Long term after effects

Hi I am Sue and had bacterial meningitis at age 4.I was in a coma some time and in hospital for several weeks.My main after effect at first was joint pain......especially in my legs.That went on constantly until I was twenty something.Since then I have noticed other things like back and neck pain.I also have had increased anxiety with interactions with other people.I purposely chose an active job to keep my body working.I would recommend that to all people that have suffered with this disease,although the doctors told my parents I would never be able to I know it keeps me going.I also have memory problems at times......whether that is related or not I don't know.The anxiety and joint pain and headaches are for sure though.We all have to be strong though and take each day as a blessing.I never tell people that I have weaknesses and that I had this illness.They just accept me as I am,because that is me now.None of the doctors that I have ever seen relate anything that I have wrong with me to having had meningitis.But I am sure they realise and know that they cannot help me.Some give painkillers................I found one thing that helped with the joint problems .....or I should say a friend did.It is called Immune Egg.It is a powder that you take with milk every day and it makes me not hurt.I find it expensive so don't......cannot always use it...........but it worked for me.You can Google it and get info.By the way I don't sell this stuff.............just use it when the pain is too bad.So everyone keep their heads up and go forward!

I am writing on behalf of my husband Mason Albert who suffered bacterial meningitis in May 2001. |My husband has been left paralysed and suffered this terrible fate at the age of 39 years old. He lost his speech his independence and his mobility. He has just celebrated his 50th birthday and is still bringing a smile to myself and the children. Everyday we thank God he is still with us, but cry that he suffers in silence.

I had meningitus when i was 7 months old.... i am now 12 yeras old i have bed wetting problems ,cross eyed and have hearing problems ,i do wonder sometimes if it will get worse or if it will affect me when im older but i dont actually know if these problems link to meningitus but i have been reading your comments and some of you seem to be having the same problems ......

My heart goes out to all of the survivors of what i call "the monster". I am 30 and had meningcoccol meningitis at 6 months while my parents were stationed in Manheim Germany (US ARMY). My mother told me that she went to change my diaper in the middle of the night and I had purple blotches on my legs. She took me to the hospital and the english speaking docter said I must have been having an allergic reaction. He then prescribed me benadryl for the blotches and tylenol for the fever and told her to take me home. Thank God she stayed waiting until the morning. Another doctor saw me and there was a lot of commotion. The blood clots bubbled and bursted leaving a lot of open scars. I received sulfer treatments and was in the hospital for a little over a month. During that time I would have treatments in betadine. I have pictures of this, and times when I would be in physical therapy. I healed and carried on with life, just with scars on 70% of my legs and a few on my left arm. I did fine in school. Just talkative :o)

There were complications when I was 8. I went on a field trip to the beach and was having pains during the walk home. It took me over an hour to walk 2 small blocks. When my mother took me to the doctor, they thought I had blounse disease. After seeing a specialist, they told me that my right leg had stopped growing. The growth plate had completely closed in my knee. While doctors were trying to figure out the best treatment, I had a growth spurt. I had one surgery in attempt to open the growth plate. They cleared the bone and added a piece of fat from my other leg in the cleared space. Then with staples in my bone as a marker to look/hope for growth, my bones healed and closed the open space before my cast was removed. I then had another surgery which was an ilizarov skelatal fixator. My leg was broken in three places, I had 7 pins and 4 wires going thru my leg. I used a size 10 crescent wrench to rotate the screws which separated the bone for lengthening. We accomplished almost 2 inches.

After removal (another surgery) I experienced atrophy and had 3 additional surgeries to help me bend my knee. My leg was in a straight position while I had the fixator on. After 5 years of physical therapy three times a week and a total of 6 surgeries, doctors advised of another growth spurt. I was 13 and tired! I begged my parents for me to quit. Either I get another fixator with the chance of complications or I stop the growth in my left leg. Working thru the atrophy and painful therapy sessions I managed to get my leg to bend to 90 degrees. There was a lot of pain during this process and I was prescribed some heavy duty drugs! Its funny now that I think about how much I was able to endure at that critical pre-teen time in my life. I then had the surgery to stop the growth in my left knee and I now stand at 5'5.

