Bridget Fox's story

My personal experience of meningitis is something I will never forget because of how lucky I am to be still alive. I was completely unaware of everything that unfolded for me last November 2013. It was Wednesday 27th November and I was out doing my calls as a care assistant in the local community as I did every other day. I was in good form and by evening I had come home, had something to eat and went out to another call. I came home about 10pm and sat down to watch television but noticed I had flu like pains in my arms and body.

I went to bed and I was shivering a lot in the bed followed by a stiff neck and vomiting for the rest of that night. I thought it was something I had eaten or maybe the flu. By Thursday I was very weak and took the day off work, thinking this will pass and I will be ok. Even though I stayed in bed I wasn't getting any better and the second night followed with vomiting and headaches. I felt weak but still had no clue of how seriously ill I was .

By Thursday night I was still vomiting and getting weaker all the time. As Friday morning approached I had become very ill with severe headaches and vomiting to the point I could no longer take the severity of the pains in my head. I asked my daughter to get an ambulance. I thought that I would never get to the hospital but just wanted someone to take away the pain I had in my head. I remember arriving with relief; at least, I thought, I am at the hospital and I am in safe hands.

I don't remember much of Friday. I woke up in I.C.U. and I was being treated for bacterial meningitis. I was shocked when my consultant told me I had a serious case of bacterial meningitis and I was to be treated with antibiotics for the next fourteen days. In total I stayed sixteen days and thanks to the doctors and nurses I was treated and let home.

I am still in recovery; the time out to get well is very important. I am doing well and I thank God every day and the doctors for getting me through an illness that could have killed me.

I am Bridget Fox and that is my story.

BRIDGET FOX

AUGUST 2014