Teacher's Meningitis Ordeal: A Headache That Nearly Ended Her Life
Olivia Griffiths, a secondary school teacher, initially dismissed her symptoms as a simple headache, but it quickly escalated into what she describes as the worst experience of my life. Her health battle became so severe that she believed she was going to die, and her family was warned to prepare for the worst. This was not an isolated incident; Olivia faced this terrifying ordeal twice, and now she is sharing her story to raise awareness about meningitis and its devastating impact.
The Initial Crisis: From Classroom to Intensive Care
It all began when Olivia was working as a teacher. She endured severe head and neck pain for hours, attributing it to workplace stress, without realising the symptoms were a cause for serious alarm. Within 24 hours, she was rushed to intensive care after being diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. My body couldn't work properly – I thought I was going to die and that was the end, it felt like my body was giving up, said Olivia, who is originally from Bangor in North Wales but now lives in Sheffield.
Her family traveled from North Wales and were told it could go either way, with instructions to prepare for the worst. Olivia recalls the panic she felt during this time. At just 27 years old in 2022, she experienced symptoms including light sensitivity, sharp pain when moving her neck, and increasing lethargy and confusion. The pain became unbearable, leading her to wake up vomiting. After contacting her doctor, she was advised to attend her GP surgery immediately.
Diagnosis and Treatment: A Gruelling Hospital Wait
While her doctor suspected viral meningitis, she was informed that bacterial meningitis is rare. Olivia faced a gruelling 12-hour wait at the hospital before bacterial meningitis was confirmed via a lumbar puncture, which she described as the most horrific experience. She was subsequently transferred to ICU. Recalling the moment of diagnosis, Olivia said, I was told when I was in a really bad way. My body had given up and I couldn't speak properly, but in my mind I thought that it was the end. She also experienced delirium, worsening hearing, and blurry eyesight due to steroids.
Olivia spent several weeks in hospital, treated with medication for both viral and bacterial meningitis, alongside steroids to reduce brain swelling. The aftermath left her with severe hearing loss, fibromyalgia/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post-meningitis syndrome, and chronic conditions like debilitating migraines.
A Second Battle: Meningitis Strikes Again
Just two years later, in September 2024, Olivia was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis for a second time. She claims her body and mind knew she had it again, as she experienced the exact same symptoms. Having spent nearly two years recovering, she had recently accepted a full-time teaching position after working supply shifts to ease back into her career. She believes the strain of the new role may have weakened her immune system.
When symptoms reappeared, Olivia texted her partner, saying she thought she had meningitis again. He rushed home, called 111, and they went to the hospital. However, she was almost turned away, told that meningitis isn't something that reoccurs. Two days later, her condition deteriorated, and she was admitted for treatment, including another lumbar puncture. This was the worst experience of my life as the lumbar puncture failed three times, she said, describing the pain and her partner hearing screams from outside the room.
After persistence, the lumbar puncture confirmed a different strain of meningitis. Olivia was hospitalised for weeks again, feeling her life and identity had been taken from her. She was compelled to abandon her teaching career, facing countless appointments and being told she wouldn't be the same person again. The period from September to December 2024 was the bleakest of her life, with diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Rebuilding Life: From Medication to Lifestyle Changes
Olivia was prescribed seven different medications, which she claims worsened symptoms like brain fog, chronic migraines, inflammation, and anxiety. She believes meningitis is often not taken seriously enough due to lack of awareness. I felt like my life was over because I was practically told it would be, she added, describing chronic pain, deafness, and loss of purpose.
Refusing to be defeated, Olivia took matters into her own hands, researching remedies for chronic illness. She made lifestyle changes, overhauling her diet by eliminating processed and unhealthy foods. This helped her regain energy and take up pilates, eventually leading her to launch her own pilates and nutrition coaching business. I genuinely cannot believe where my life and business is at now, she said. I haven't taken a single medication in over a year, haven't had a flare up in over a year, haven't felt much stress or any negativity since putting my health and well-being first.
Olivia now views meningitis as, weirdly, the best thing that ever happened to me, as it pushed her to prioritise her health. She is preparing to run the London Marathon in April to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation, a goal she would have laughed at two years ago.
Awareness and Advice: Symptoms and Prevention
With the UK currently experiencing a meningitis outbreak, Olivia shares her views on the meningitis B vaccine, suggesting individuals consider it if they wish. She emphasises keeping the immune system healthy through nutrition and exercise. The key thing I believe is keeping your immune system up and healthy through nutrition and exercise, she added. Putting this first has evidently healed me from the darkest time of my life, no medication did that!
Olivia urges anyone experiencing symptoms to act without delay. You know your body, if something does not feel right, do not wait to get it checked, she said. She notes that if her symptoms had occurred on a weekend after drinking, she might have mistaken them for a hangover, but the midweek timing raised alarm bells.
NHS Meningitis Symptoms Watchlist
The NHS lists red flags that could indicate meningitis, which can come on suddenly and include:
- Being sick
- A high temperature (fever)
- Drowsiness or unresponsiveness
- A stiff neck
- A dislike of bright lights
- A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
- Seizures (fits)
- A headache
The NHS website states that meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection, with bacterial meningitis being rarer but more serious. It can spread through close contact, such as kissing, sharing drinks or vapes, or living in the same home.
