Does it get better?

[RHB2016]

Two years ago I had meningoencephalitis. I was 65 years old at the time. It was a long recovery of learning how to function again everyday. But I am different. I feel lost. So depressed with feelings of anxious behavior and everything else. So I try to fake a life has much as i can, which isn't working anymore. Does it get better?

[spouseM]

Faking,

I am so sorry to hear this. My husband had meningitis, but his recovery was very quick.

I can offer you a suggestion as far as a way, possibly, to help with all the difficulties you are facing. I have a meditative practice that has helped me through all things. You can use insight timer (insighttimer.com/). This is free, with an option to "purchase" additional features, but I would start with the free stuff as it is plenty. Here you can learn about meditation and use their guided meditations, talks, etc. Also, see if there is a sangha (a group of people that gather to practice meditation together) in your area. It is good to have a community to practice with. Some people reach to modern medicine for difficulties like this, so keep this in mind, you may want to try that.

Whatever path you find to wellness, I wish you the very best!!

Sending you love and healing thoughts, Michelle

[RHB2016 in reply to spouseM]

You are so very kind Michelle. Maybe will try it.

[Packard]

I am not a doctor but it works different with different people. Explain to your doctor how you are feeling. He should be able to give you something to get you feeling better. Sounds like you need something for anxiety. Good Luck

[RHB2016 in reply to Packard]

Thanks Packard.

[Chicagogirl]

I also had meningoencephalitis two years ago (August 2016). West Nile Virus.

I was in the hospital for 10 days and inpatient rehab for 2 weeks and then out patient rehab. I was 66 at the time. I was lucky to have such good care after having a terrible experience with the emergency room visits prior to anyone taking my symptoms seriously.

My resulting problems included walking (balance issues) , talking (word memory) retina damage (the virus went through my right eye) and some weakness in my right hand.

I will say that in the beginning I was wondering what I would be left with. I was told that any gains made in the first year would probably be the extent of my recovery.

I am here to tell you that that is not what I have experienced. I don't know what kind of physical shape you were in prior (replying to RHB2016) but I can say that my progress was steady and fairly quick in the first few months and then slowed down. But it has not stopped.

The advice you get is that you need to push gently against your limits in order to make progress, but if you go too far, the result is quite dramatic. My neurologist warned me about this. That is what I experienced. If I pushed too hard or used too much energy up early in the day, the energy crash was sudden and debilitating. I learned how to pace. I am retired and am glad I wasn't still teaching. I could have never gotten through a long day of teaching, much less a week.

However, I am now almost back to normal on most days. If you are not there yet, keep working to push yourself each day. Find something that is a challenge and gently go for it with the idea that when you need the rest , take it.

I found that the biggest challenges were sensory (other than my continuing balance issues) and the sensory overload would lead to headaches. A solid nap each day helped (if you can manage that). It allows you to push and then take a needed break.

I am now driving again, very few headaches, running/jogging 3 times a week (I used to run long distance) , no problems with memory or speech, and I feel 99% normal .

It is a longer road than most people will acknowledge. It is hard to face what in reality is "year(s)" of working at recovery. But it is worth it to get your life back.

I would encourage you to take it in small steps you can handle. I started out by walking to the end of my block without assistance (even tho I was struggling with balance) and eventually went around my block. I can remember how excited I was the first time I made it around the block. I would then get up EVERY morning and get out and walk around the block. I would take a banana to eat along the way because I was unable to eat much for almost a month and my lack of appetite was one of the most difficult things to deal with.(That might be the West Nile)

Sounds funny, but if you don't feel like eating, it is almost impossible to get enough calories in you.

I am very glad I kept trying and I hope you find encouragement in my progress. It was a very long, hard pathway back, but to answer your original question.....YES it gets better. But you have to have a daily routine and a plan that includes consistent activities that address your particular symptoms. You must push back a little at a time.

The best of luck to you.

LR