The long term complications that I have experienced physically would be a slight limp if I'm not conciously paying attention. No other physical issues. I did have a bout of pancreatitis at 25, but the doctors told me it was a result of heavy drinking. I accepted it and passed it to my parents as such, but I think the meningitis had something to do with it ( I still sip on occassion). My memory has been alright considering it was hard to comprehend while studying in school. I didnt pursue more than a few classes in community college. As a coping mechanism I smoked a lot of marijuana..a whole lot! I started puffing after I stopped filling my pain killer prescriptions. I managed with things that I was interested in, but math is a joke and I stopped school once I got to quadriatic equations (smile)

I am truly blessed to still be here without any amputations and just scars from meningitis and surgeries. I cleaned up and stopped smoking weed. I strongly suggest esoteric therapy! I have a wonderful job as a site manager for a non-profit that helps abused and neglected children in south Los Angeles. I am also a songwriter/singer in my spare time. The hardest part of dealing with the after affects now would be some bouts of depression, and a short attention span. I joke and say borderline ADD. It is very difficult to explain the scarring during when someone sees the scars. There arent many people that understand what "the monster" is. Its also a pain in the a** when trying to be open for a relationship. But my faith in God is very strong and I am grateful for the experiences that are an after affect of the disease.

This was very cool and comforting to be able to read all of your stories and to share mine. I cant re-iterate how important esoteric therapy is with healing and being able to "cope". I lucky to have a number of close friends and I am very close with my parents. Know that your support system is critical for survival!!! Peace and Blessings everyone!

Hello,
I am 31 yrs old male from India. Survived Meningitis when I was 8 months old back in 1981. My parents tell me that back then my condition was unstable for few days. Was in Hospital for many months.

Luckly I don't have any long term effects of Meningitis.

I feel for all these people. I'am 52 years old and was stuck down with Bacterial Meningitis in 2008. I was within an hour of my life, my neighbour happend to be on holiday with his wife, to sort out their garden and could hear me being sick, and screaming with a horrible horrible headache and rang for an ambulance. Paramedics arrived and saw a rash on my trunk and legs, did a glass roll test then made me walk down stairs and down a long path to the ambulance..I was bent over, the pain in my head, and couldn't turn my head left or right, I knew i was dying. I got into the ambulance and pleaded for them to give me something for my headache..they put the oxygen mask over my face which made me vomit, but nothing came up. The journey seemed to take for ever, eventually arrived into A&E heart checks was done, and i asked the nurse for something for my terrible headache she said "I think we have already had this conversation". meaning you will have to wait for the doctor.. I don't remember anything until the saturday morning. I went in on Thursday at 9.20 a.m...and in that time did a spinal tapp, i kind of remember it. I can remember shouting but not shouting as it hurt to even breath, please help me, give me some pain releif, but the lovely nurse called Ruth who was on duty reassured me she could only give pain killers every 4 hours, I didn't realise i was already been pumped with antibiotics. I will always remember my consultant coming to visit me on the 2nd day and talking into my ear gently..I know how you feel, you will start to feel better soon and really held my hand. On the 3rd day I felt as if someone put a thumb on my forehead..from that moment on, I knew i was going to be better. Thank you Jesus. <3

My name is Teresa. I am 49 years old. I was diagnosed with spinal meningitis when I was 4 years old. My symptoms were typical..headache, neck ache and extremely high fever.
My mother got me to the hospital at the brink of death. I was quarantined and in the hospital for 9 months. I do have partial memories of the actual symptoms, drive and the hospital stay. In fact I remember my nurse, Vicki so well.
I had tubes in my ankles and the scars to prove it since most of my veins had collapsed form all of the different IV's.
I know that I am very lucky. I have absolutely no disabilities or disorders because of the spinal meningitis. My memories are mostly pleasant... Even being in the hospital as a
4 year old. I am sure my parents had nightmares but I didn't and don't.
I am so sorry for everyone's loss and/or disorders. I will pray for all of you.
I just felt I needed to tell "my story."

