Viral Meningitis

[Liberalynn]

I haven't been around much this summer because I have spent most of it sick. It started out with a fever of 104 on July 3 and then I developed upper respiratory symptoms. After consulting with Dr.by phone about fever I let it all try to resolve itself. It didn't, the fever lowered but that's it. I was actually getting sicker.

So I called my Primary Care. He saw me and I told him I was pretty sure it was a Sinus Infection. He said no. Told me to go home call him in a week if I wasn't better. I wasn't, so I went back again. This time he agreed with me it was sinus infection.

But he only gave me 3 pills instead of whole Z pack. So I started to get better but then had relapse. He went back to saying it was a virus and wouldn't give more antibiotics. His nurse practitioner said it was allergies, and the Urgent Care nurse practitioner told me it was a muscle spasm when I told her about the neck and chest pain I was developing.

Well two weeks ago last Wednesday I ended up in the ER of the local hospital not knowing my own name. Neurologist on call ruled out stroke told them to check for meningitis and sure enough that's what it was. I was released a week ago Sunday. They told me I got it from the half treated sinus infection. So I was right all a long, and if Doctor had only listened, grr.

Now I keep getting rotten headaches and don't know whether I should call or not as it could just be a normal part of recovery as they said it takes awhile. Has anyone else ever had it? How long did it take to fully recover?

[MuseRider]

1. Long ago.

It was miserable but I did find that a spinal tap was not nearly as bad as they had told me it was.

I would certainly call. It can't hurt but I would sure call the neuro you used, the others sound worthless.

I had to be up and back in Nursing School in a week but mine was caught after the first 3 days of me answering my phone with bizarre statements. Once my friends figured out I was not just stoned they got me to the hospital. <--those times

[Liberalynn]

6. That was good your friends caught it.

I just knew I didn't feel at all right and contacted my sister that I needed to go to the ER. It was on the drive that I stopped making sense.

That's a good idea about the neurologist. I call PCP tomorrow for referral. You're right the PCP is worthless. The Infectious Disease Doctor said until you can transfer to new primary care just keep asking to see specialists and just use him for blood pressure and cholesterol checks cause this was a pretty big miss. I couldn't believe she said that but I agree. They have me going to ENT specialist already but he's on vacation until next week.

[MuseRider]

7. Absolutely

just make sure your insurance covers who you call and you can just roll with this until you find a new PCP. I don't have one either, mine retired and my gallbladder started acting up. It has been a pain for all concerned but it worked for me, better do the work than have bad care.

Meningitis is scary and miserable and the pain, oh boy. Once you stop making sense you are not coming back until you get it treated.

I am glad you are OK, don't wait too long and go to the ER if you must but use the good doc's names and don't mention the others. They do understand.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Be very, very careful.

I had viral meningitis back in 1980, such a bad headache I couldn't even stand. By the time I was well enough to go to the doctor, I was basically getting over it and was told there was nothing more that could be done and that if I had come in sooner they would have done a spinal tap. I had residual nerve damage in my arms for more than two years, so bad that I couldn't do anything involving small motor coordination - I.e., I could no longer type, which was a bad thing since I was employed as a legal secretary at the time and had to quit my job. It was really scary because I didn't know if I'd ever get better and the pain was excruciating, like tight rubber bands around both elbows, cutting off the circulation to my forearms. I think it's probably the sickest I've ever been in my life, except for maybe the Hong Kong flu in '68.

I hope you have no lasting effects. I finally got better and back to typing, but I had forearm pain and cramps for years and had to just power through.

[Liberalynn]

8. I am sorry you had to go through all that.

It is a scary thing. My worst pain was in the back of my neck and shoulder. Those actually resolved the last day in the hospital. Now I just get dizzy if I stand or sit up to quick and now this headache.

I think I will call and try to get a referral to the neurologist who saw me in the hospital. He treated my late mother for Parkinson's so I trust him.

[Warpy]

3. If it developed from the sinus infection, it was likely bacterial, not viral

and you're damned lucky it was just another opportunistic bug instead of the bacterial meningitis that kills people quickly.

Still, the pain can be awful and the attendant confusion terrifying to family and friends.

It will take a while to recover fully, over tiredness and some difficulty concentrating are expected. Post meningitis headaches are associated with dizziness and some memory loss and can occur for years before they taper off in the 12% or so people who get them.

Talk to your doc about analgesics, rotten headaches are rotten.

[MuseRider]

9. ^^^Best, more current advice^^^

My experience was long ago and I have been retired from nursing for a long while as well. Warpy always is right on with good advice.

[Liberalynn]

10. It was very scary

My sister said at one point I was telling them I was born in 1935and was 62 years old. I am actually 54 and born in 1962. I also said she was me and I was her. The odd thing was she said that I actually remembered the medicines I'm on for blood pressure and depression.

Definitely have the dizzy too. I will definitely call the Doctor about the headaches.

Thanks!

[Solly Mack]

4. I hope you make a full recovery.

Never had it.

[Liberalynn]

11. Thank You!

[Callmecrazy]

5. I was very young...

8 years old, I think, and I remember my recovery being several months long. I got the headaches and a high frequency hearing loss that lasted nearly a year. I also couldn't tolerate milk.

[Liberalynn]

12. That must have been really scary at that age.

It was good your hearing came back.