unable to feed and are extremely sleepy.
So, if you have an infection, please get it checked, speak to your doctor or call 111. The NHS site lists the official symptoms. If you think you have meningitis, don’t wait, call 999.
For those who have the condition you can get support from Meningitis Now via their helpline 08088010388.
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