Better in 8-10 days? Um no doc

[Faith8990]

Im so thankful for this site and the information I read. Every doctor I see repeats "well you should be over viral meningitis in 8-10 days." From the beginning of this My story has been a nightmare. When I should have been in the hospital I was dragging myself into the ER, doctors offices and clinics for two weeks and was continually told I was "having the worst migraine of my life." Thru this I told them it was like no migraine I had ever had before (I had a history of them since 11, I knew what they felt like) I had neck pain, I could not get on my feet for more than thirty minutes bc things were so much worse, noise/light sensitivity, ringing in my ears, etc and I swear to you I must have seen 3 doctors, a PA and a nurse practitioner- and not ONE of them thought they should do an LP. So when I got to the third week and I switched doctors, practices and hospitals he took one look at me and listened to my symptoms and was astonished no one came to the conclusion of VM. A LP seemed useless at that point seeing as how there was no cure just with proof and I was so far in at that point. But i continued to stay sick, so he ordered one a week later. So I had my LP done, by some kid out of Med school who made my back even worse, basically 4 weeks after everything started. And guess what? It came back clear! No kidding, it was a month after it began! But I guess the skull crushing positional headaches for weeks with the nausea and dizziness, sensitivities, crying bc of the pain when sitting up in these docs offices just to get rejected......yall I have been put thru it. I was getting better, and with the help of a back brace got out in public a week ago. I did more activity than I had in weeks. Then I relapsed completely the following day. I saw the neurologist thursday who wouldn't believe me bc - my LP four weeks after my symptoms started was clear and I should have been better after ten days. I now have good days and bad days. Im even trying to take antibiotics bc well, why not! Eat healthier food, take supplements, rest more. Im just curious, is the ENTIRE Medical community under the assumption that this virus only lasts 8-10 days and if you're still sick outside of that you're lying? Or you didn't have it? Or so I just live in an extremely ignorant town? Yall help give me patience! And thank you all for your stories and support! (I realize many of you are in the U.K. And I am over here in the US dealing with this. Maybe it's time for a move! 😉)

[Lippistix]

Please give my daughter's story a read on this site. Rosie S's Story. Here lies sugnificant success (from what we know so far), for complete recovery from VM!

She suffered for near on two years before discovering meningitis now, subsequently trying cranial massage by visiting an independant cranial osteopath in her area.

All the symptoms you are experiencing are pretty much similar to what she suffered. It seems the key, and recent breakthrough, is releasing the spinal fluid which VM leaves a blockage for...and enabling it to flow again through your body, particularly your head.

There are some on this sight who have now given it a go after reading about it, and after just a couple of sessions, felt considerable relief.

I the last few days Rosie and I have been contacted by the media, news papers and radio to tell our story of this potential breakthrough!

We now feel we want to help as many poor people who have suffered this dreadful illness for which before now seemed there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

Good luck and please keep posed how you get on if you try this amazing treatment. Rosie coupled this with acupuncture, having alternate treatments once a week, now a couple of months in. Xx

[Jonad724]

To answer your question, yes the entire medical community is under the impression that you recover from VM in 8-10 days, they can't help it, that's what they are taught in training. In the end with my GP I had to point blank ask him how many people he had treated with VM, after much bluster and harrumphing he had to admit that he had never treated anyone with VM. Doctors are also told that VM is never any worse than flu despite the presenting symptoms. I had near fatal VM 15 years ago, the hospital was within 10 minutes of calling my loved ones in as they didn't expect me to last the night and yet they discharged me the next day. Three days later I was rushed back in with heart rate dropping through 27bpm, no discernible blood pressure and I was, as my neurologist told me, checking out of hotel life. The only thing which saved me was I was very fit having been training for a sea swim Olympic distance triathlon in the months leading up to the attack. If doctors want to know how long it actually takes to recover from VM, PM me, I'll give you my email address and they can hear chapter and verse from someone who has been there, done that, got the t-shirt, worn the t-shirt out and then got another one. I wrote a blog on here about my experiences of recovering from VM, just click on my profile and then my posts and you should see it. I was off work for nearly six months and have been left with a variety of after effects including recurrent VM (the medical name is aseptic recurrent meningitis) called Mollaret's. I am also a Community Ambassador for Meningitis Now so if I can help further just send me a message. Mind you it's not a life sentence I have done things after meningitis I never thought I would be able to do. I have completed three half ironman triathlons, one as a 10 year celebration which my daughter queried with me as 'Let me get this straight, you want to celebrate nearly dying by almost killing yourself. She's a nurse and has a way with words :-). You may need to get a bit assertive with doctors about recovery, if you ask them how they know it takes 8-10 days and is this from treating patients with VM I'm sure they'll mumble and look at their shoes.

