I’ve just got out of hospital having been told I have VM. I’m sooooooo bored of it already 🤪 I have 2 little girls (4+2) and I’m so concerned about passing anything on. I’ve read it’s contagious but would like confirmation. Does anyone know?
Also, I know everyone recovers at different rates but I’m curious to know when the headaches, stiff neck and the feeling of being completely wiped gets better? Is it weeks or months? How long did people take off work?
Finally, what do people take to help with the pain other than paracetamol and ibruphen?
Thanks.
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Minxham
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Recovery time seems to vary. Rest as you are able. I don't take anything for the pain as I don't want to be on pharmaceuticals long term.
What I have read indicates that it is not easily transmitted, but there are several viruses that cause VM, so that might be a good question for your doctors.
Hi, VM is not usually contagious as it’s normally caused by a virus you already have, like chickenpox. Recovery time is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string, I’m afraid. For me, I had near fatal VM in 2002, I was off work for a tad under 6 months and I was left with after effects like a permanent headache, a metabolism with a life of its own and intolerances to alcohol, cocoa, phenylalanine and caffeine. The best advice I can give is rest as much as you can as this has shown to improve recovery. You may also need to adjust what ‘normal’ means to you, what was normal before VM may be different now. It is a brain illness so it can be unpredictable in terms of recovery and after effects. I was told not to take painkillers longer than 4-5 days because the brain stops producing its own pain suppressors and then when the tablets wear off you feel worse. I can vouch for that being true.
I appreciate you’re bored with feeling like this and In an age when we’re used to things happening quickly and on demand this is quite common but I’m afraid VM doesn’t use the same methodology.
I wrote some blog posts about my recovery which you may find useful. Just click on my profile and then click posts.
Hello, You can find my 28 year old daughter, Rosie S' Story, via the link on the forum stories from the home page.
We found that cranial massage worked wonders for her. Her job is working with horses on pretty much a daily basis and is very physically demanding.
It is rare for a story to be so positive and we have tried to let people know that this amazing complementary therapy worked for her. It helps release the spinal fluid which VM leaves a blockage for. Rosie is pretty much cured after around 10 sessions coupled with actupuncture, although found awesome relief after only one appointment. She is now free of all pain killers and antidepressants and feels right back to her old self.
We can only let you know what worked for her. It's not for all, but has now given amazing relief for many. It seems the success could be to do with the skill of the cranial osteopath you use. So it is important to find out the osteopaths credentials and experience in this specialised field particularly dealing with VM sufferers, if you can. (Not all osteopaths realise that this helps VM sufferers, it is often carried out on young babies with birthing problems). You need an osteopath and not a therapist who mearly has some training in cranial massage.
If you find you are getting the violent headaches and feeling lethargic and depressed after a few weeks, give this complementary therapy a go, it really could be worth it and save you being on prescribed drugs, along with months, years, of unnecessary suffering.
I’m 4 weeks from coming out of hospital with VM I’m currently signed off work but I look after children as a side job and the doc said I was fine after about 2 weeks of known diagnosis. It’s frustrating and a horrible way to live life. I have a friend who is still recovering after 2 years and had to get signed off work completely but everyone’s different so just take it easy and rest. Drink plenty of water (I drink 2L of flavoured volvic water a day) I find it helps a lot with the headaches. I was on paracetamol for 3 weeks as well as codeine (not at the same time) but I’m coping without them unless it gets stupid bad. I also got blindness (left eye) and deafness (left ear) and am due more blood tests because in my lumber puncher ( they did 3 attempts) they peirced through and now I have spinal fluid on my hip. Best of luck with recovery and your daughters should be fine around you around the week and a half 2 week Mark x
Hello, You can find my 28 year old daughter, Rosie S' Story, via the link on the forum stories from the home page.
We found that cranial massage worked wonders for her. Her job is working with horses on pretty much a daily basis and is very physically demanding.
It is rare for a story to be so positive and we have tried to let people know that this amazing complementary therapy worked for her. It helps release the spinal fluid which VM leaves a blockage for. Rosie is pretty much cured after around 10 sessions coupled with actupuncture, although found awesome relief after only one appointment. She is now free of all pain killers and antidepressants and feels right back to her old self.
We can only let you know what worked for her. It's not for all, but has now given amazing relief for many. It seems the success could be to do with the skill of the cranial osteopath you use. So it is important to find out the osteopaths credentials and experience in this specialised field particularly dealing with VM sufferers, if you can. (Not all osteopaths realise that this helps VM sufferers, it is often carried out on young babies with birthing problems). You need an osteopath and not a therapist who mearly has some training in cranial massage.
If you find you are getting the violent headaches and feeling lethargic and depressed after a few weeks, give this complementary therapy a go, it really could be worth it and save you being on prescribed drugs, along with months, years, of unnecessary suffering.
Like Jonathan, I also have constant headaches. Mine are accompanied by nausea and both are made much worse by bending over. I also cannot tolerate caffeine, alcohol and chocolate. I wasn't a drinker before, but chocolate was a daily thing for me. I can't even stomach the thought or smell of it now.
I also get very confused, cannot multitask and typing and finding words are very difficult. I came down with meningitis on June 5. My memory is shot. I think my ongoing symptoms are very common. Lack of sleep makes every symptom exponentially worse.
If you read through the posts it might give you an idea of what is typical for many people.
