Anyone fully recovered now?

[Fromthetower]

I know most people probably don’t come here anymore once they’ve recovered, but it would bring hope to hear stories from those who have meningitis behind them now.

[euagelia]

Yes! Yes! My daughter had bacterial meningitis at her 40days! Now she is almost 4 and thank God she is an active and energetic girl that talks like a philosopher! She had many ups and downs after her recovery then. She had serious issues with eating, pain, esofagitida and serious digestion problems becaise of meropemen, the strong antibiotic.

I hope and pray that all little people as well as adults suffering from this illness to be as lucky as me and my girl!

To the mothers outhere: some of you might have not been as lucky as me as a mother and you may see your child struggle after BM. My prayers are always with you. I might be from the lucky ones that their child is ok BUT I NEVER FORHET THOSE THAT WERE UNLUCKY AND STRUGGLE ALONG WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

[jerefack]

I’m 2 years and 5 months post viral meningitis and I’m doing great. I’m able to go to the gym and lift weights again, hike and do just about everything I did before I got sick. My body still tells me when I’ve gone too far, as that overwhelming exhaustion hits me like a freight train - but that doesn’t happen too often, and when it does, I listen. I take it easy, go to bed early, and I’m usually back for normal in a couple of days. I’m still not who I was before the illness and I’ve come to terms with the fact that I may never be that person again, but I’ve recovered enough to live a very normal life and I feel fine most of the time. All I can say to anyone who’s recovering is be patient, forget what you were able to do before you got sick and realize this is a whole new life. Rest when you need to rest, which will be a lot. I know a lot of people still have to juggle kids and work through recovery but make a plan for yourself, schedule rest - because your health really is the most important thing you need to worry about. And spend a lot of time on this website reading posts, to remind you this is not the flu, you will NOT be okay in 2 weeks and you’re not crazy when you’re not. Other people are suffering greatly too, and you are not alone... and there is hope.

[KAve125 in reply to jerefack]

Thank you thank you thank you for sharing. I was diagnosed with viral meningitis due to hsv2 being found in my spinal fluid. It took 2 weeks for a proper diagnosis (hospital error). Anyhow, it was diagnosed and treated. For that i am grateful.

The onset occured exactly 1 month on the 4th. I am definitely feeling better than i before, but am definitely not the healed. Currently I am experiencing random bouts of exhaustion, anxiety, loss of memory, etc.

It can be emotionally triggering.

What I find most incredible is how the medical community...(the hospital where I am being abulatorily treated)... has responded. Most if not every doctor ive come in contact with has displayed no sense of emotionally supportive. In fact, they have all said "oh! You are THATP patient!? Your case is well known in this hospital".

Anyhow, I would also like to add to my list of random aftermath what is called a T.I.A. or "mini stroke". This happened exactly one week after finishing my antiviral treatment. I was told that this is a common occurance with meningitis patients. Crazy experience to say the least.

I believe that what is most important for me to do now is to keep as healthy as possible. I am actually seeking assistance from the patient advocacy group at the hospital. I am hoping that they can facilitate the assistance of a nutritionist. I do believe that caring for our bodies via nutrition is key to our best recovery.

Thank you for allowing me to join this forum. I look forward to continued interaction. CHEERS to our betterment.

K.Ave

NYC

USA

11/8/2019

[Cannelle in reply to KAve125]

Hi I’m also in the USA but in Cali and because it is so rare that we survived meningitis here in this country as adults. I feel like the doctors don’t know how to help me. I am also known as that patient who survive. My headaches mood swings anxiety and muscle weakness sometimes overwhelms me. I am a mother of two children ages 11 and 16 and a therapist by profession however I have not been able to completely go back to work because I get so exhausted and my memory is so bad that I feel as if the weight of the world is on my shoulders.

[Fromthetower in reply to jerefack]

Thank you Jerefack for your response! I’m so glad to hear you are doing so well. Do you mind if I ask how long after the onset of the virus before you felt as well as you do now?

