Norma’s symptoms started with a mild headache, but quickly became a lot worse. Bacterial meningitis left her unable to walk and talk, as the 62-year-old mum from Bexleyheath in Kent tells us here.
“I had a mild headache from my right ear to my head. It was not painful enough to take painkillers, but I felt a bit tired, so I told my son and husband that I was going to have a rest.
“I went to bed to sleep. I don't know what happened, but I woke up in intensive care.
“I didn't know when Christmas came or the New Year.
Having seizures
“The story that was told to me by my husband is that he came to check on me, but I didn't recognise him and was having seizures.
“So, he called an ambulance and they took me to hospital, where they found that I had bacterial meningitis.
“I was transferred from hospital to a rehabilitation centre for four months with intensive physio. I had to learn to walk and talk again.”
Norma got in touch via our confidential, nurse-led Helpline. If you have an experience of meningitis and need some support, you can do the same. Please call 0808 80 10 388 or email helpline@meningitisnow.org.
