Yikes!!! Yea been there done that with the aspetic mengigitis.. It is purely a rate thing with me.. though I have gotten it bad once, and then milder a few more times.. it always sets me back, never mind the misery of the pain, fever aches etc!!! It can leave me weaker for sure.. I also get some bad skin rashes from it - again worse with increased rate... They mentioned plasma exchange for me, but man it all makes me nervous!!!
I hear ya about the not wanting to be intubated.. I was freaked out when they almost intubated me.. I barely remember my son being born since they had me on bipap about to intubate.. i was in fear for my life at such a magical moment.. it was completely unexpected... as I thought any weakness or droopy face was just a pregnancy thing prior..
They did have me on my side for the endoscopy/colonoscopy though, which i'm sure is standard... Good luck, Zofran helped me some, though by no means resolved the issue!