Boxing Day 2022, I started to feel a sudden migraine developing. I don't usually suffer with migraines, so I thought this was odd. I said to my family I was going for a lie down. After spending hour in a dark bedroom, the migraine didn't shift. I wasn't sure whether it was from a wisdom tooth that was coming through or not.
That night I spent the whole evening tossing and turning with no sleep at all. The next day I called 111 and spoke with a call adviser who informed that an on call doctor and dentist would call me back. The dentist did, the doctor never. Again that night was awful, I was taking any and every over the counter painkiller I could. I woke at 5am, the room spinning, feeling sick and profusely sweating. I made it to the bathroom and shouted for my wife to help me. She called 999 and they advised I needed to go straight to ED (there was no ambulances to send).
At the time, both our cars were off the road, but fortunately our neighbours could help me down the stairs and into their car. We got to ED and had an immediate CT scan as fluid was leaking out of my ear. Thankfully that came back clear, the doctor advised I needed a lumbar puncture due to having suspected Meningitis. In between being sick (I had photophobia - sensitivity to light) I turned and asked my wife, "how do you get meningitis"? She responded, I don't know
Having spent from 6am to 6pm in ED, they transferred me to a bed in the corridor in a ward. Eventually I was admitted to a ward, had a lumbar puncture (that was inconclusive due to a blood clot in the sample), spent 6 nights in hospital (including New Year's Eve 🤦♂️) with a total of 21 days of antibiotics.
Here I am nearly 2 years later, I am now deaf in 1 ear, spent 18 months grieving being partially deaf, I still struggle at times, my balance can catch me off guard and hearing in busy places can be difficult. I don't wear a cross aid hearing aide (tried one, but didn't find it helpful), I don't want to go round with a label saying I'm deaf, but often think people think I'm rude when I don't respond. Now I explain to people that I'm deaf 🧏♂️ in one ear can we sit/walk, so I can hear what people are saying.
My advice to anyone is talk, share, laugh, cry, ride the rollercoaster of emotions this horrible infection brings. Learn to adapt to live. Keep going, life has its challenges, but let's connect, talk, share, laugh and grow together.
For anyone that has suffered at the hands of this illness, you are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you.
Keep going! As that good ole 90’s Chumbawba, Tub thumping song says (I Get Knocked Down, but I get up again, you’ll never gonna keep me down).
Scott Crichton
October 2024