The “after effect” I have is severe, constant, all-over joint pain. I came down with meningococcal meningitis at age 25. The first day I thought it was a bad flu. I had a high fever 105 F, sore throat & generally felt awful. I made an appointment to see my doctor, but they didn’t have a spot until the next day. When I woke the next morning, I could not move my legs. I was rushed to the Emergency Room. The one thing I remember from that morning was the look on the nurses’ face when they discovered the ‘spots’. I spent the next 2 weeks in the hospital. When I left the hospital, all my joints were huge and swollen.
I guess I’m pretty lucky, but the doctor’s only answer is to give me pain killers. I’m now 33 & a mom. I really would like to find another solution to my joint pain other than drugs. I have been to all kinds of doctors - rheumatologists, neurologists, naturopaths, and acupuncturists. Every doctor seems to have no idea of how to help. Now I am a patient at our local hospitals pain clinic, as I have no other options. I worry about the long-term effects of being on narcotics. I’m only in my 30’s – what’s going to happen to my health if I have no alternative but narcotics for another 50 years??
If anyone out there has a doctor that knows an alternative treatment, please contact me. You can email me at marypies@hotmail.com. I live in the US – West Coast.

I am 54 yrs old. I was told that I had meningitis when I was about 2-1/2 yrs old. That would have been in 1960 while we lived in Del Rio, TX because my dad was in the Air Force. Apparently I had to be in isolation for a short period of time. I don't really have any memories except that for some reason I recall my parents getting me out of bed and into the bathroom to throw up and that I didn't like being in a "crib" at the hospital because I was "too old" to be in a crib. I never knew until the 1980's that I could possibly have side effects from having been ill when I was younger. I also had the measles and mumps at the same time when I was about 3 yrs old. I seem to be the one child of the 4 of us kids that was always getting sick. I had walking pneumonia twice, had my tonsils out when I was almost 17, etc. My parents passed away years ago, so I can't ask them any questions today. Reading some of the posts on this page makes me wonder if some of my emotions and challenges throughout the years and now have any connection to these childhood illnesses. There are certain sounds/pitches that I do not like to hear or have near my ears, yet I also have trouble hearing people who are talking to me when in a noisy room, trouble remembering things, and even more I feel like it takes me longer/harder to learn stuff. Most of the time I just chalk it up to "me being me". But maybe there's a reason why it's always been a struggle. Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse. Guess I'll never know for sure. Who knows what the doctors at the base hospital knew about meningitis in 1960. I will count my blessings that I have a wonderful husband for 26+ years and 2 wonderful sons ages 22 and 17. It also makes me wonder what my husband and sons will have to go through if I reach ages 70-80 and have these symptoms worsen or more symptoms added.

Hi my names Kylie, 19 year old I had bacterial or pneumococcal meningitis when I was 4 and almost died, my mum said I was touched by an angel and was lucky I survived it. I know have pains in my joints and when I run I tend to twist my ankles, I also have bad memory and can't remember my child hood at all, it also effected my growth; I'm short :( 4.5 feet, I also get stomach migraines, do you think it's cause I had meningitis ?

Hi - My son was diagnosed wiht H Flu Bacterial Meningitis 1 yr ago at age 4. He was hospitalized for 3 wks and then sent to a rehab facility to regain his ability to walk, balance and regain strength. His side affect was severe hearing loss in one ear and mild loss in the other. His balance is still challenging for him.

I am wondering what long term affects are in children. COuld sensory deficit disorder be an after affect? could behavioral issues be something stemming from meningitis? it is hard to tell what is normal rambunctious boy behavior and what is a problem. if it is a developmental problem i wonder if it can be related to the meningitis?

Hi, my name is Jessel. I'm from Trinidad. I'm 31 years old and survived bacterial meningitis when i was 15. Thankfully, my doctor picked it up just in time to start treating me for it. Because of an active lifestyle at the time, my body was able to fight it off quickly and I was out of hospital in in 2 weeks. However, while at hospital I was unconscious for 2 days, lost my balance completely and lost hearing in both ears. Miraculously (as the doctor says) I got my hearing back in my right ear only. My balance it seems will never be back to normal but I've learned to live with it. I was able to resume soccer at a competitive level and spend 4 years on soccer scholarship in Alabama. Like some of the earlier comments I've read, I too suffer with frequent headaches, back pains and knee problems. I work with a physiotherapist who has helped strengthen my quadraceps and ease the knee troubles a bit. Often massages and work with a physio can help with knee and back pains. I'm yet to go see a doctor about the headaches, but they've become more frequent as I get older. Wishing you all the best and good health! My advice: Stay fit, stay positive, don't give up and seek professional help with every symptom. As I said, I may never be 100 % again, with half my hearing and loss of balance but I'm able to enjoy life with my limitations.

