possible viral meningitis

[FrenchFi]

I was sent to A&E about 10 day ago with fever, nausea and the worst headache I’ve ever experienced which was very light sensitive. After a night in hospital, blood tests and head CT I was told it was definitely viral, possibly meningitis and to rest and take strong painkillers and anti-sickness.

Feeling quite a bit better, I tried to go back to work yesterday but only managed 3 hours, some of which was waiting for painkillers to kick in so that I could drive back home as the headache and nausea returned. I’ve stayed home today but am extremely tired/ exhausted. Getting out of bed this morning was so hard as the exhaustion is extreme. Thankfully I’m now off over Christmas until early January. Is this normal? Most websites say 7-10 days recovery. But this exhaustion is crazy and how the headache and nausea returned when I try to do anything.

[Bellesmom12]

The first thing you will find is the doctors have no clue what they are talking about. The 7-10 days is a bunch of crap. The next thing is you are not crazy. You will look fine and they will try to tell you that you should be feeling fine. Read the posts here. I am six years in and still suffer from lots of fatigue, brain fog, numbness and dizziness. What we had was a brain injury. Takes a long time. I don’t mean to be so abrupt but I have to do Christmas. Just wanted you to know not to listen to the CDC and other medical professionals who try to tell you you are fine. Like I said, read all the posts and you will understand. Hope you are one of the lucky ones with no side effects. Rest and take care.

[cookiesNcrumbs in reply to Bellesmom12]

This makes me feel so much more normal after reading. I had viral meningitis at the beginning of December, and I just don’t feel like the same person. I feel like a shell of myself that can’t remember anything, is always exhausted, and has constant neck pain and spasms. I never thought of it as a brain injury, but that’s exactly what it is. Who the hell decided on 7-10 days?!

[Bellesmom12 in reply to cookiesNcrumbs]

No clue who decided that but they are wrong!!!! I think doctors see it so rarely they use this as their prognosis. It even says the acute symptoms will go away on their own. I actually had it for a month before I was correctly diagnosed. Finally gave me IV antivirals and the worsening of the symptoms subsided and my double vision went away. Just don’t let anyone tell you it should be fine now. It does get better but everyone is different in how much they recover. I am so lucky to be not as bad as a lot of people but sometimes mad because it happened at all. I have accepted that I will never be back to where I was before but still pisssd at times. Just remember you are NOT crazy or faking it. This forum helped me a lot! Only honest place I found.

[ncosto]

So sorry to hear this FrenchFi. I had 3 bouts of meningitis over a 5 year period +20 years ago. After each case, I had shingles and it was diagnosed as Mollaret's Meningitis, thought to come from the herpes virus (which is dormant in our bodies if we've had chicken pox) . The diagnosis for meningitis is done with a lumbar puncture. It shouldn't be a questionable diagnosis. In my case, the extreme pain (at the base of my skull & neck) and overall weakness lasted about 7-10 days. The lingering fatigue and battling shingles took months to recover after the severe pain subsided. I have recently been diagnosed with a form of leukemia that has apparently settled in my central nervous system and inflamed the meninges, so I have been experiencing meningitis type symptoms again (+ 20 years later). I am being treated for the cancer, but have some neurological complications from what is called leptomeningeal disease. You need to be seen by a neurologist and follow up on your diagnosis. Feel better and have hope.

[Lidldidl]

Hello 🙋‍♂️ FrenchFi I was in hospital for 5 weeks with VIral meningitis (Herpes Virus identified ) I was lucky to be in a teaching hospital & they were interested in my case. Long story short…….. this is a brain injury & recovery is not the few weeks predicted. That you went given a lumbar puncture is a red flag. GP’s may or may not be aware of the consequences of meningitis.

I’ve received lots of helpful information & support from ‘Meningitis Now’ please register online. They are charity run & offer much help & information regarding Meningitis. Wishing you strength & better health through your journey. xx

[Chocoholic12]

I had viral meningitis and encephalitis last year. I was in the ER twice but never hospitalized. Our medical system sucks here. Anyway, the GP told me at 6 weeks I should be 90% normal. Not even close.

Fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and more. I forget things. I have two scars on my frontal lobes now. That’s where meningitis likes to move in to. Read up on what the frontal lobes do and you’ll see that things will be different for us now.

Much love to you from Alaska.

[Yvonrose]

My daughter is still recovering. 2 years down the line. Listen to your body and try to see a doctor with experience of meningitis