Hi, I had Bacterial meningitis 26 years ago when I was 14. Anyone else had long term effects of fatigue and anxiety?

[Peachie]

[Jbeany]

Hi, I also had bacterial meningitis, I had it about 14 years ago when I was 26!

It has left me profoundly deaf (I have a coclear implant) and with balance problems.

I do also struggle with fatigue. Even after a great nights sleep, I can wake feeling like I've had no sleep at all, and if I'm sat watching tv or reading, it's not long before my eyes start blurring and I have to shake myself awake, or get up and make a drink - anything to jig myself awake. At work, I'm forever yawning and by the end of the working day, I look like death warmed up! Anxiety - not so much I wouldn't say? Hope that helps some. Justine x

[Peachie in reply to Jbeany]

Thanks Justine, what you've described is exactly how I feel! I can manage the fatigue with early nights and generally not overdoing it. But any change to this and I'm wiped out. I seem to have a tolerance level that I can't break through and it's very frustrating.

[Tiga]

I am so sorry to hear what you have gone threw, have you thought about vits like B6 and Vit C? i had VM and had to take these as i was so tired. i have just had blood test back and my Vit d is very low, do you think your doctor would be willing like mine to do a blood test to see about your iron level etc, may be worth a check?

[Peachie in reply to Tiga]

Thanks Tiga, I already take multi-vitamins and blood tests all ok. I have come to my own conclusion that this is as a result of the meningitis as it has been the same ever since, it's just I've always had something else to blame the tiredness on, but now I've ran out if excuses! Just interested if there are others with long term symptoms of fatigue for my sanity really!

[Tiga in reply to Peachie]

yes for your own sanity, the symptoms are real after any big illness, which you have had, I was tired on and off for a year, thou my mind and body wants to do things, inside I just think, narrrrrrrrr to tired, some shows I do, I think to myself how the hell am I going to get threw the day, so I blag it, but yes I feel tiredness is a real illness. I try to keep up with my vit b, and vit c, I tried multi vits, but to be honest the mill of vits is too small, so try and keep up with full amounts, just had to start staking vit d, as my blood test shows it is too low, and not a great meat and fish eater, thou been told by doc to eat this, as he feels 30% OF MY tiredness is due to poor diet.

I used to drink red bull etc to help, but after I would crash, and now having SVT, so not a good idea to have, thou this month going to have a little heart opp to sort that.

peachie I wish there was some magic thing I could tell you, but apart from a good choice of vits and food, there seems to be nothing out there. but I hope in time people like you and I will wake up and everything will be ok.

if you get chance go to your local Holland and barrettes, to see if they can advise

i wish you all the best hon,

tiga

[Peachie in reply to Tiga]

Hi Tiga,

Hope your heart op went ok.

Thanks for your advice.

Helen

[Tiga in reply to Peachie]

Hi Peachie, yes heart opp went very well, to be honest it was a great day out after the treatment of VM, to have my own nurse all day, and people that listen to me, it was a real treat, and since VM,nothing fases me anymore LOL, back at work 14 days later, funny VM thou a bad illness, makes you look at life in a diffrent way, it makes you relie, if you can live threw that you can live threw everything, I hope you are feeling a little better "baby steps" Big hug to you

[Miriam9]

Hi Peachie,

I had bacterial meningitis 3 times, that last one at 9. Im 42 now and have suffered with anxiety/depression since my teens. I have lots of other ailments too including deafness, tiredness, allergies, hand numbness, restless legs, tiredness, feeling cold, toothache! and its always worse at certain times in the month. I am currently looking into damage to the adrenal gland. The kidneys and ears are similar organs are damaged in the same way, especially by drugs. Do you have any other problems? Do you know what antibiotic was administered?

[Peachie in reply to Miriam9]

Hi Miriam9,

Sorry for delay in replying. Can't imagine what it's like to have it three times - once is more than enough for anyone. I have some other symptoms but they have developed later in life, so I don't think they are connected. The main things are the anxiety and tiredness. They have been with me from day 1. The anxiety is always worse pre-menstrually, but is continuous. A lot of health anxiety as well. How have you got on finding out about damage to adrenal gland? I don't know what antibiotic I was given, but know it wasn't penicillin as I'm allergic to it!!

Peachie

[lottysunshine]

Hi ! I had meningitis 8 years ago.. I suffer anxiety , depression and occasional psychosis.. I had no follow up care after I left hospital.. I believe the memory loss I have is from meningitis

and my cognitive mind has been affected. I also still get tired x

[Peachie in reply to lottysunshine]

Thanks lottysunshine for responding. Sorry to hear you are still suffering after effects, but it is reassuring to know I'm not alone. I also had no follow up care after leaving hospital. Feel if I had had more emotional support things may have been different......

Peachie

[cecalle]

Peachie, I had viral meningitis in 1995. As soon as I was able to do stuff after a month in bed, I began to have really bad anxiety. I had never had a panic attack before, it was very scary. I did follow up with my neurologist. He prescribed sedatives. They helped, but after a year I gave up on them because I didn't like being sedated all the time.

Seventeen years later I am still dealing with a lot of anxiety. It seems to come in bouts, and doesn't happen as frequently as it did in the years following my illness. I have learned to control it pretty well. My worst times come at night. Just as I begin to drift off in bed, I will be overtaken by a feeling dread.

Over the years I have tried different things. I tried taking meds like Xanax, but I do not like taking medicine every day, which is necessary for most of them to take effect. My doctor has prescribed Valium, which works well for me. I don't have to take it every day. In fact, it is more like a security blanket. I try to deal with my anxiety, knowing that, if I can't, I can take one and be better in an hour.

I can't say that things have been all bad, I have a wonderful wife and a great daughter. I did learn not to wake my poor wife at night when I get an attack. At the beginning I would wake her up screaming that I was dying. Now I will sit up and walk around the house until it passes, which over the years seems to have gotten faster and faster.

I hope this help!