This is a breakdown of an unfortunate and frightening experience, Bacterial Meningitis and Encephalitis.

On the 12th January, 2025 I went to bed feeling unwell with a slightly raised temperature.
The following I have no memory of, just what my gorgeous wife Annette told me.
In the very early hours of the 13th January I got myself out of my bed, was sick in the bathroom then walked from the bedroom to the living room couch and collapsed.
My wife and son found me. I was unresponsive to questions but not unconscious. I have zero memory of this time.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) were called within minutes; my wife suspected heart attack or stroke.
On arrival at Redcliffe Hospital I was immediately given broad spectrum antibiotics as they suspected brain infection.

Over the following hours they attempted a spinal tap unsuccessfully and made arrangements for my transfer to the Royal Brisbane Hospital (RBH).

I remained unresponsive but conscious. My bladder was not functioning properly, so a catheter was positioned. It also became clear that my hearing had been severely compromised.
I was transferred to the RBH where Bacterial Meningitis and Encephalitis were confirmed via another spinal tap.
It was a few days later at the RBH I began to become aware and responsive. My back, shoulders, neck and head pain was very severe, 9/10. Couldn’t walk, toilet, hear or even think clearly.
With a firm diagnosis, the Infectious Disease Team put together a treatment plan.
I was then transferred back to Redcliffe Hospital where I remained in the care of their IDT for a total of 5 weeks.
Weeks 4 and 5 I had fairly severe headaches, dizziness, back pain, hearing loss and still needed the catheter.

I received brain physiotherapy also known as neurological physiotherapy. This was gruelling, but necessary to walk again and reduce dizziness.

The mental haze and jumping through the cognitive hoops were something I wouldn’t wish on an enemy. These daily exercises felt like an exhausting chore to fix what felt like a broken brain.

The pain I was in during week 5 made me very anxious when the IDT doctor told me I was being discharged to a virtual ward where a nurse would visit me at home twice per day to check vitals and administer medication and that this would continue for several weeks.
I lasted about 30 hours at home before my gallbladder collapsed to a mushy mess and I was back in hospital to have what was left of the gallbladder removed. This was most likely due to medications over the past 5 weeks.
Days later the doctors insisted that I be discharged again with the same plan for nurses twice per day.
Just 18 hours after discharge the morning nurse arrived at my home. I was feeling dizzy with a severe headache. She checked my blood pressure which measured 65/30. She called the ambulance and back I went to hospital again.
A week later the doctors from the Infectious Disease Team told me that it was completely my call to be discharged again. I was however feeling significantly better than previous discharges so was happy to go home.
It’s now nine months since hospital and I still have daily headaches. I have days where light-headedness accompanies the headaches and my short-term memory struggles sometimes. I feel constantly fatigued and I’m so tired of feeling crappy.

At times I feel it’s difficult to form spontaneous thoughts and conversations so I find myself rehearsing what I need to communicate before I include myself in conversation.
The doctors made it clear that recovery could be long term and that some of the damage the Meningitis did to the nerves in my brain may not ever be fully recovered.

Whenever I catch a cold or flu here is always a moment of wondering whether round two begins.

I am very grateful for my beautiful wife and family who helped me through.
I am very grateful for a fantastic free hospital/medical system in my country Australia.
I am very grateful to be alive.