I had a bad earache and just thought I was getting a cold. I took a bath and went to bed. The next morning, I got up to go to work but I was extremely lethargic. My husband kept asking me what was wrong and finally, when I couldn't answer him, he called 911. I couldn't answer the paramedic's questions correctly on the way to the hospital. I was almost unconscious by the time I arrived at the hospital. I did not have a fever, or more obvious symptoms. The nurse said there was one more test, a spinal tap. The fluid showed I had Bacterial Meningitis. The next 24 hours were crucial. I was on 4 antibiotics until they found the one that would treat my bacteria. I was in the hospital 5 days and had a pic line in my arm to receive IV antibiotics for 14 more days. Without my husband's quick actions, I would not be here today. He saved my life!

I went to work lethargic, with a headache and stiff neck. I was able to touch my chin to my chest. I had a fever of over 103 degrees until I started vomiting and passed out at home. I had one ER visit and was sent home with Fioricet. I passed out again several days later with a fever of over 103 degrees until I was admitted to the hospital. The pain was the worse I ever had in life. I was treated with IV antibiotics and antiviral medications.

One of my best friends in the 90s told me she had survived both bacterial and viral spinal meningitis. The second time she had it she was able to walk into the hospital and ask to be admitted for spinal meningitis. The skeptical staff asked how she knew and she told them she knew from previous symptom, as she was unable to touch her chin to her chest. They isolated her immediately.

Fever, chills, headache, and stiffness in my neck. I had a spinal tap done and was diagnosed. I am waiting on cultures to return to rule out viral or bacterial.

I had an extreme headache, neck pain, an ear infection and also seizures.

Was raking leaves (October). Suddenly it felt like I had been slammed with a large hammer between eyebrows. Ambulance to the ER. Inside of my skull hurt worse than any pain I've ever had. I wished I would pass out. Tears rolled down my face. Hypersensitive to light. IV administered morphine. Diagnosed with viral meningitis. Was inpatient for 4.5 days.

Severe headache, nausea and vomiting, photophobia, fever, and chills.

I had an extreme headache and a stiff neck. Also had an ear infection and was on antibiotics for that. I was taking a drug that suppressed my immune system. I was found by son unconscious and I had thrown up and from what I was told, I had a couple seizures. I do not remember anything for the first two to three weeks after that.

My symptoms started out like the flu. On Sunday the skin on the back of my thighs started to hurt if I touched it and I had a headache. Monday I went to work and gradually started to feel worse with body aches , headache , dizziness , chills, pain in my neck and when I would walk I had pain in my spine. Tuesday I woke up with a migraine headache and upset stomach. I still tried to shower and get ready for work, but I was feeling very weak and tired with all the same symptoms I had on Monday. My migraine kept getting worse and several times I felt like throwing up. My friend took me to a walk-in clinic and I told the doctor my symptoms. They tested me for the flu and it came back negative. She then suspected spinal meningitis because of the pain in my neck and lower back. I could not touch my chin to my chest without it hurting my neck. I was then sent to the ER, where they did a CT scan and it came back fine so they did the lumbar exam and it came back positive for viral . They gave me two IV bags of two different kinds of strong antibiotics and gave me the choice of either being admitted or going home. I chose to go home so they prescribed a pain medication and steroids.