my mother, evelyn is my mother who till this day suffers frm the aftr effects of bacterial meningitus. or spinal meninjitus as shecalls it. her memory of her life isnot told all tht clear. and she doesnt no her family because of going thru adoption. she sed she got it frm an ear infection tht wasnt treated...well idk if thts so, but i gess ill go w wat she tells me.

my life, seeing my mother i new smthng was somewat strange.... and my father was very abusive towrds me, he was a child raper. my mom did not relize or even notice the obviouse signs of smthg being wrong, because shes not relly connected to reality

and taking care of me as me being her daughter, i was fed, bt the clothes she put on me wer not all tt matching so i lookd very much tacky.. and she didnt relly controll me or govern me as a normal mother wuld. and w me i had a temper, an so did she..insted of calming down and correcting me shed scream an yell rite bak.

i was also born w ABS an sometimes i wander ....w all her physical health problems ther culd be a link to y i came out this way

well anyways...as a child i was embarassed of my mother, it is evident tht she suffers frm severe brain damage, w the way she talk and her lak of sense wen ur tryng to explain smthng to her. she also wuld lik at my face and id feel humiliated as a child... this small neighborhood evryone knows my mother as pocahantas, or the naked lady...she will only wear bakinis

im not hating her at all i just didnt understand while growing up..... why i was the only child free to roam the streets...and y i lernd thngs the hard way. i jad to lern very much on my own experience

so me seeing her as my mother i c now tht im old enuf the tru state of my mother

i was taken away frm her at 12 because
i told my mom about my dad doing tht stuff and yes he went to prison for 50 yr .. but afterwrds my bro had ths frend who relly bullied him, and he was much oldr thn him and this guy was sp cruel to me and my bro.. an i beggd my mom to make him stop the terrible thngs but she didnt... and my mom being crazy she attak me and id get severy ill in my mind... we wer taken away frm her because she wasnt mentally able to handle carng for children.

everyone can see wen they meet my mother tht she is not all the way there. shes relly into her indian culture an she wears feathers frm birds n her hair...and she doesnt relly like clothes. and the way she moves and talks she has slow motor skills... frm spinal menenjitus

and rite now tht im old enuf to move bak home, shes been nearly beat to death about maybe three yrs ago... an now she seems more damaged. sphe seems to b getting worse.... sometines she wakes up.and loses the use of some parts of her body..she falls more and she is so so negative and stubborn an she wont let anyone help her

shes on SSdisabality chek and she is being used., by this lady ,her bf and her kids... they live her for free they use her... its like they brainwashed her into thnkng a certain way... she spend her last dime on them

and she doesnt take care of her self... its so horrible it seems w her condition and shes getting worse it seems..well id thnk she has alot of time left

her mind is so gone frm being so damaged it is too much to describe the things i hav to tell

and her physical state is seadily gettng more worse... i didnt see one person w a story parallel to mine..

it is a mess.... i hate spinal meninjitus.... i wish i culd find away to help her...

i hav so many stories to describe about her as a person....
johnson_rose51@yahoo.com

My name is Shaunte, and my story is very similar to Catrina Kimber's and Jeremy Ramirez's. I was diagnosed with Bacterial Spinal Meningitis when I was 3 months old. I was also very lethargic when I was taken to the hospital and had a fever of 104. My brain swelled and the doctors said that if I lived, I would either be in a vegetative state or severally mentally handicapped. Thankfully, I was neither. I had no learning disabilities growing up, except for some reading comprehension difficulties. Now I love to read. I was (and still am) so thankful that God spared my life that I decided I wanted to be a special education teacher. I've been in college for 4 years now, and am supposed to graduate in December of 2012. However, for the past year, I've been having a lot of cognitive problems, including reading comprehension difficulties. My short term memory is almost non-existent, and I have forgotten details from a few major events in my life. But most troublesome for me is my difficulty speaking. Most people are not aware of my problem, but it is slowly becoming more obvious. I have difficulty with word finding. I use the wrong word quite frequently, replacing it with a word that sounds similar, but is quite different. For example, yesterday I said "sickens" instead of "seconds." I also combine words together. I am so distressed about this because I'm already nervous enough about being a teacher soon, without worrying about making a fool of myself. I've seen a neurologist, and he did an MRI,which was normal. All he said was that there was evidence of brain shrinkage, but he said almost everyone has that. He then told me that he thought if I just believed I was healthy, that I would be. If only it were that simple. I asked him if my problems could be attributed to the bacterial meningitis I had as a baby, and he said no. I believe him to be wrong. I originally thought I had MS because I have almost all the symptoms of it, but after reading what everyone has written, I think spinal meningitis is to blame. I even tried contacting the hospital that I was in when I was sick, and would you believe they destroyed my medical records? They weren't even put on microfilm! They're gone. Anyway, I'm so glad that I found this message board because I don't feel so alone anymore. There are others like me. I heard about a drug yesterday on TV called Procera AVH (https://www.proceraavh.com/). It's supposedly a cognitive enhancer. Has anyone else heard about this drug, or maybe even tried it? Also, here's some advice: I've noticed that when I go to see my doctor, I often forget many of my symptoms, and therefore, cannot discuss them. I've found it helpful to keep a journal. As I go through my day, I write down everything that I do or say that bothers me. This doesn't have to be an essay. I'm sure you all lead busy lives like I do. Just write down little things that you know you will forget if you don't. When I go to see my doctor, I show him my journal in hopes that he will see something new and be able to help me. I would love to hear from anyone who's story is similar to mine. Please email me at shaunte5181@yahoo.com. God bless you all.