Hello, You can find my 28 year old daughter, Rosie S' Story, via the link on the forum stories from the home page.
We found that cranial massage worked wonders for her. Her job is working with horses on pretty much a daily basis and is very physically demanding.
It is rare for a story to be so positive and we have tried to let people know that this amazing complementary therapy worked for her. It helps release the spinal fluid which VM leaves a blockage for. Rosie is pretty much cured after around 10 sessions coupled with actupuncture, although found awesome relief after only one appointment. She is now free of all pain killers and antidepressants and feels right back to her old self.
We can only let you know what worked for her. It's not for all, but has now given amazing relief for many. It seems the success could be to do with the skill of the cranial osteopath you use. So it is important to find out the osteopaths credentials and experience in this specialised field particularly dealing with VM sufferers, if you can. (Not all osteopaths realise that this helps VM sufferers, it is often carried out on young babies with birthing problems). You need an osteopath and not a therapist who mearly has some training in cranial massage.
If you find you are getting the violent headaches and feeling lethargic and depressed after a few weeks, give this complementary therapy a go, it really could be worth it and save you being on prescribed drugs, along with months, years, of unnecessary suffering.
I was told it's not contagious at all. The infectious disease people told me that when I was hospitalized for it.
It took me a while to feel better. The headaches and nausea let up after a couple weeks, brain fog, energy took a couple months to get better. I took about a month off from work, still wasn't feeling 100% when I went back.
Hello, You can find my 28 year old daughter, Rosie S' Story, via the link on the forum stories from the home page.
We found that cranial massage worked wonders for her. Her job is working with horses on pretty much a daily basis and is very physically demanding.
It is rare for a story to be so positive and we have tried to let people know that this amazing complementary therapy worked for her. It helps release the spinal fluid which VM leaves a blockage for. Rosie is pretty much cured after around 10 sessions coupled with actupuncture, although found awesome relief after only one appointment. She is now free of all pain killers and antidepressants and feels right back to her old self.
We can only let you know what worked for her. It's not for all, but has now given amazing relief for many. It seems the success could be to do with the skill of the cranial osteopath you use. So it is important to find out the osteopaths credentials and experience in this specialised field particularly dealing with VM sufferers, if you can. (Not all osteopaths realise that this helps VM sufferers, it is often carried out on young babies with birthing problems). You need an osteopath and not a therapist who mearly has some training in cranial massage.
If you find you are getting the violent headaches and feeling lethargic and depressed after a few weeks, give this complementary therapy a go, it really could be worth it and save you being on prescribed drugs, along with months, years, of unnecessary suffering.
Have a read of the menigitis now vm fact sheet, it did a survey 17% still had symptoms after 6 months, 7% after 12 or something like that.
I would say dont go back until you are good and ready and have built up stamina. I tried a phased return 4 months after and crashed and burned. My second much slower attempt after 6 months is going ok 5 months in, though im still only half time and I've just slipped into that unlucky 7% band unfortunately. I had also had a major surgery for a different condition though which seems to be what triggered the menigitis and has perhaps delayed my recovery. Take care and go gently
Hello, You can find my 28 year old daughter, Rosie S' Story, via the link on the forum stories from the home page.
We found that cranial massage worked wonders for her. Her job is working with horses on pretty much a daily basis and is very physically demanding.
It is rare for a story to be so positive and we have tried to let people know that this amazing complementary therapy worked for her. It helps release the spinal fluid which VM leaves a blockage for. Rosie is pretty much cured after around 10 sessions coupled with actupuncture, although found awesome relief after only one appointment. She is now free of all pain killers and antidepressants and feels right back to her old self.
We can only let you know what worked for her. It's not for all, but has now given amazing relief for many. It seems the success could be to do with the skill of the cranial osteopath you use. So it is important to find out the osteopaths credentials and experience in this specialised field particularly dealing with VM sufferers, if you can. (Not all osteopaths realise that this helps VM sufferers, it is often carried out on young babies with birthing problems). You need an osteopath and not a therapist who mearly has some training in cranial massage.
If you find you are getting the violent headaches and feeling lethargic and depressed after a few weeks, give this complementary therapy a go, it really could be worth it and save you being on prescribed drugs, along with months, years, of unnecessary suffering.
Hello, You can find my 28 year old daughter, Rosie S' Story, via the link on the forum stories from the home page.
We found that cranial massage worked wonders for her. Her job is working with horses on pretty much a daily basis and is very physically demanding.
It is rare for a story to be so positive and we have tried to let people know that this amazing complementary therapy worked for her. It helps release the spinal fluid which VM leaves a blockage for. Rosie is pretty much cured after around 10 sessions coupled with actupuncture, although found awesome relief after only one appointment. She is now free of all pain killers and antidepressants and feels right back to her old self.
We can only let you know what worked for her. It's not for all, but has now given amazing relief for many. It seems the success could be to do with the skill of the cranial osteopath you use. So it is important to find out the osteopaths credentials and experience in this specialised field particularly dealing with VM sufferers, if you can. (Not all osteopaths realise that this helps VM sufferers, it is often carried out on young babies with birthing problems). You need an osteopath and not a therapist who mearly has some training in cranial massage.
If you find you are getting the violent headaches and feeling lethargic and depressed after a few weeks, give this complementary therapy a go, it really could be worth it and save you being on prescribed drugs, along with months, years, of unnecessary suffering.
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