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Living with meningitis

When most people think of meningitis, they think of children with rashes. But I didn't have a rash when I got meningitis in my 50s!

It was absolutely flabbergasting how quickly the illness came on. I'd been feeling unwell at work, but thought I might just have a chest infection coming on. By the time I got home, I was so cold that I put on three jumpers and got under my electric blanket.

But I felt more and more ill by the minute. When I tried to ring my boyfriend, Steve, I could hardly dial his number I was shaking so much. I had a raging temperature, and a terrible pain in my head and left shoulder.

Steve took one look at me and called an ambulance. The paramedics thought I was having a panic attack, and the doctors in A&E said it could be a heart attack.

By this point, though, I was virtually out of it, so I didn't really know what was going on. When the blood tests came back the next day showing meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia, I was whisked off to an isolation ward and put on an antibiotic drip.

I didn't realise this until later, but my sister, who lives in Spain, was advised to fly over, it was that serious.

I was in hospital for three weeks, and it took me about another year to feel properly well again. I felt very weak and depressed for a while, a common after-effect of meningitis.

But I know I'm lucky to be here at all. Remember, adults get meningitis too. If you've got a telltale rash, or feel like you've got the worst case of 'flu ever, don't even bother calling the doctor. Ring an ambulance. With meningitis, it really is better to be safe than sorry.
Sue Heenan, 57, Walton, Liverpool

For more information and advice, visit www.meningitis-trust.org. or call the meningitis helpline on 0800 028 18 28

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