Flu? Meningitis?

Last Wednesday I suddenly became ill..(within a matter of literally 1/2 an hour..got chills, fever of 99, aches, night sweats..bad headaches..) Over the course of the last few days, my fever fluctuated between 100 and 103.5 continuing with head and neck ache (moderate to severe at times) and stiff neck, especially when laying down. I keep having bouts of sweats and aches and my eye sockets hurt and bright lights are causing me pain.
I called my doctor who wanted me to come in for a blood test to determine it was not bacterial, and a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. My mother had these flu-like symptoms the week before but they were not as severe.
All Sunday my temp was normal and I was feeling better..even got out of bed. 3 am this morning I woke up with seriously painful head and neck ache again and my temp was back up to 101.
I am scared of a spinal tap. I had one as a child and it is a real deal to me.

Any thoughts?

The neck ache is the classic sign of meningitis. You need to go get it done. It really isn't that bad, I think you may have been traumatized as a child. Remember how bad shots hurt when you were a child, but that they don't really hurt now right? It's the same thing. Spinal tap isn't really that painful. Maybe you moved while it was being done as a child so it was painful. A lot of people come down with the same sickness but it affects people different so I wouldn't base your decision on how your mother reacted to her sickness. A temp of 103 is very serious.

Wow,sorry you are going through this.I am sure you must have caught a bug.
I do think you should see the Dr and I hope you get better soon.Good luck!

Go To The Doctor's Office Right Now! PLEASE. xx00

I think you should get it done. Better safe than sorry. Hope you feel better soon!

Well...it's your body. You have to weigh up the risks with what you know about your body. Remember, you know your own body a lot better than any doctor will. I'd guess your mother having the same symptoms makes it a very strong probability it's just a passing flu-like virus. Though the only person to ask that is yourself...do you feel different? Do you think you have something more serious than a virus? I broke a bone once, the doctor said it was a sprain...I knew it was broken because the injury felt "funny"...out of the ordinary. I was right, he was wrong. Same with you...how do you feel, what does your body tell you? Gut feeling...go with that.

That sounds like Hepatitis.