became ill 30th july 2011 while on holiday with irregular heartbeat which iv always had but never bothers me unless am ill so i knew i was in for something,i managed to last the 7 days holiday mostly spent in bed and when i got home went to a and e where blood tests showed a viral infection which i was told was prob labyrinthitis as id earache i was told it will pass take pain killers 2 weeks later i was still in bed with the worst headache iv ever felt it was horrific then the vertigo started then the vomiting and eye nystagmus blurred vision stiff neck and the pain was unbearable,after several visist to a and e and doctors who did nothing i collapsed and was taken to hospital had a cat scan and was told no tumour and sent home no more tests or explanation.what this illness can do to your head is awfull the nightmares were horriable and i felt like i was living in my own little bubble that didnt feel familiar to me anymore i was terrified and in tears daily not knowing what was wrong.i was told id have to wait 18 weeks to see a neurologist so paid to go private after 5 months living with torture everyday i needed to find out what was wrong as my doctor said i was suffering depression which made me worse as i knew they didnt believe me,its very lonely out there by yourself with no support,my mri scan showed swelling and fluid in my brain and i was told id had meningitis it took me 5 months and ended up having to pay to find out what the doctors should have found out long ago if they had bothered to do the tests on me.am angry and have lost total trust in the medical profession iv been left with hearing loss,balance and dizziness problems and a constant headache and vision problems,i have no confidence anymore and dont go out as the panic it brings on is so upsetting.i dont know if the after effects will get better or not and dont know where to turn as my gp practise are very unsupportive,its changed my life and my kids lives and the destruction and trauma this condition leaves behind is so very cruel.

when i was 18 i came down with west nile virus that eventually turned into viral meningitis.its hard to believe that your life can be turned around by a tiny insect noone ever thinks anything about. i made a good recovery, 5 days in the hospital getting drugs pumped into me i came out like a champ. started exercising again and had no problems whate so ever. I wish that was the end of it but in 2009 i started getting that oh so familiar feeling again. i was 23 at this time married with a son. I told my wife we needed to go to the hospital and away we went. 7 days later i was out with yet again surviving meningitis, i am lucky to still be here. there is a woman i know who got it around the same time as me, both times. this time i wasnt so lucky on recovery. i constantly have migraines and the strangest dreams. my dreams are so vivid that its getting hard to determine reality from them. i was just curious if anyone else suffering from this feels like they are going crazy. i only know the 1 woman who is going through what i have and was just wanting to see if anyone had anything similar going on with them.
thank you

