Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.meningitisnow.org
Christine, 81, from Polegate in East Sussex, fell ill at the end of July and was diagnosed with viral meningitis.
She spent four weeks in hospital, but is now home and determined, slowly and steadily, to get back to full fitness.
“As I was feeling really unwell my husband called 999. That was on the 30th July.
“I spent time in A&E and then they sent me home at 4am. The next day I was feeling sick and unwell, so my husband called 999 again.
Do not remember a lot
“I do not remember a lot after that until I was in a ward where they then decided to put me in a room of my own.
“When I asked why they said I had an infection. I then asked what it was and was told meningitis.
“By this time I was only semi-conscious and remember being put on a drip for antibiotics. I could hear someone saying they were going to do a lumbar puncture, but was not sure if I was well enough.
“I do not remember much after that, but was told later I did have one and that it was viral meningitis and E-coli in my bladder and spine.
Taken to the Frailty Ward
“When I was able to know what was going on I had lost a day. I had a few days in isolation and was then taken to the Frailty Ward to recover.
“I then spent another three weeks in hospital as I did not want to eat and I became very weak and could not get out of bed. I had also lost some of my hearing.
“I found that the nursing staff did not know what had been wrong with me, so had no idea of how to treat someone recovering from viral meningitis.
“I was so tired. I felt like they treated me as someone who was just lazy and I could not seem to explain to them the tiredness I was feeling.
“At the time I did not know of the recovery symptoms of this virus, so I could not understand why I felt like it.
Website helped me understand
“After four weeks I eventually went home and I found the Meningitis Now website and have been able to understand what has happened, so thank you for that.
“I have been walking with a frame, which has helped, but I now feel I can manage without it. I still get quite breathless if I do too much, so I try to recognise how far I can go, but I will get there slowly and steadily.”
