Lori, NURSE

[FeelingDesperate]

I worked in a homeless program where I worked 70-70 hours a week. I was in a BSN program full time. I caught meningitis from the homeless program. I went from a thriving healthy nurse who got the scholarship for school by being an exemplary Nurse. At first I thought it was a bad flu with light sensitivity and headaches so bad I had to have blackout curtains in my room. I literally couldn't get out of bed. After a WEEK, my Son and Husband took me to my Dr.? Long story short, we BOTH THOUGHT it was a flu, but since I had a 106.7 fever, she put me on Augmentin. Another several days went by and I was still sick as a dog. By now, I've gone from 120 lbs to 108. They dragged me to the ER. The Dr. Tried to DC me, since he "couldn't find anything wrong!" This was October 2017 through November 2017. I refused to leave and told him I knew my body and there was something really wrong . Last resort he did the spinal tap and "Voila." Since I'd been on The antibiotic, we couldn't confirm bacterial or viral. So they put me on IV antibiotics AND IV antivirals. I think four or five. Then after a week in the hospital they sent me to a SNF, for ANOTHER month on these IV MEDS. This has ruined my life. I lost the nerves from the waist down. I cannot feel my feet and am a constant fall risk. I've got migraines I never had before. I've broken ribs and cracked my head open several times. I'm riddled with pain, even more than before, I'm fatigued all the time, even when I wake. I had to start over with school, the people I worked for forced me come IN TO the office,, knowing my autoimmune system was shot and my Dr. Ordered remote work just BECAUSE OF This. My Job went down the tubes because I couldn't work 60-70 hours a week anymore. AND GO TO BSN PROGRAM. The company just thought of me as a problem. My almost ten year career slowly died. As did I, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I still to this day struggle with ALL OF THE RESIDUAL effects. Dr.'s think I'm a hypochondriac, and find "nothing" wrong. Everything I suffer from is INVISIBLE. My own Daughter is a Neurologist and considers me a problem, even accused me of "ruining" her medical school graduation. She's turned all my other three kids against me. My 31 year old son is the only one speaking to me. So, yes. I understand exactly how you feel. Im coping with spirituality and re-birth of myself. I try to stay completely positive, pray, meditate, exercise no matter what I feel. It's now almost six years since this ordeal. I've had Cervical spinal fusion and discectomy, bad COVID, pneumonia, chronic pain and cough, since my diaphragm is numb and I can't breath deeply, I'm now incontinent, because I cannot FEEL my urges till it's too late. I can WALK, I've followed all instructions. Gotten PT, and a zillion other things. I have deltoid palsy which causes one to be unable to lift their arms. I'm continuing to stay positive and do as I'm told, no matter WHAT. It's a labor of trying to love myself again, knowing it could be much worse. Since I'm grateful that God has spared me and I see others with amputations and loss of life. I could have died, lost physical limbs, and be in a wheelchair. But I stay focused on being GRATEFUL for what the Lord has given me. My sanity is slowly returning and I must persevere, because I'm very BLESSED in this reality. Please don't give up and attempt to feel blessed, no matter how badly the world treats you. God BLESS YOU, friends.

[Mads1975]

Hi Lori, Meningitis and its effects are a bitch. After I had just been up to London to collect the Dept of the Year for HSBC Payments & Commercial, I was admitted to hospital weeks later with TB Meningitis. Four months later I was discharged and a further 3 months later I returned to work.

It soon became apparent that a medication that I had been started on was interacting with my neurological function which resulted in verbal disinhibition. Added to reduced concentration and analytical abilities I was struggling almost immediately. This was compounded with my wife I had been with for 13 years, leaving me for a guy she had met at work!

On top of the pressure I was under at work, this felt like the final straw.

All this time I was imploring my consultant to refer me for neuro rehab and to switch my meds. She changed my meds which had an immediate effect but I was still far more impulsive.

Fast forward to present day and I was awarded ill health retirement after partially succeeding in a grievance against the company and I have since been trying with debatable results to get back into work with a number of short term roles. I could go on for hours about all of the tribulations I’ve encountered but I wouldn’t wish being presented with it to read!

I just want you to know that I wish you all the best and pls feel free to message me if you want to