“For anyone that’s suffered this terrible illness, they’ll know each day in recovery is a struggle … but keep believing that we’re alive for a reason.”
Mandy, 49, from Kettering in Northamptonshire, fell ill with an earache that developed into headaches, sensitivity to bright lights and confusion.
She’d contracted bacterial meningitis but had also developed other health complications. Thankfully she went on to recover although she’ll never be who she used to be, as she tells us here:
“I had an earache for a few days which then lead to deafness in my ear. I got antibiotics on the 25th September, but then had massive pain behind my ear. The next thing I woke up in the ICU of my local hospital.
“I was told I’d collapsed in my home and that police had to break in, due to concerns from my employer that I hadn’t rang in sick. I was told that I had bacterial meningitis and had suffered a seizure because it had spread to my brain and spinal membrane.
They said the infection was caused by mastoiditis and it had spread to my brain very quickly. I started to show signs of recovery and then relapsed after a few days.
“The next thing I knew I woke up in a different ICU in John Radcliffe Hospital after an emergency mastoidectomy (surgical procedure to the mastoid bone behind the ear).
Could have killed me quickly
“They also found after an MRI for the meningitis that I had a very rare blood clot in my superior sagittal sinus and if I’d not had an MRI, this would’ve gone unnoticed. Had it ruptured it would’ve killed me very quickly.
“I spent another two weeks in ICU being monitored and on intravenous antibiotics through a midline cannula. I didn’t speak much through those two weeks and then was admitted to the neuroscience ward to be monitored. Gradually I started to speak again and my hearing improved (although still not 100% now).
“My daily visit from the consultants lead to amazement from them that I was recovering so quickly. I’m lucky enough to have not been left with many physical ‘injuries’. I’ve lost feeling in two of my fingers and have numbness in the right side of my top lip where the meningitis had started to attack my flesh.
Mental scars and health anxiety
“However, I have many mental ‘scars’, as it’s left me with massive health anxiety (which I’m receiving treatment for). Due to the rare stroke, my memory is terrible and my concentration and coordination isn’t great, but improving all the time.
"I’m lucky to be alive, and I know one day I’ll be thankful and not be constantly paranoid that I’m going to get ill again and ultimately die! Lightning doesn’t happen twice in the same place and with time and help from the professionals, I know I’ll get there.
“I do also get survivors’ guilt, as so many people younger than me have died just from the meningitis itself.
“I’ll never be who I used to be, but I’ll get to at least be almost who I was before. I’m happy to say the clot has gone, but I’ll be on anti-seizure meds (as well as numerous others) for the rest of my life.
Very thankful
“I’m very thankful to everyone that kept me alive and to the support from my friends and family. For anyone that’s suffered this terrible illness, they’ll know each day in recovery is a struggle … but keep believing that we’re alive for a reason.
"The universe was on our side and that’s why we’re all here to tell the tale. Keep on being strong and reach out to everyone who’s there to help.
“Meningitis Now has helped me through its Helpline, counselling, Family Day and the information on its website.”
