Pneumococcal Meningitis

[Suej88]

How long will it be before i make a full recovery. It has been about a month since i was diagnosed but feel my life has completly changed. I am also deaf in my left ear.

[bobbyvere Volunteer]

Hi Sue88

Don't expect to bounce back from this dreadful disease. I had this in my late fifties and it took many months before I realised that I had improved. Also, I had over 95% hearing loss in both ears and was greatly helped by consulting a homeopath (fter the ENT surgeon said the only thing he could do was to fit gromits)

And the best advice I can give you is to phone the helpline at Meningitis Now. They are the best source of help, advice and support.

I do help you start to feel better soon

[Suej88 in reply to bobbyvere]

Thank you for your advice it is appreciated.

[LMains]

Hi Sue-

I had the same meningitis (mine started with an ear infection that my ear doctor missed). I came out of a coma relatively quickly- 2 days. I was then completely deaf. I stayed in the first hospital for a week, home for 4 days and then a second hospital for 5 days. I walked with a walker for 3 months and now I can walk 4 miles a day (starting at about the 6 month post-meningitis mark).

Walking felt key to my recovery.

It took me a few months to be able to drive again (just too hard to get the world to stabilize when I turned my head to look for cars).

Was your hearing affected?? I had a cochlear implant at the 3 month mark.

My overall message is that there is hope!! Give yourself time to recover, but try to increase your physical activity little by little.

Hugs.

Lori

[Suej88 in reply to LMains]

Hi Lori thank u for your message yes i am totally deaf in the left ear i have an appointment soon with ear nose and throat. I can walk on my own unaided but my head fills funny if that makes sense. Sue xxx

[Lorna26]

Hello Sue, sorry to hear this news. I don't know much about you to personalise this message in any way, but I'll tell you a little about me. In case there are any similarities! If not, I actually don't think that's a big deal. As it's a massive brain infection, I think, depending on where was impacted etc, the effects can be wide and varied and as such, so too the recovery etc.

I was diagnosed with it in late April / late May, 5 years ago. Misdiagnosed for a week as a migraine so I had 'collections' on the brain by the time it was diagnosed. Deep joy. That makes recovery more challenging with the meds. I was 34. I lost the ability walk, talk, sight was going.

Recovery -- where to start. 5 years on, I'm pleased to say, I've just been discharged from my neurologist!. So happy!.

I was in hospital for a month but on all meds at home, treated as a hospital patient for 2 months to give you an indication of severity vs pos you. I was off work for 4 months total, but was allowed longer. I pushed myself back as had just started a new job and was feeling nervous being off too long. I had lost confidence; was still a bit puffy from all the drugs and still have tinnitus and reduced hearing in 1 ear. With hindsight, I should pos have stayed off another month. But I work in a very intense job. Something simpler might have been better. The first time I did something post meningitis again was nerve wracking but I'd have a mini celebration, sometimes just to myself for achieving it. So many milestones. Walking again. Speaking again. Going out on my own again. Back to work. Doing a presentation at work. Driving. Cooking. Going to a gym and so on. Once you've conquered bacterial meningitis, you conquer Everest!! The main thing that I still can't do weirdly is to run. I can hope a few steps over the road, but no greater distance. Don't know if it's a block on my mind or actual fact.

I will say, the first year was tough. I had a bits of PDST, flashbacks etc and felt low with the loss of confidence at times. I really felt like I had changed too. I hope my personality hasn't changed, but I think it may have - a tiny bit. My amazing neurologist said all of that was to be expected. It is a huge deal. He also said that essentially you are not the same person. You have survived a brush with death. About 40% of people don't survive. Please try to remember that. Remember you are strong. You've got this. You will feel different and might have low days, but that's because you've been through something not many people have. That's why things like this are good and Menongitis Now, to reach out, speak with and understand others, that have had meningitis, though not too frequent to see (thankfully for everyone else) but know that they understand and have been through similar experiences.

Best wishes on your ongoing recovery. Take care. I'm thinking of you. Lorna x

[Suej88]

Thank you for your reply it has been a great help. Sue xxx

[MikeyGee]

Sue. Contracted BM in mid March 2017. Having been very active before this I found the fatigue to be the most most difficult to deal with. To keep fit I have found walking with a partner to be crucial to my recovery. The key to getting back is taking ' baby steps'. When you feel tired ,stop and rest. If you need to lie down and sleep do that. Also drink plenty of water to feed your brain. Keep your chin up and stay positive.

[Suej88 in reply to MikeyGee]

Thank you for your reply it is appreciated. Sue

[Runnerma]

Sue,

I had BM Dec 2015 & still recovering. returned to work after 2 months with some hearing loss & balance issues. Anxiety increased due to stress of work, amitriptyline at bedtime has helped. PT helped but need to exercise daily. Some days I'd like to scream if it would help! Accept that you need to take care of yourself first & I know that is hard. Things have changed, you are dealing with the results of a life-changing illness that you survived! Try to stay positive 🙂

[Suej88]

Thank you for taking the time to reply it is apreciated. Sue xx

[MinkyD]

Hello,

Recovering from meningitis takes along time and varies from person to person.

My daughter,23, had Meningicoccal meningitis B at the start of last November. 8 months on she is still very weak and gets tired out easily. She has a specific weakness in her left leg, so uses a stick to walk now (she's due to have an MRI scan next week to see if there was any brain or spine damage which caused this). She has partial loss of vision in her left eye, still waiting for an appointment with eye hospital for that! She gets spine, neck and head pain and her memory isn't good.

Although she is still suffering with the after effects she has made a remarkable recovery so far (the consultant is surprised she survived). She is determined to get better.

I hope your recovery is swift and that your hearing returns soon.

Meningitis Now and Meningitis research are both excellent charities who offer support and advice (if you are in the UK).