Meningitis in your words

Sean Doyle's story

  • Location: UK
  • Categories: Viral
  • After effects: Co-ordination problems, Hearing problems, Learning difficulties, Memory loss, Speech problems, Mental health problems
SeanDoyle
SeanDoyle - Meningitis in your words
Hello

My names Sean and i am 58.

In 2019, I was sitting in my car when I just started sweating profusely. A customer said I looked terrible and, I don't know how, I drove 5 miles home. 

I was so tired and hot. So hot I was eating lolly ice after lolly ice

My wife came home and immediately called 111 who advised me to go the hospital. Unfortunately I was sent home with paracetamol but the next day I was a lot worse and so went back to the hospital

This time they took blood, and although they could see I was ill. I was admitted and put into isolation as they didn't know what I had

Three days later I was told I had an unknown virus and would be there till well enough to send home. 

I was hallucinating and the nighttime sweats would leave me soaked in bed shivering 

After three weeks, loads of different medication, and two stone lighter they let me go home. 

I was knackered for ages and my head was all cloudy, but the doctor said it happens and will get better 

I lost my job of 17 years (employer loyalty) and got a job as a postman. I was only there a year, and they had to let me go as I kept falling over. I understand and I am not bitter. It was a great job with great people

I then got Covid and although a little rough I escaped any real sickness. My memory was so bad I had a little book with all my contact details, emergency contact and a list of all my medication 

I had 3 brain scans in 3 years, but they kept saying it's a mix of the virus and Covid

I was fuming. I had a virus in 2019, and you are saying my memory is now bad because of covid. 

That was 2022 and since then my memory is so bad that my short term memory is bad. 

Finally, the doctor put me forward to the memory clinic near me. This was October 2023

I waited a few months, but it was worth it. They told me the virus was actually meningitis, but my paperwork says unknown virus, and they did a load of tests and a brain scan. 

In March, this year, they got the results back and the meningitis had damaged the front of my brain leaving me with dementia like symptoms 

5 years of having to constantly calling my doctor saying something is wrong 

It's my mind and something is seriously wrong

They told me side effects were what I was feeling and that I was depressed so they put me on Sertraline.

I don't know why I took them, but I was so mentally tired, I took them. 

Now that I know I was right all the time it actually makes me feel a little better as at least now I know I am not going crazy.





 

Unfortunately mine hasn’t been the best due to misdiagnoses but once i was sent to the memory clinic things got better.

Sean Doyle
September 2024

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