[jerefack in reply to Fromthetower]

It's been a process, but I guess I'd say I really hit my stride about 18 months after being diagnosed. Again, that wasn't the "cured" date, but that was when I was feeling pretty good again, came to the conclusion that "pretty good" might be as good as it gets, and started taking better care of myself and leading my new normal life.

[Princess123456 in reply to jerefack]

Well put!!

[IrisRose]

I was diagnosed with viral meningitis in August this year. I finally felt well enough to go back to work for a couple of days this week. I get exhausted easily and even after short walks my muscles ache like I've run a marathon but I'm getting back to my normal self. After being bed ridden for 2 months it's great to be able to get out again.

[Jonad724]

I had near fatal VM in 2002, it took a long time for me to get back to what I would have considered normal before the attack but after a 5 year break from intensive sport I cam back to triathlon Since then I have done several sprint and standard triathlons as well as three half ironman and the long course weekend in Wales, one of the toughest three day events in the world, or so I'm told. Unfortunately it does take time to recover but it can be so slow that you don't realise it's happening.

I kept a short diary for each day to record how I was feeling, only three or four lines each day and that way I realised I was improving. I also wrote some blog posts on this site as well which may help.

Hang in there, things do get better, Jonathan

[Etchy]

Yes, there is hope! My daughter had shingles a week after her 18th birthday which led to VM and 4 months bed bound in a darkened room. This was right in the middle of her A levels which obviously added to her distress, so suffice to say it was a hellish time - especially as the GP was so dismissive and unhelpful. There were many dark days when I wondered if my previously vibrant, energetic & intelligent daughter would ever return.

My family has a strong faith which sustained us and gave us hope but I must confess that personally, my faith was tested. Many friends from church were praying and that gave my daughter comfort to know she was not forgotten as the months dragged on with little to no improvement.

With little help and even less understanding of VM from the medical profession I prayed for guidance on which way to turn. To my surprise, as someone who’d always been wary of acupuncture, I found myself prompted to book a session for my daughter.

After the first treatment there was quite a significant reduction in pain and increase in energy levels for my girl. We were amazed and encouraged! The second and subsequent sessions didn’t have such a dramatic effect but we felt we had at least turned a corner and noticed small improvements every day. Also, my faith was buoyed and I dared to hope again that I would get my daughter back as she once was.

Nearly 2 years on I can thankfully say that I have and that God is good! Do try acupuncture if you haven’t already as it may just help you turn a corner - and most importantly keep the faith! xx

[lyan]

I am 2 years and 9 months on from VM. I am 52 years old. My energy levels are very low. My brain still doesn’t function like it used to. My short term memory is appalling! My eyes are constantly changing and I am on my third new prescription lenses since I had VM. I still get dizzy and fall over. My immune system is rubbish. Recently I had a car accident..not my fault I might add. The physio I saw afterwards, seemed to think if I hadn’t had VM, that I would have recovered from the accident much more quickly..he said it makes your body more sensitive to everything. I have developed an allergy to penicillin since VM. There are all kinds of after effects. I still struggle putting sentences together and recalling the correct words. It is a daily torment and I regularly feel such disappointment in my changed abilities. There is no way I could have gone back to work as a school teacher. Even now I would never be able to keep up with all the work or be able to understand everything. However I do run a successful business from home, which leaves me a lot of free time to rest. I also know I am still much better off than many others who have had it. Some have CFS and fibromyalgia afterwards. Some lose their eyesight, some become deaf...some even die when they have VM. I am a different person now and I have had to accept that this is probably as good as I am going to get. However...I still feel lucky to be alive...despite all the changes. Some people do recover completely...but I haven’t.

[irene123 in reply to lyan]

I'm almost three years down the track from VM. I have had to give up my job as a lab tech and go onto an unemployment benefit as I have no husband to support me. At 61 I am hanging out for the pension which kicks in at 65 here in New Zealand. It will give me about another half of my present income.

