Living with Meningitis effects

[CR1109]

Hi,

I need to vent. I am 30 years old and at the age of 12 I was taken poorly with Meningitis and septecimia. I spent most of my teenage years in hospital. I was in a coma for. Number of weeks and went into kidney failure. I required dialysis and was tube fed, first through my nose and then through my stomach. I had to learn to walk again.

The effects the meningitis has left me with are truly unbearable. Back in 2020 my ankles and feet started fl hurt and swell. It was revealed I had end stage arthritis in both ankles and feet. The surgeon advised me had I received regular scans following the illness we wouldn’t be in this position today. I get by each day by taking various pain relief and feel this is just horrendous.

I lost 6 fingers due to the blood poisoning and have terrible scars from the wait downwards.

I struggle daily getting around the house and lie awake at night in pain. To everyone who has unfortunately dealt with this dreadful illness I feel for you.

I am now left with

Mental health problems

Scars

Arthritis

Amputation of fingers

Kidney disease

Hearing loss

Neurology problems

Chronic pain

Fatigue

[MNClaireD Partner Meningitis Now]

Really sorry to hear this. Meningitis is such a cruel disease, leaving many with life-long problems. If you live in the UK, Meningitis Now can offer you ongoing support, just contact our helpline on 0808 80 10 388 (UK) or email: [e-mail]

If you live outside the UK, you may be able to find a meningitis orgnastion in your own country by searching here: comomeningitis.org/find-a-m...

Best wishes,

Claire

[Dutch68]

Sorry to hear about your experience. It’s a cruel illness.I’m 54 and suffered double pneumonia and was treated for bacterial and viral meningitis early 2020. At some point I suffered a stroke too. I was in hospital for several months. Due to the medication used to deal with the brain infections,my immune system was pretty’s much wiped out. This caused cataracts to mature,so I’ve had lens replacement surgery in both eyes. Not a pleasant experience. The nursing staff were great whilst I was in hospital. Consultant not so good. My recovery was/ has been slow and although I had good support at first from a community Occupational therapist and Physiotherapist , once this ended I felt pretty alone. The fatigue was and still is pretty unbearable. Recently I’ve been diagnosed with very low iron and vitamin D. My employer were terrible. I work for a local authority and have been in affect demoted into a lower paid position. Supposedly less stressful. If it wasn’t for my amazing wife I truly don’t know what I would have done. I was fit as a fiddle before the illness and a lot trimmer. Life now is a real struggle. But what can you do.