Warning signs about Meningitis

[Tups]

Not wanting to scare-monger but my 54 year old friend is, thankfully, recovering after suddenly contracting viral meningitis. She felt ill at breakfast time - as though she had 'flu' - then by lunch time, she was close to death, being semi conscious and delirious. (There was NO rash!) Luckily, her husband sensed something was wrong and rushed back from work, found her and dialled 999. 10 minutes later and she would have been dead! She was on life support for a week and now she is being treated for epilepsy, brought on by the illness, and can't drive for at least a year. For Goodness sake, don't be afraid to dial 999 if you suspect something serious might be wrong. Better to be embarrassed than dead!

[jen78]

It's a very scary thing. I had a similar thing (negative for meningitis in the end but my brain had swollen up).

I just went downhill during the day and had the worst headache I've ever had and couldn't stand light. My friend called NHS Direct who sent an ambulance straightaway and was transferred to an infectious diseases unit for a lumbar puncture etc...

I was pretty much delirious by the time they got me there but the staff there were fantastic and potentially saved my life.

I've suffered various problems since but as you said, much better than being dead!

[Tups]

It takes a health scare to make you realise we're everyone of us vulnerable, doesn't it! I was shocked myself when I developed cardiomyopathy (heart virus) out of the blue. I now have permanent heart failure and can't work but, thankfully, it is under control with the help of medication. It's the oldest of cliches, but you never expect it to happen to you! As the doctors said at the time, it takes the mind longer to adjust than for the body to. It's been just over 2 years now and I think I've finally adjusted. If I had gone to the doctor sooner instead of waiting until it was an emergency, maybe my heart wouldn't be so damaged! I'd like to think that I can do me bit and convince others that they need to seek medical help as soon as possible when they know something isn't quite right.