Type of virus

[Jwire]

For those who have had viral meningitis... What virus caused your meningitis and what after effects do you have? I'm just wondering if there seems to be any relation from what virus to aftwr effects. I truly appreciate anyone's reply more than you know!

[recovered7]

Hi, i believe mine may have been triggered by Encyphalitis ?? can't spell it

[JessicaLruiz]

For me, I'm not so sure. I had a mosquito bite on my face which swelled up massively. Two weeks later I had viral meningitis.

[Jwire in reply to JessicaLruiz]

My enterovirus was positive in the hospital but I didn't even find that out until I went to the infectious disease dr a couple weeks later for a check up. I guess I'm not really sure if that was the cause or not but it was positive anyways. I don't get how they don't tell people what's positive in the hospital! What are your after effects and how long ago did you have this?

[1jill]

My VM was caused by herpes . Just had more problems with headaches and numbness of my left lower lip like I had when fist diagnossed and very tired again . Think it may be Mollarts VM ? . My long term effects are my memory is not as good and if I'm stressed I get pains in my head , sometimes I get the numbness back in left lower lip . Also still find bright lights or sunshine not good .

[Jules101]

My newborn babies meningitis was caused by parecho virus.

[Covenham]

I had encephalitis, which became meningitis.

[Pinkladytracy]

Hi I was never told which virus caused it but I've had terrible after effects ranging from headaches to shooting pains to photosensitivity to collapsing as whole body goes weak and It doesn't come back for many many hours

[Jonad724]

Mine was caused by Herpes Zoster B or chickenpox in other words and was near fatal. I have been left with a whole variety of after effects, Mollaret's, permanent headache down the left side, irritable bladder syndrome, food intolerances if I have them in too high a quantity or concentration (cocoa, alcohol, blackcurrant squash, cranberry juice to be name but a few). It hasn't stopped me completing three half ironman triathlons though :-).

[Jwire in reply to Jonad724]

That's amazing! Good for you! How have you handled the emotional/depression part of everything? I guess I'm assuming you've had to deal with that also because it seems it just comes with this!

[Jonad724 in reply to Jwire]

Thanks, yes you're right I have had to cope with the emotional side of it. There's a really good book called 'overcoming depression a cognitive therapy approach' which really helped and I wrote a post called 'oh no it's angry Dad' on here which describes what happens after the depression. The reason I knew about the book is because I had mental illness problems prior to VM which I had cognitive behavioural therapy for which really sorted me out following a breakdown so being able to think differently does help. Once I could exercise again, I had to have 5 years off to allow my brain to settle down, I know it's a cliche but it really does join body and mind. Not recommending half ironman as a therapy immediately after VM though!

[Vespalover]

Zosta varicella virus (shingles) went to meninges. Have headaches when stressed which start as head pressure and rise till I am photo sensitive and throwing up. Have week ness in right shoulder where shingles was and have stiff back and neck.

Can't scroll well on computer and get tired easily if I concentrate for too long.

[N1090Z1993]

Hi my meningitis was caused by the herpes virus , I have had viral M three times with over two week stays in hospital every time and have many other attacks since. This has been going on over 6 years now . I am under the infectious disease clinic at the Liverpool royal hospital. I am on valicyclovir . Luckily I haven't had an attack for awhile but I do suffer with irritable bowel , headaches, exhaustion, anxiety to name but a few.

I am back at work full time but do find it difficult as I was diagnosed with ME due to having the above virus so many times.

I try and stay positive but as with anything else it can sometimes be difficult.

Take care .

Christine

[Jwire]

Thanks for replying! I'm so sorry you've been dealing with all this! I hope they are getting things under control for you! It is difficult for sure!

[Jade2789]

Mine was caused by something called enterovirus

[Jwire in reply to Jade2789]

Do you have any after effects? How long ago did you have meningitis? I think this is part of what caused mine too which is why I ask.

[Jade2789 in reply to Jwire]

Ive just had it came out of hospital on the 19th december. I still have the headache although it is no under control with paracetamol on a good day i have bad days where all my neck hurts and the tablets wont touch the headache and i also still feel extremely exhausted i cant leave the house for long as it just wipes me out! Hope this helps

[Jwire in reply to Jade2789]

Thank you! I had it in August. It took a few weeks for my

Headaches to get better and at first taking a shower was totally exhausting. That part did get better for me since then but still having muscle aches and soreness. I hope you have a speedy and full recovery! Please let me know how it goes for you!

[sonnerkay]

2nd meningitis attack, DX with shingle virus causing it, left ear pain, hearing loss, headaches,nausea,vomititing. Still have left ear pain, headaches,jaw pain,low back aches, muscle spasms , memory loss, word searching,confusion,exhaustion,sensitive to noise, lights and overwhelmed by too much activity, ( MS Symptoms increased thighs,legs,and toes tingle and are weak, walking is slower & shorter distance)

Just restarted LDN 1 ml per day, stopped in june due to first attack, has greatly reduced all the above symptoms, have energy, emotional stability, was taking 4 Mls daily of LDN for 2 years for MS before this and felt I was doing extremely well, more good days than bad. Hope to get there again. Good luck

[lbuckie]

I work in a doctors office, vm is an enterovirus and I a pt who had Lyme disease, which also is entero. Mine began with pressure on my forehead & within 5 hrs I was in excruciating pain in my head neck and back. The next day I was in the hospital w/104 temp.

