Does it ever end!!

[Ashcakes]

I had bm in April. I stil get a stiff neck, headaches, been diagnosed with sciatica. Jus found out i still have dluid in my spine from the meningitis, degenerate disc disease, and a cluster if veins on my lower back. I also experience depression, anxiety and blurred vision sometimes. My question is does it ever end

[menin]

Hello Ashcakes, sorry to read that, but yes it does, just take time, sometimes long time, just patience. I waited 4 years to be where I am now, the headache I think I am gonna have it forever, but light, I can handle it now. Good luck.

[Ashcakes in reply to menin]

Thks for your reply, looks like i have a long rd ahead😕

[menin in reply to Ashcakes]

I am taking it from the funny way, however everybody is different maybe you can improve in couple weeks or months... We r survivors, cuz we r strong.. Don't give up!!

[Ashcakes in reply to menin]

I wont thks

[Sut1]

Actually no. I had mm in January 1969 on the US Army. Just this afternoon I had a migraine so bad that my entire left side, from my left leg to my left arm went numb. I also had a headache so bad that I could not cough because the pain I the left side of my head was excruciating. This is more than 47 yrs ago. It ain't easy.

Steve

[Ashcakes in reply to Sut1]

Thks for the reply, looks like i have a very long rd ahead😕

[ElizabethEckstadt]

Sorry to hear about your suffering. I am 6 months out from bm and still have stiff neck and headaches. Hang in there. Beth

[Ashcakes in reply to ElizabethEckstadt]

Thks

[sdjohnson231]

I believe the correct response is that after a couple years, you find your "new normal", and then you learn to live with the after effects. It varies from person to person. Get as much rest as you possibly can now, as the brain is continuing to heal. My infectious disease Doctor explained to me that the first 24 months post diagnosis are the most critical in terms of how much healing your brain can accomplish. When you feel like resting, rest. Sleeping is the only time when your brain can fully heal. Be easy on yourself. And be grateful always that you have survived this dreaded diagnosis.

[Ashcakes in reply to sdjohnson231]

Thks for the advice, i will put it ro use

[Ashcakes in reply to sdjohnson231]

I am very grateful, i have 2 kids that need me

[ignoreit]

I had meningococcal septicemia & DIC 40 years ago...and yes...it "gets better." I could barely walk for the first 10 years...but each year the pain became a little less severe. After 20 years, I began dancing lessons...the required concentration removed emphasis from my foot pain. After 30 years, I was a dance troupe TV contestant on "America's Got Talent."

Here's my advice:

1. Choose a physical hobby for something you've always loved...that involves intense concentration and fights against your worst BM after effect. Hobby...not profession.

2. Keep quiet about your BM around everyone except your doctor. The disease scares people and they will be uncomfortable around you. Unfair...yes...but true.

[Ashcakes in reply to ignoreit]

Yeah ive noticed that about ppl. Tgks for advice, i will most definitely try it and congrats on your come back

[Schmooschmoo in reply to ignoreit]

No no no!!!!! Don't keep quiet about it! We need to educate others about quick diagnoses, recognising the signs and symptoms of bacterial and viral meningitis. Ignore it, please, you survived one of the most aggressive diseases anyone could be diagnosed with. I'm so pleased you did survive. My mum died as a result of pneumiccoccal meningitis just over 12 months ago. I took her to a GP who sent her home with an 'ear infection' diagnoses and she was in the ICU less than 8 hours later because I didn't know the symptoms myself. Please, use your recovery as a way to educate others, keeping quiet could actually, inadvertently, mean someone else misses yp the signs and someone else could potentially die!

[sdjohnson231 in reply to Schmooschmoo]

I agree, Schmooschmoo. I tell everyone I meet about my "ear infection" that almost killed me. And when someone tells me about their earache, every time I tell them to get it checked out. I felt foolish, as an adult with an earache, going to a doctor. I almost waited too long. I didn't go, as a matter of fact. My husband found me semi-conscious on the sofa. By that time my eardrum had ruptured, and the infection had reached my brain. I don't care if my "story" scares people off. They need to know what can happen. Better to scare them and keep them alive! I am sorry amount your mum, Schmooschmoo. Please keep spreading the word in her memory.

[Schmooschmoo in reply to sdjohnson231]

Hi ignore it, thanks for your kind words. My comment was in response to your point 2 on your previous comment. "Keep quiet about your BM around everyone except your doctor. The disease scares people and they will be uncomfortable around you. Unfair...yes...but true". That worried me. Your reply to me is the carbon copy of what happened to my mum. She said she felt like she had "water" in her ear or so she thought, as she had no accompanying pain that is normally associated with an ear infection (and she'd never had an ear infection in her life). Looking back that was around a week before that dreaded night. You would think a GP would know better though, given he assessed her & noticed the ear infection was in both ears. I think mums eardrum burst overnight like yours.when I found her on her bedroom floor, she had a lot of mucus coming out her nose & im guessing her ears given the state of her pillow. Where you aware of what was happening when your husband found you?

[Lheisel13]

I was diagnosed with vm in early May of this year. Originally I thought I'd be back at work within 5-6 weeks, which is what I was told by the doctors. They sent me home from the hospital after 4 days, while I was still vomiting and had awful headaches. I have stayed home since, and am just starting to feel close to normal again. I still get a stiff neck and headaches if I overdo it, but am able to do most of what I could do before I got sick. I plan to go back to work next week, but will definitely take more time off if it's too hard. I am very lucky to have an extremely supportive husband and many sick days available to me as a school administrator.

For those just starting this journey, the advice to listen to your body and rest a lot is the best you can get!