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| Aine |
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My name is Aine and I’m from Dublin, Ireland. I got herpes simplex encephalitis in 2003 when I was 24. I was living in London at the time. I saw 2 GP’s over 2 weeks thinking I had a very bad flu, I’m a pharmacist so I would usually be able to diagnose myself easily so to see a GP I knew I was not right. One put me on an antibiotic and the other sent me to A&E immediately. When I got to the hospital I was seen and told I had a viral infection ‘go home and take some paracetamol’, from there on I don’t remember anything and I can only go off the blanks that have been filled in for me!!
5 days later I was taking my professional exams in the other side of London and I still do not know how I got there or how I got through that week because I have no memory of it. During my final exam I collapsed and was taken to another well know hospital. Again I don’t remember any of this but I’ve been told that I was taken by ambulance to this hospital but still managed to walk away on my own and make my way across the other side of the city…but whilst having a few seizures along the way. When I was found I had cuts across my face and body as if I’d fallen somewhere.
My boyfriend called my family in Ireland as soon as he found me, to say that there was something wrong and I just wasn’t being myself. I was flown home as soon as possible and brought back to my family home. My family thought that maybe I was having a breakdown after my exams but still called our GP who sent me again into the hospital. I was sent to Beaumount, within hours of being there they had diagnosed my condition and I really believe saved my life.
I spent 10 days in a coma and when I woke up I had no memory of the weeks previous. It has taken 2 years to repeat the exams I started back then but from all the stories I’ve heard and seen I know I’ve a lot to be grateful. All the same I have found it very hard to find any information on people that have gone through this same experience in Ireland.
I know myself that I have been very lucky with my outcome now 2yrs. Its the memory problems I have I find hard, always around to talk.
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Aine
Dublin, Ireland
Posted: January, 18 2005 |
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