[Jwire in reply to lbuckie]

How long ago did you have vm? What are any after affects you have? That is how mine started too.

[lbuckie]

I had vm in March 2015, my post has been vertigo, fatigue, headaches, sensitivity to light & anxiety at night. I also have problems with short-term memory & my brain & speech disconnect when I'm tired. I learned that I have a new "normalcy", you are not going to be the same, it maybe for months, possibly years. But you manage who you are now, be patient. And positive!

[Jwire in reply to lbuckie]

You have a good attitude it seems! Which can be really hard to have some days I know! Thank you for your reply! I hope you get better with more time!

[lbuckie]

This is a great site. It really let me know that all that I have been experiencing is not in my head, it's real. Everyone is so supportive.

[Jwire in reply to lbuckie]

I totally agree with you.

I don't know where I would be without finding this site. if nothing else, it just helps to know you aren't the only one feeling this way. So thankful for this site.

[nzkristy]

Mine was caused by the herpes virus. I had to have a course of Zovirax/Aciclor through the IV. I think that is protocol over here (i'm in New Zealand).

[EmilyBrazil]

I was born with Viral Meningitis. What are some long term effects?

[Jwire in reply to EmilyBrazil]

It seems like everybody's after effects are pretty diverse. Some aches and pains, headaches, memory loss, balance issues... The list goes on.

[Clara_Bell44]

Mine was caused by the herpes simplex virus. I was shocked as I've never experienced any other physical symptoms of herpes in my life. Early days for me, diagnosed 1 month ago, so feeling a bit lost a bewildered by it all. Feeling a lot better than I did, but very foggy headed, headaches and tiredness continue. It's good to find this site so as not to feel so alone. Never heard of VM till it happened to me.

[Jwire in reply to Clara_Bell44]

Im sorry you've had to deal with this too! one month seems to be very early in recovery unfortunately! Don't get discouraged! This website will hopefully help you not feel so alone and give you a place to talk to others dealing with some of the same things!

[Clara_Bell44 in reply to Jwire]

I was given so little information when I left hospital so I had no idea what to expect. They virtually likened VM to the bout of the flu and that I'd be up and about in a week or so. It wasn't until I read other people's experiences here and spoke to the helpline, that I realised that I wasn't imagining the after effects I was having.

[Mdroney]

Diagnosed with VM jul 2013, just released from hospital this Tuesday, this time diagnosed with Mollerets menengeitus , Only symptom was the excruciating headache. After extensive testing , including 2 lumbar punctures, as well as a full blood work up, Herpes Virus confirmed. Being treated with anti viral Valtrex. Never on any meds, wondering if anyone has feedback on this med.

Thanks

[bazz007]

Hi there,

I had no virus named just after lumber puncture I had the virus meningitis, I was informed by the hospital. Previously I had excellent health and no issues, I awoke with a headache and when I went for some water collapsed and passed out. Symptoms since pretty much what most report - headaches, sore neck, loss concentration especially at work when numbers etc are important to my work.

[Jwire in reply to bazz007]

I'm surprised at so many people not knowing what virus caused it! Although I'm sure even when they do give you a virus name it could always be something else actually causing it! How long ago did you have it?

[rbarlo32]

They have no idea what virus caused it but my lumbar puncture and symptoms say viral and they grew no bacteria either. It is three weeks tomorrow (well I suppose today) I started with symptoms, I made my room into a dark cave and tried to live with it thinking it was a migraine 4 days later I went to the doctors as painkillers weren't touching it and they sent me to hospital where I stayed for a week. My symptoms were loos of balance, slight change in vision, awful headache that encompassed my whole head neck and nose and feeling sick, I didn't start being sick until I was in the hospital also a few times I lost the feeling down my left side it only lasted seconds but the doctors didn't know why. The only symptoms I get now are headaches, neck pain, tiredness and my brain doesn't seem to work as well so I occasionally have problems thinking of word or spelling and then I have to think (ie do uni work) it makes my head worse.

[Jwire in reply to rbarlo32]

3 weeks on seems to be really early in recovery unfortunately! Are you still off work/school?

[rbarlo32 in reply to Jwire]

I'm still of uni yes, I've been staying with my aunty since I got out of hospital on the 14th but I've still had to do essays and what not for university which hurts my head, I'm hoping to go back go my house at uni this weekend and then I'm going to try going to lectures on Monday as I only have two and there is a two hour gap between them, if that doesn't go well I'll go see my doctor Monday afternoon to get my doctors not extended.

[Bcamron]

I developed mono Epstein Barr Virus in late August of 2015 and continued to deteriorate rapidly into V. Meningitis, 22 months later I still have big time after effects with little improvement.