Hi. I know that what I am about to tell all is not reconizable to the regular doctor.My people parish for lack of knowledge.I came down with menninggitis Aug. 27-2010. Never foget it.It hit so fast that I knew this was not a flu or cold. I am here in Arizona.The day was 109 degrees.I am also on the move.Up at the crack of dawn.9 months straight prior I was having nite sweats from the menopause.So my sleep was always broken up into a few hrs.Not on hormones and rely on herbs and homeopathic remedies.No Healthinsurance either.Which now I am greatful for not having.Years ago I had a homeopathic doctor that taught me so much about herbs and homeopathics that, that was my insurance.Self taught.Any ways heres my story.I had not left the property in 2 wks.My hubby was doing the shopping always on top of wiping the carts ,washing hands after coming home.That day I came in from mowing lawn.I felt great.Took a shower and had meatloaf in the oven to eat when I got out.My hair was down to my butt very long for years.Was combing it out and suddenly I had a queerness that came over me like nothing I had ever felt in this lifetime.It stopped me dead in my tracks.I told my hubby I don't feel rite.I am going to laydown.He never hears that.15minutes later My teeth were chattering,I was freezing THAN it was like someone sticking a hose at the back of my skull and filling my head up.The pain in my head was so esruchiating I had my hands on my skull to hold it all together.In 1 hr I had a fever of 103. Two hrs later 105.Just laying on the bed and my head on the pillow felt like concrete crushing all of me.This all started @ 5pm by 9pm that nite I knew what I had just from all the knowledge I had received from my homeopathic doctor in th past.I had my hubby look up menningitis on the computer.He got scared.Having herbal supplements,homeopathic remedies on hand and knowledge under me.I began treating myself for this long ride of pain and agony.Knowing antibiotics don't do a thing but play more havok in the long run.Could not eat or even drink water.But forced myself to take one drink to take a MILKTHISTLE this is for the liver for toxins.Cranberry extract for the kidneys to filter toxins out.10,000 mg vit.C.Goldenseal root,Paud arco,Cats claw,Elderberry.These are all for viral or bacterial infections.The liver and kidneys now are working overtime thats where milkthistle and cranberry come in to support critical organs for taking this on.I mean mega doses of these 2.If you cant even drink water like I could'nt the next day I crammed it under my tongue and let it go slowly.By 2AM that nite it had gone into my spine.Fever at 106. I already have scoliosis.So Even if I had health insurance.A spinal tap would have been detrimental.The outcome is unknown of leaving paraylisis in certain areas of the body and the hospitols cover themselves by having you sign a waiver.And thats more stress on the body which it didn't need rite now.Your adrenals are going into flight for you life.So I needed to pump them up and give them more to deal with this.This is where Astragalus root comes into play also,this herb targets adrenal functions.Co enzyme Q 10 for the heart 100mg 4 x day.Meanwhile I am peeing like crazy so I am getting dehydrated fast and cannot eat NOTHING! Weighing in at 135lb/5'7'.Now the pain is in my bones its moving fast threw me And I knew it.By the second evening my head and bones hurt so bad even the bones in the bottom of my feet.It was as if I was being crusified.It was difficult to walk to the bathroom.I was walking like I was 100yrs old and I was only 48 skinny active lady & healthy before this.I Prayed to Jesus to take this or give me knowledge and wisdom to come through this.When I did sleep it was from pain exhaustion, maybe 20-30 min intervals.The fever still at 105 to 106 fluxtuation.I knew my brain was boiling.My head felt like someone crushing it to concrete and the third day out of desparation I took my wolfs shears and brought all my long hair I have had all my life to the top of my head and CUT IT all.Hoping the weight of it would releive some pain on my brain.Knowing Being in bed to long can cause fluid build up in the lungs.I forced myself to get up and stand up against the wall for 3 min or so, so exhausted trying not to cry because it made the pain worse.My hubby wanted to go to the hospitol.But no health insurance,worried about them taking our house.I stood my painful ground.No I will die here and not there I told him.I would proble get sicker there and catch god knows what else with my system being down.Than explaining to him,my scoliosis and the spinal tap bit.Later this third day in the evening laying there in bed looking around,all the vivid bright colored art on the walls went to looking pastel colored to hrs. later to black and white.At the same time my hearing fading in and out.I let him know what was happening.All the time had to keep my head to guide him on what to give me from herbs to homeopathic.The homeopathic remedies I took are RUTA GRAVELONS,RUS TOX-BELLIS these are for arthritis but you see its lack of fluid in the joint that cause arthitis.I am dehydrated so these work on the joints and play havov with the menningitis.You may not feel it work because of the fever and delirium but it is working.DMAE-GINKO for the brain.Gives oxygen passes through the blood bain barrier and keeps neurologicals clicking correctly