I'm unable to return to full time work or even much part time because I still suffer from severe and chronic insomnia now, which leads to loss of balance, nausea, lack of energy, short term memory problems and other cognitive problems like even basic maths.

However, when I have even one night of more than 6 hours sleep, I'm totally functional for the next day.

I would on average have 1 or two good days per week but there is no way of predicting when they will be , which makes me virtually unemployable.

How ever.....I'm grateful that I'm alive! And on my good days I'm almost on a high. I feel so great! And on those days I try to deal to as much as possible, and even have a few people that I help out who are less fortunate. I live in hope that I will still solve this somehow.

I'm lucky that I owned my own home prior to this, and I have some savings that I use to cover the shortfall as the benefit is impossible to live on and pay the most basic bills. To financially assist me I have a boarder, and he is marvellous.

I believe we are all different in our post VM conditions, and have to keep open and looking for solutions, AND NOT GIVE UP!

All the best, to everyone out there!

[Seacalm]

I am 20 months post VM and just wanted to say there is light at the end of the tunnel! Have hope if you are still in recovery, be kind and patient to yourself. Take each day as a new day and try not to compare to the last or how you used to be. Having to stop all the things you love and enjoy is a challenge and if we can take time to learn about ourselves in those times we may gain strength to come through the other side.

I couldnt walk, speak for more than an hour, have lights on, drive , play and dance with my children for what seemed like etertenity. Joy is returning in many ways, you learn to adapt and overcome the obstacles VM leaves you. Whilst they are not a gift they are present each day and a reminder that whilst I'm not 100% I'm alive, have all my limbs and I'm very grateful to have learnt from a very challenging time.

[keepdia]

Hi I was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and sepsis in January 2018. I was in full time work at the time but was off sick for 6 months. When I returned to work I found things very difficult as I worked in a busy doctors surgery. I cut down my hours but became very tired very easily.

In March this year I retired from work and now receive my private and state pension and am able to manage ok financially.

I feel so much better now I don't have the pressure of work.

When I was diagnosed the consultant told my husband that if I hadn't been so fit I would not have survived.

I am thankful every day for my survival.

I do get exhausted very easily and my memory is shocking I also forget words when I'm speaking and have a weakness on my left side which needs a walking stick.

I was very lucky and try to live my life to the full and not to get anxious about things that do not matter.

I am not the person I was but I am here.

[INDIAN11 in reply to keepdia]

hi keepdia

glad to hear that u r okay now

I had also suffered from bacterial meningitis 10 years ago

there are days when I feel lively

but also there are days when I am exhausted 24 hours and regret to say that the latter days are more

but yeah we are still better

thanks to god!

[Sadmother]

There is No Recovery. Be aware there is after. It will show more and more as you age.I am in the hospital this morning and all night. My daughter is 28 yrs.old it made her special needs because she was 6 months old when she caught this . She is going to have a EEG,MRI. I have gone to a disease Specialist. She told me that this is all after math. Even though my daughter was high function. She is now slowly slipping away. Be aware and tell many.iam only on this tonight because I was sent an email. Please let others know.even if you are ok. Some might not be and they will spin their wheels. Iam trying to help others cut the crap,all the Bull. You have to be YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. it's your life,and no one knows except those who ate going through this alone or have a love one.

[Chip32]

I myself got bm in April this year like a lot of people with this, lost the use of my legs but with a lot of help learned to walk again, still got the headaches 24 hours a day but fighting back, I will never give up, hope this will help people, and thank you for all of the support on this site 🙏

[Gangstalicious]

Yes, I was diagnosed with viral meningitis about a month ago. I recovered fully in about two weeks. It was a rough two weeks, and my doctor attributes my speedy recovery due to my fit and healthy lifestyle. I highly recommend everybody eats well, exercises every day and maintains proper hygiene, as these things will greatly help you in speedy recovery in any health adversity in your life!