This was viral meningitis, so I was so lucky. I can't imagine the horror of bacterial meningitis and my thoughts go out to everyone who has experienced it.
Sarah contracted viral meningitis in April 2024. It progressed from chills and nausea to disorientation and dizziness, leading 33-year-old Sarah, from Buckhaven in Fife, to fear she was dying. She tells her story here.
“I had viral meningitis last year. I never thought it would happen to me as an otherwise healthy 33-year-old! I'm grateful it was only viral, but it was still such a traumatic and terrifying experience. I didn't know I was so ill - I just slept every day, all day, barely cognizant of the time passing by.
“I didn't take my temperature (maybe impaired judgement?) but I was shivering with layers of duvets and a hot water bottle. I thought it was a flu and I got progressively worse, feeling like my head was swimming. Laying down and sleeping seemed to be the only relief from the dizziness and nausea.
“I didn't eat much at all and I eventually visited the doctor for some anti-nausea medication so I could eat and get better. I felt like I was going to collapse at the GP. I waited for about an hour and I was boiling hot, everyone else was wearing coats as it was early April, but I was in a vest.
Unaware of fever
“I was completely unaware I had a fever of 40°C, but I felt terrible and it was like I was on a ship in a rough sea with my vision. I was so disoriented and nauseous.
“I got taken by ambulance to hospital as my doctor suspected sepsis. My initial A&E stay was very traumatic. I was left alone for about seven hours in an armchair in a dark room, with no help button, and minimal checks after my initial, what felt like glancing, assessment.
Kept asking for help
“My blood culture was okay, so they seemed to assume I was fine. I kept asking for help, and was told I was having a panic attack (I've never had one in my life) and to get back in my chair. A&E was very busy that night, and I believe they misread my notes and missed my high temperature, and thought I was just having a migraine.
“I desperately wanted to just lay flat in a bed to stop the dizziness, it just kept getting worse. A nurse eventually took my temperature and said, 'Oh my god' and then they finally decided to send me for a CT scan.
“Without explanation, I was wheeled over to the CT waiting area alone, crying, feeling like I was going to die. I told them; 'I feel like I'm dying' and; 'I want my mum'.
Extremely disoriented and confused
“I started to feel extremely disoriented and confused. I collapsed out of the wheelchair into my own vomit on the floor and felt like consciousness was slipping from me. I finally got taken to a bed and put on an antiviral drip and saline, and was given paracetamol to bring my temperature down. When I was in the armchair, my hands and arms were numb which was terrifying. I had tachycardia.
“I sent my husband a message to give my little boy when he grew up. I thought I was dying and was getting forgotten about in hospital.
“This was only viral meningitis, so I was so lucky. I can't imagine the horror of bacterial meningitis and my thoughts go out to everyone who has experienced it. I've just gotten over a cold and it scares me now because I feel like it could happen again and that helplessness with nobody listening to me was really awful. The whole experience was very surreal.
"I had no family with me either as my husband had to look after my 2-year-old son and my family live on the other side of the UK.
Started to feel safe
“I was eventually moved to a nice, quiet, cool infection control ward, where I started to feel safe and the care was exemplary. They initially suspected encephalitis, but later confirmed that I had enteroviral meningitis via a lumbar puncture.
"Fortunately I recovered after a few days in hospital. I have no lasting symptoms other than the fear of getting that ill again out of the blue again.
“I still feel like the whole experience was just horrible and I think about how vulnerable people are who just get ignored and brushed off, especially if they don't have anyone there to support them in hospital.
"There was no comfort from anyone throughout my experience. Our NHS needs more resources, so people don't feel so alone in their scariest moments.”
