vicebreaker

I didn't see your reply to a similar question until after i typed my lengthy story, re-submitted it with the question, then had to reformat the dang thing because reddit +mobile =nightmare. Thank you for sharing. I had a similar light sensitivity and the stiffness of the neck. Your long term repercussions must be a burden - i am sorry.

Hey! fellow meningitis survivor here. Good on you for raising some awareness. I was only 14 when i got sick. Im 33 now so it was quite some time ago.

The lumbar puncture remains to this day one of the worst experiences in my life. And it only ended after an hour and countless attempts by the grace of my mother who could no longer put up with my cries of anguish. And the doctors drew fluid that was inconclusive. No one knows how i contracted it (no other diagnoses at the time) and it seemed like a really severe flu.

Again, i would have died in my sleep in bed were it not for the grace of my mother, who somehow sensing something was wrong, came in and examined me and found my 'rash'. This isn't a true rash, but the result of blood vessels expanding and bursting just underneath the surface of my skin and can in result in quite large burn-like scars.

After all this, being admitted with body temperatures far exceeding lethal, the doctors, i am told still did not believe i had meningitis (the spinal tap yielded a negative result). This time i was only saved by a senior nurse who had experience with the disease and convinced the doctors to give me the appropriate medication in the end. Of course, i was delirious and seizing throughout my first night and couple days ago i only know most details of this story through my mother, after the fact.

As far as long term effects, well many of my childhood memories (long term) were lost. I imagine they wouldn't be so clear these days anyway. I also had almost no short term memory upon my recovery. For example, after my recovery, i would go to ride my bike to a friend's house but then call home, from the nearest payphone, much to my mother's dismay, clueless as to what i had been doing. I also had a small numb spot on my leg which regained sensation after about a year. I was very lucky with my outcome.

Over the years i somehow developed a work around for my short term memory - something i can only describe as telling myself a story of my own recent actions, in reverse.

http://m.imgur.com/BGJsERv

Between my two freckles there is the faintest of white-ish marks on my forearm. This is the all that remains from my encounter with meningitis.

Now the auto pruned my story for failing to ask a question. Did you have any other long term effects from your disease?

-edit mobile problems

pick a lower hanging fruit why don't ya?