One month mark. Feeling so sad.

[Amrita-A]

I am at the one month mark. Nothing has changed in the last 2.5 weeks. Over all, I feel incredibly fragile. It is as if there is an invisible balance and all it takes is a molecule of doing too much, being stressed, bending over once too often, thinking the wrong thing, eating an atom too much of sugar, etc. to send the balance way to the other side.

God heavens, I have never been so lacking in energy in my life.

My big question for anyone who has read this far, is:

The past few days I have felt unbelievably depressed. Is it common to feel very, very sad at this point? Does it pass? So sad, and oh, so so tired.

Wishing you all good health.

[Jonad724]

Hi, Amrita, I'm 16 years post near fatal viral meningitis so I hope I can help. 4 weeks in from meningitis is no time at all really. In an age where we expect things to happen quickly, recovery from meningitis can take quite a long time. To answer your question, it is very common to be depressed after meningitis (I can only talk about VM but I think it's common to other strains) and lacking energy is also very common too. If the depression continues then you should go to your doctor and talk over options for medication with them though.

The good news is that it does pass (if it continues then do see your doctor) and although recovery can be slow most people make a good recovery. There is a possibility of being left with after effects but then it's a case of adjusting what 'normal' means for you.

The key thing at the moment though is to rest, rest, rest and when you feel a bit better then rest some more.

If found myself grieving for the life I had before VM and I also wrote some blog posts about my recovery on this site, just click on my profile and then click posts if you're interested. There is light at the end of the tunnel though and after a 5 year break from triathlon I have completed three half ironman races and countless more shorter triathlons. I now run my own business and work around the after effects I have been left with. Before VM I wouldn't have thought of entering one half ironman let alone three and running my own business would have just been a dream but once you realise that life is nor poorer, just different then there's a corner turned.

So please be patient and make sure you rest and keep us posted on how you are doing. All the best, Jonathan

[Amrita-A in reply to Jonad724]

Thank you very much for your encouraging reply and really, just for caring. I felt like crying when you said "keep us posted on how you are doing."

I'm glad you are able to be active again and have accomplished what you must never have thought would be possible. I hope I, and everyone else, will be able to write the same thing.

Many blessings,

Amrita

[Jonad724 in reply to Amrita-A]

I'm a volunteer Community Ambassador with Meningitis Now, please PM me if I can help further, there's a lot of support in this forum, you are most certainly not alone. Good luck, Jonathan

[Loganjay]

Hi Amrita I am coming up to eight weeks post pneumococcal bacteria meningitis yes the recovery is slow but when I look back to what I was I have come on well. The dizzy spells are bad and I am not back driving or work yet. I have been to ENT and will have to go back in six weeks time to find out if I will need an operation to close the purfarated ear drum and a hearing test to see how much hearing I have. I just take one day at the time I do a small bit of house work and go for small walks with a member of my family, try not to feel to sad I get days when I feel sad as I can't get to grips that this has happened to me as I am never ill but I think back and thank god I am still alive. I don't think I will ever be the same as before but I will have to embrace how I am now and make the most of my life. Hope this helps a little for you.

[Amrita-A in reply to Loganjay]

Oh my goodness, it sounds like it has been very rough for you. Hopefully you will not need the surgery. Generally, at least in children, the eardrum heals over on its own.

Thank you for taking the time to write such a supportive reply.

Best of luck for a full recovery.

Many blessings,

Amrita