WHEN Tilly Buckton went to a beach music festival, she never imagined she would end up fighting for her life.
While at the beach, the 20-year-old developed a severe headache and, while sunbathing, began sweating and shaking uncontrollably.
8
Festival paramedics told her she was suffering from heatstroke and would be fine.
But hours later, when he went to the hospital, he discovered he was battling a potentially fatal illness, meningitis.
Tilly, from Brighton, East Sussex, said: “When I arrived at the beach for the festival I thought I would be having so much fun.
“It ended up being the scariest week of my life.
“I never imagined I would go to the beach and get meningitis.
“I never thought something like this could happen to me.”
Tilly, 21, arrived at the Boardmasters festival in Newquay in August 2022 with a group of friends, but was feeling a little down the day before.
She said: “I woke up that morning with a headache but went to the beach with my friends anyway.
“I felt so hot that I couldn’t wait to get into the sea and cool off.
“And I thought this might help my headache.
“Later, I felt better when I got to the kitchen, but as soon as I went out again and lay down on the sand, I started to feel sick again.
“I started sweating and shaking while I was sunbathing.
“And suddenly I discovered that I couldn’t stand sunlight.
“I went into a tent on the beach to try to get out of the sun and lie down. But I felt terrible.”
Tilly’s friends called NHS 111 and were told an ambulance would come to see her. But hours passed and he never arrived.
8
8
8
She said: “We went to wait in a cafe where I lay down on a bench to wait for the ambulance to arrive.
“My whole body was shaking and burning, even though I felt freezing cold.
“The festival paramedics came to see me and ask if I had taken any drugs.
“I told them no.
“And they told me it was just heatstroke and that I would start to feel better, but it felt like my whole body was shutting down.”
I was told I would be better in a few weeks, but I was on the couch for two months
Tilly Buckton
The ambulance was canceled after waiting four hours as it could not get through the crowds and instead she took a taxi to take her to Truro Hospital in Cornwall.
Tilly said: “I couldn’t believe it when the lifeguard told us the ambulance wasn’t coming.
“I’ve never felt so bad in my life.
“We then waited two hours in the emergency room, where I had to keep my sunglasses and hat on because the lights were so bright.
When she arrived at Truro Hospital, she was given a drip and her parents arrived two hours later.
After she had a CT scan and a spinal tap, doctors finally diagnosed her with viral meningitis and she had to be given an antibiotic to recover.
She stayed in the hospital for five days while she got better.
From personality changes to cold fingers – some of the most surprising symptoms of meningitis
MENINGITIS is inflammation of the lining surrounding the brain and spine and can be very serious if not treated quickly.
But people often confuse it with the flu as many of the symptoms overlap.
Some of the most common signs include fever, headache and muscle pain.
But there are also some more obscure symptoms, which include:
- Photophobia: intense sensitivity to light that causes discomfort or pain
- Personality changes: sudden irritability, confusion, or delirium
- Cold extremities: cold hands and feet, even when there is a fever
- Opisthotonus: rigid body with arched back in infants and young children
Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mayo Clinic, National Health Service (NHS)
“I was told I would be better in a few weeks, but I was on the couch for two months with pain in my limbs, mental confusion, nausea and chronic fatigue.
“I had difficulty socializing and going out for long periods of time, which meant missing out on many social occasions with my family and friends.
“My parents were a great support and helped me with everyday tasks such as climbing stairs, cooking and going for walks to regain my confidence.”
“Eighteen months later, I still struggle with fatigue and energy levels. I never imagined that recovery would be so difficult and take so long.”
8
“And I have to be careful not to push myself too hard.
“I have since discovered that there is a vaccine recommended for teenagers and students, although it only covers four of the 14 strains of the disease.”
The MenACWY vaccine is normally offered in year nine or ten to children aged 13 to 15, but anyone up to the age of 25 can still have it through their GP.
It offers protection against serious infections such as bacterial meningitis and septicemia – but does not protect against viral meningitis.
There is no vaccine to specifically prevent viral meningitis.
However, the MMR vaccine, which is administered as part of the UK’s routine immunization schedule, protects against measles, mumps and rubella viral infections known to trigger the disease.
The most common group of viruses that cause meningitis are enteroviruses.
These viruses live in the intestines and can cause colds, sore throats, stomach pains and diarrhea.
8
8
Everything you need to know about meningitis
Viral meningitis is a disease that can cause life-changing complications.
Many different viruses can cause meningitis – enteroviruses are the most common.
It can affect anyone, but it is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.
It is generally not considered contagious.
Meningitis can attack the lining of the brain and spinal cord and, in some cases, cause a serious blood infection (sepsis).
Sometimes the early symptoms of meningitis can be similar to those of the flu.
Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and may include:
- A high temperature (fever) above 37.5°C (99.5°F)
- Be sick
- A headache
- A blotchy rash that doesn’t go away when a glass is rolled over it (this doesn’t always happen)
- A stiff neck
- I don’t like bright lights
- Drowsiness or unresponsiveness
- Convulsions (fits)
These symptoms may appear in any order and some may not appear at all.
Although most people make a full recovery, the recovery process can be slow. Some may be left with life-changing consequences, including headaches, exhaustion and memory loss.
When to seek medical help
You should seek medical advice as soon as possible if you are concerned that you or your child may have meningitis.
Trust your instincts and don’t wait until a rash appears.
Call 999 for an ambulance or go to the nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department immediately if you think you or your child may be seriously ill.
Call 111 or your GP for advice if you’re not sure if it’s something serious or if you think you may have been exposed to someone with meningitis.
How meningitis spreads
Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.
Infections that cause meningitis can be transmitted through:
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Kissing
- Sharing utensils, cutlery and toothbrushes
Meningitis is usually contracted by people who carry these viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat but are not sick.
It can also be contracted by someone with meningitis, but it is less common.
Vaccinations
Vaccines offer some protection against certain causes of meningitis.
That includes:
- Meningitis B vaccine – offered to babies at 8 weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year
- 6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age
- Pneumococcal vaccine – offered to babies at 12 weeks and between 12 and 13 months of age
- Meningitis C vaccine – offered at 12 weeks of age, 1 year
- MMR vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year old and second dose at 3 years and 4 months
- ACWY Meningitis Vaccine – offered to teenagers who are in S3 (around 14 years old) at school. Young people who are in S4-S6 and missed the opportunity to be immunized last year will also be able to get the vaccine at school this year
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22524093/vpavic_210512_4592_0131.jpg?w=150&resize=150,150&ssl=1 "Apple’s earnings show that, yes, it really is time for some new iPads")
