8 Months Later...

[Mi55V]

I had viral Meningitis and Encephalitis last year - hospitalized at Hope Hospital in Manchester on Halloween for 14 days. Rushed in an ambulance and admitted to acute stroke, talking gobledy goop and making up my own words! In December I emigrated to the Middle East, we had our families out for Christmas, we all had presents and a fab Christmas dinner in our home, in January I started work, in February we got a Great Dane puppy and in July I'm setting up my own business as a therapist!

I fully sympathize with anyone who has had this illness, it is awful, and the fear of being ill again will never leave me...dig deep and be thankful I say to myself. After I came out of hospital I read lots of blogs and posts about side effects for years and prolonged time off work and it terrified me. I am writing this post for anyone who is ill and is scared that they wont get better. You might not...but you MIGHT! And I did...I had great care from the emergency services, Hope Hospital and my family and friends.

[menin]

Bravo for you, I am trying to get better, two years after, still headaches, very weak my right leg, I feel sometimes like sparking my left arm, sometimes also feel like something pulling from behind my eyes, my mood, I don't know sometimes I feel strong, but much of the times weak, I don't know... just I am getting tired. I cannot perform my job the way I used to be, so they are trying to send me to disability, life sometimes sucks for me, but because I was a soldier, I have to face it morally and physically.

[Mi55V in reply to menin]

I feel bad for you... I'm very lucky my symptoms were picked up so quickly and I was treated within hours of becoming ill. My only remaining symptom is being paranoid about becoming ill again. Although it wasn't confirmed by Drs - I believe I became ill through food poisoning - listeria monocytogenes - which you can get from ready to eat food like melons! I'm sure I contracted from airplane food... I sometimes become a little obsesed with it when I'm tired and I get that hot headache in my temples and eyes... The internet is the most wonderful and frightening thing because I can spend hours researching information that I wouldn't normally be exposed to.

I hope your symptoms ease and that you get the support you need. Stay strong soldier!