Meningitis for 3 months

[Lx_chxrlx]

Reading some of these posts made me feels so much better. I started university in September and got meningitis in my first week. I spent 3 weeks bedridden with all symptoms apart from a rash before my partner finally dragged me to a walk in centre. They told me I had the flu and just needed bed rest but ti go to A&E if anything got worse. I didn't because I could hardly stand, but I really wish I did. I spent 9 weeks bedridden, lost hearing temporarily in one ear and couldn't even wake up to make food. All mu muscles hurt, my head hurt, lights were awful, I was always confused, I kept falling over and getting dizzy, throwing up every day....even now 4 weeks later I'm still getting back to normal after the toll it had on my body. (Doesn't help I developed tonsillitis after). Thought I was going insane because of how long I was ill when Google keeps telling me I should have recovered in a week. I really wish I had gone to the hospital 😅

[Bellesmom12]

The CDC and all medical facilities do not recognize this illness for what it is. Horrible. So strange that they are still saying you will recover within a couple weeks. After a month I was finally diagnosed. It was not going to go away on its own. Kinda scary to me that these are the same ones making the COVID findings. Yes, I went through the same as you. The medical community is vastly wrong about this. Hope you continue healing. I have many side effects four years in but still going. You are in my heart along with everyone else suffering with this illness.

[Roosvanderv]

I recognize so much in your story and I'm so sorry you had to go through all this! I also read everywhere that it's nothing serious and will pass in a week. The doctors didn't take me seriously, telling me that it couldn't be meningitis because I wasnt sick enough (for bacterial) but they didn't seem to know about viral M, leading me to believe for weeks that I had a brain tumor and was going to die. The illness also affected my ability to think clearly or put things into perspective. It's truly intense. I wish you a lot of strength; take your time. Much love.

[Lx_chxrlx in reply to Roosvanderv]

Thank you so much. Its ridiculous how much sone 'professionals' know. I kept thinking it was meningitis but convinced myself it wasn't bad enough because of the limited information provided by my uni and doctors. Nothing about viral meningitis. I'm still noticing some lingering symptoms now, dizziness, fatigue and memory loss. It definitely is hard I wish you the best and hopefully you continue to recover back to full health.

[FACTCHECK]

I haven't contracted meningitis but my eldest son-in-law was taken into hospital with a suspected case this morning. I've been reading for for my daughter, who is obviously very worried. I pass that information on here. There are 2 types of this illness, viral and bacterial. Viral is the 'nicest' of the two and the information says you can recover at home with painkillers and anti-sickness medication in just over a week. The bacterial type is worse. You will need to stay in hospital for at least a week, probably with an oxygen mask, and have plenty of intravenous injections. After effects with bacterial meningitis (which were not mentioned with the vital type in the pages I read) include, partial or total loss of hearing and vision, epilepsy, balance, co-ordination. In bad cases it can lead to amputation of a limb, and in the worst possible scenario, the number of fatal cases of bacterial meningitis is roughly 1 in every 10. Putting any treatment off as you don't like hospitals until you feel as bad as you can take it, may well lead to sepsis. For those who knock the NHS in England, it's still, in my opinion, the best health service on the planet. BUPA treatment is no better but the nurses may be prettier. 😀

[Lx_chxrlx in reply to FACTCHECK]

Nhs can be absolutely amazing in some areas. And each condition varies for the individual. Some people can luckily recover quickly and very well. Others, unfortunately, cannot. I really hope your son-in-law does have a speedy recovery and and has no lasting effects from the illness. Although information is accessible, it's very difficult to be acknowledged by some medical professionals when you do reach out for help, but I hope home remedies and OTC meds will do the trick for your son-in-law. I remember taking loads of painkillers, cold and flu tablets, throat tablets and more to at least try and ease my symptoms for short term....they did not work 😅

Wish you and your family all the best x

[Hidden]

This is how I feel! Google says 4-7 days you should feel better after VM. I am NOT better and occasionally worse, on day 14. I have tenderness to back of head, behind ears to touch, severe pounding headache, difficulty opening my mouth to eat. I have missed 1.5 weeks of work. I must sleep sitting up straight with ice and heat. When will I feel functional and be able to move my head without sharp pain and severe pounding??? Starting an antiviral tomorrow. Nothing helps my pain.

[Lx_chxrlx in reply to Hidden]

I'm so sorry to hear you're so unwell! Hopefully after your course of antivirals you'll start feeling better, if not go back to your doctor and hope they'll do more. The pain is absolutely awful, nothing was helpful for me either, even codeine and paramol didn't work for me.the best you can do is keep looking after. Yourself. Lots of bed rest, lots of fluids, keep taking your meds regularly and try to keep eating even if you can't keep it down! I remember I couldn't eat for a good 2 months because of how ill I got, and in the 3rd I couldn't keep anything down when I did eat. But just keep trying everything you can, put yourself first and keep in touch with your doctor. I hope you recover soon xx