I was ill, not falling apart
Nadine says docs missed serious condition ENCEPHALITIS VICTIM SPEAKS OUT
A YOUNG woman was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after doctors mistook her swollen brain for a mental breakdown.
Nadine McKenzie suddenly developed symptoms including headaches and severe repeated panic attacks.
Her mum Nicola Adams, 46, was worried sick and took her to Peterhead Community Hospital.
Nadine said: “The doctor examined me and did a few tests and said, ‘You need to take her to Cornhill psychiatric hospital’.” The 27-year-old was admitted to the
Aberdeen hospital. But BY KATHLEEN SPEIRS reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk her mental health wasn’t the problem – she was suffering from potentially lifethreatening encephalitis.
It’s a rare condition where the immune system attacks the brain, causing swelling.
Nadine, of Aberdeen, said: “It all started with headaches. My family felt I was becoming distant and just different, all in a matter of weeks.
“The headaches turned to severe panic attacks. I was having them constantly.”
Nadine’s symptoms started in December 2013.
Between then and May 2017, she was admitted to hospital three times – once for eight months. During that time, medics diagnosed anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
Psychiatric symptoms can include seizures, confusion and memory loss.
Nadine, who is now on appropriate medication for her illness, wants to raise awareness of encephalitis.
Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of the Encephalitis Society, said: “One person every minute will be struck down by encephalitis yet 78 per cent of people don’t know what it is.”
A spokesman for NHS Grampian said they did not comment on individual patients’ cases.