“I have to plan our days in advance to allow time for naps as I get so tired.”
Megan, from Plymouth, fell ill with a severe headache, photophobia, neck stiffness, nausea and confusion aged 26 in June 2024.
Tests showed viral meningitis, which has left her with extreme fatigue, but she has found Meningitis Now support invaluable, as she tell us here.
“I had been under the weather with gastro symptoms for two weeks. I started feeling a headache around 4pm on a Friday, so took myself to bed to sleep it off.
“I woke up at 3am with the worst pain in my head and neck and couldn't bear to look at my phone or turn the light on. I could barely lift my head up.
“I woke my partner up and he called 111, who said they would arrange an ambulance. Two hours later the ambulance service called asking if we could get to A&E ourselves.
Carried to the car
“We dropped our son to my parents and went straight to hospital. I had to be carried to the car and kept vomiting.
“Once at hospital I had bloods done and they ordered a CT scan but the pain in my head and the photophobia was out of control at this time. I was given morphine and anti-sickness medication and then had my CT scan – that was normal.
“They admitted me and did a lumbar puncture that confirmed viral meningitis caused by enterovirus from the bowel.
Grateful to be alive
“I spent six days in hospital and then got discharged to continue recovery at home. I was off work for three months and still suffer with extreme fatigue and headaches. I have to plan our days in advance to allow time for naps as I get so tired. But I'm grateful to be alive.
