Ben Millier's story

I was diagnosed with viral meningitis on 26 October having probably contracted the virus from my partner who was released from hospital after having viral meningitis only a week previous.

I woke up at 5am on Sunday with a headache and went downstairs to take some pain relief. As soon as I switched the light on I felt pain in my eyes. I went to open the back door to let my dog out and felt myself collapse to the floor in pain. I took some painkillers and lay on the couch with a blanket over my head in a huge amount of pain.

My partner then came downstairs at 6am and knew immediately that I had meningitis so called the ambulance, which took me straight to A&E giving me morphine on the way.

To cut a long story short I was hospitalised for 11 days having to take regular oramorph, tramadol and paracetemol for relief.

It’s now been nearly 6 weeks since I was first diagnosed with viral meningitis and I’m still taking an average of 10 painkillers a day including codeine and amatryptaline to try to relieve the pain I have at the back of my skull/neck and the constant head throbbing.

I’m due back at work in 3 days’ time. However I expect the occupational health officer from my company will tell me to hold off.

I plan to visit the doctor again next week to discuss the pain as I really don’t like to take this many pain killers. Sometimes even this large dose is not relieving the pain. I just wonder how long this will last as I am usually quite active, and I enjoy my job and miss not being at work.

BEN MILLIER
DECEMBER 2014