Good luck Jonathan

[Faith8990 in reply to Jonad724]

Hahahhaha funny that you mention that Jonathan. I finally got assertive with a new neurologist I saw last thursday. Took me two months to get in to see him. Everyone had been sending him my records and he walked in unprepared. "So you here about migraines?" I had relapsed badly last week and felt awful already. Once he took time to familiarize himself with my chart and listen to my story he made his judgements including that he didn't even know that I had Viral Meningitis in the first place. After struggling with this for two months, spending the first two weeks with no one listening to me and being told I was just having a bad migraine, none of the correct procedures being followed and suffering in terrible pain waiting on doctor after ER after clinic after PA, he hit a nerve. And thru my tears I decided since he "didn't know that I ever had it" to once again name off every single symptom. The skull crushing headaches, nausea, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, ringing in my ears, positional pain, and so on and ended with "what diagnosis would you have come up with then doc? A migraine?" He seemed a bit rattled, named off about four more tests they wanted to run and basically ran out of the room. But he was yet another that said I should have been over it after 7-10 days anyway. So i guess since I still felt bad....I never had it.

[Lippistix in reply to Jonad724]

Please give my daughter's story a read on this site. Rosie S's Story. Here lies sugnificant success (from what we know so far), for complete recovery from VM!

She suffered for near on two years before discovering meningitis now, subsequently trying cranial massage by visiting an independant cranial osteopath in her area.

It seems the key, and recent breakthrough, is releasing the spinal fluid which VM leaves a blockage for...and enabling it to flow again through your body, particularly your head.

There are some on this sight who have now given it a go after reading about it, and after just a couple of sessions, felt considerable relief.

I the last few weeks Rosie and I have been contacted by the media, news papers and radio to tell our story of this potential breakthrough!

We now feel we want to help as many poor people who have suffered this dreadful illness for which before now seemed there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

Rosie coupled this with acupuncture, having alternate treatments once a week, now a couple of months in. Xx

[abracad]

It is so difficult to be told time & again that "you should be better now". The people on this site clearly prove the medical teaching to be incorrect. If you are fortunate, you come accross somebody experienced in VM. Otherwise, it is a case of being determined (really quite difficult when you feel so unwell). I have had VM twice and each time recovery has been more than 6 months before I was back at work full time. My last bout was June 2016 & I am still some way off being the old me. BUT...I want to be clear that compared to a year ago I am marvellous!! We just have to keep going back to doctors, I resorted in the end to dealing with specific symptoms and then each time adding the "haven't been well since VM" comment.

[Faith8990 in reply to abracad]

That's a very intelligent way to address it. It does seem that the doctors do much better with one symptom at a time than the whole big VM scary monster that they don't know enough about. I will definitely keep that in mind. Thank you!

[abracad]

At least that way, they will run tests for anything that might potentially help. Things like low iron, low vitamin D etc which can creep up on you. Good luck.

[Amw41]

I live in Australia. Rushed to hospital with VM. A CT scan done. Sorry no bleed it must be a migraine. Sent home. Next day. Exactly same. Luckily this time an Indian doctor ordered blood and LP. Bang with in hours. Yes it VM. Yes you will get better. 6 weeks later I am on pain meds. Have balance issues. Fatigue like you wouldn't believe. Such bad days I cry. I have to work as I am self employed. So I dose myself up and get it done. But I am so unwell still. My GP said 3-6 min to feel better. Thank god for her as the hospital didn't care. Sent me home with a' not much we can do' attitude. Yes thank god for this site as it makes me feel ' normal'

[dobguy1]

True. The US looks at VM like oh yea. whatever. Take this and you're good. I had VM in 2006/and still get forgetful and neck pain and stiffness. I found the depression is what will get you post VM. I have days I just want to sleep all day. But take the good days and go out for a walk or be with friends or family. Helps to distract. Best...

[Caitlinw001]

I had vm about 8 month and still have headaches...what should I do and why are they still frequent