Rowena Orrell's story

In the week leading up to me getting viral meningitis I had had tonsillitis and been under stress. I think the combination led up to the meningitis. 

I opened my eyes at 8am to my 3 year old daughter shouting "mummy it's morning." The first thing I thought was wow my head hurts! I took some paracetamol and thought I was coming down with something or maybe had a migraine. Later on that day I was getting gradually worse , I had never had a headache like this before and my neck was hurting so bad. I was feeling very tired and deep down I knew there was something wrong. 

I went to my local accident and emergency department where I was sent home and told I had a migraine. I took some migraine tablets they had given me and again they did nothing to help me so I went to sleep in hope the next day I would wake up feeling better. The next day came and little did I no that I would be spending the next two weeks in hospital. I headed back to the a and e after vomiting and feeling worse. They again sent me home I told them I felt like there was something seriously wrong! They basically told me I was being dramatic.

That evening me and my partner was supposed to be going out but instead he was phoning the emergency doctors as I could barely stand up and I was vomiting every time I moved. On arriving at the doctors the receptionists looked very concerned and kept coming to reassure me I would be seen soon. It was starting to get pretty much a blur. The doctor saw me and sent me straight to a different hospital and told them he wanted a ct scan and lumbar puncture doing! 

I was told after a lumbar puncture I had viral meningitis and I stayed in the hospital for two weeks hardly able to move and vomiting every time I tried to move. It was hell. This was a year ago and I am left with various after effects. These include daily headaches , tingling and burning head sensations, tinnitus, nausea and short term memory issues. 

I have since been diagnosed with myalgic encephalemolytis from the meningitis. It has forever changed my life I thought I was invincible, little did I no nobody is. I pray I get to be a little more like my old self one day and I am thankful I am still here.

Rowena Orrell
September 2018