Viral meningitis/ encephalitis

[Hexy]

I am now age 60, contracted viral meningitis age 35, was diagnosed and immediately sent to specialist hospital, 6weeks in Coppetts Wood, (no longer there) then another 6weeks in different hospital, what I've been reading a lot ,is people going back to work so soon. I was under release care, though had to be seen by specialist as out patient for 2years! I had extremely bad headaches ,(still get them, referred to as meningitis attacks, which are debilitating.) Still weave when I walk, and see a serial CRANIAL osteopath every 2weeks, I couldn't work for a very long time. Though proud of myself, as I was told i wouldn't be able to ever work! I've only in recent years stopped working as short term memory loss was affecting my work. As a hairdresser, my constant repeated conversations weren't an issue, as I dealt with different people. When I did establish a good clientele, we used to laugh, as I would repeatedly tell them the same stories, forgetful I'd already told them. This is very common, and the headaches very normal, irrational behaviour, normal, angry outbursts, normal. You have to be lucky enough to actually get the correct specialist as this illness leaves scar tissues on the brain, affecting your memory of conflicting different memories together, which to us, the patient makes perfect sense, we appear like crazy people to others, as it's all disjointed. The anger outbursts aren't directed at people, it's anger with oneself, as you become aware that you cannot remember occasions we have been in with family members and friends talk about something,like an outing or holiday, you're men doesn't remember, (scar tissues destroyed the memory) so either they are trying to make out lies to make us feel crazy?? So we ( i ) feel anger and resentment because as far as I'm concerned it didn't happen. You will come up against all sorts of problems, learn to laugh at oneself , it took me year's of practice, it's very hard, tiring, also forgetting. I am now on the sick again after proudly working for 16years, The huge hurdles of hoops to jump through with benefits is a joke, as you need a specialist who is well versed in this illness. The fact you can't see it is frustrating, remember we come under the mental health umbrella, as this is a brain injury. It doesn't go away. I know infants who still suffer dibilatating symptoms to this day. With only viral meningitis! ONLY??? Fight for the correct treatments, go to 'mind matters ' lastly DON'T GIVE UP. Anita xxxx