instead of short circuiting from the fever and mengines being filled with fluid.This being the 3rd day going into evening losing eyesight color and hearing and taking frequent pain pass out phases.That nite when I was asleep I remember in my sleep not awake mind you.There was a coldness of cold I felt "internally" That I could never describe or imagine in being wake.As I sleep I had a knowledge inside That I was dieing.I woke suddenly from that thought in my sleep.Looked around as if someone said something to me than Oh God Here came the pain like no other time before I cried out PLEASE GOD MY LORD JESUS Take me I am ready or take this Cause I cannot do this. The pain was unreal to me And I could not beleive this agony of torture.Than a calmeness came over me but the excrusiating pain was still there.Than this thought crossed my mine that, is this was jesus felt when he was being crusified.It was a moment at 3:30AM that this happened to me.It was as if I was feeling what he had felt in that time.But the calmness and peace was so santifed it at that moment outweighed the pain even though I could feel it.I Cried right than and it didnt hurtfor the first time.I knew without knowing how I knew that he was here and had me in the palm of his hand.Lord Jesus knew his pig headed little girl was not budging to the hospitol and was going to go home from this one to his.I endured this 2 weeks with a fever of 105-106.It started to drop 1/2 to one degree every day on the 13th day. My normal body temp of 98.5 degree came finally and stabilized at 3 weeks exactly. with my vision full intact and a weight loss of 25lbs and walking like a feeble 100 yr old women.I quareenteed myself for one more week than started going to my chiropractor 3 x wk. He took me in out of the kindness of his heart after he saw what I looked like and told him what happened.He has never charged me one dime.He knows I don't have health insurance. I waited 3 months to have a through eye exam cause I wear glasss but my eyes are'nt that bad.But wanted to know If I had scar tissue from this since I lost my vision and hearing intermitantly.My eyedoctors daughter had it and had eye scar tissue and eye problems after.When I described to her what I felt and went through she said ya thats exactly what my daughter felt and had gone through.My eyes were PERFECT.She wanted to know what I did to get through this.I told her what I have stated here.Though extremely fatigued afterwards.I had enough energy to take a shower but not come my short hair out and I would have to take a nap.I also took HIGH B COMPLEX by garden of life vitamin code and 5000 mcg. of b-12 in methylcobelim form or RAW B12 from garden of life These are for all neuron transmitters in the central nevous system with is need in high quanities during this BUG.It protects the nerves even though its runnnig through the nervous system and you feel the pain and 2 tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil which in turn stableizes blood sugar levels when you cannot eat or drink water.I would just let it sit in my mouth cause I feared anything I swallowed I would throw up,Its very good and becomes like a liquid water at 72 degrees and hardens at 71 and below.I took ALL THIS also when I came down with this. I had no water or food for 2wks. I remember my first meal I wanted a head of lettuce and some necterines.It took me 3 days to eat that whole head of lettuce and one necterine took me 1 1/2 day with drinking small amounts or I should say sips of distilled water.TO completely get back to my energic self took 8 months and it was slow coming and during that time period off and on I would get depressed AM I ever going to be right again?I would ask myself.But I stayed VIGELANT!! on VITAMINS COCONUT OIL SLEPT when ever I needed. LET everthing in the house go to crap and even lost my credit and was served papers for my credit cards.But you know what That didnt affect me.When you almost die and You live through it and theres a guy serving you I looked at him and just smiled and told him what happened to me and this is NOTHING just paper.Well mam this will affect you you know.This again I told him is a pc of cake to what I have just been through.I guess he expected me to panic.But there was nothing I could do about getting menningitis and rode it out on gods herbs he put here and the knowledge he granted to me threw his grace.Because I had no Health Insurance And he'll have to do the same on my credit issues now.When Aug. 27 of 2011 came around,3 days before I hunkerd down afraid it mite be coming back and remenissed on what I had gone through last yr.Than had a revelation. That since I came down with menninggitis I have never had nite sweats since than.WHU HU!! I also Have all my energy and mental stamina back.Actually I feel better now than I did before I came down with this.But beleive me when I tell you this I had to force all this stuff in me to keep myself alive and it was hard.But these things are critical for a recovery and I never eat out or do fast food or a pit stop for any processed food.Mood snappiness getting angered easily mine is probly menopause. But I got angered I guess and moody because I was angry at my body for getting it and for letting me down than not getting better quickly.Please I tell you all. ALL the herbs and vits and homeopathics I took and some I still take today will get you bette and feeling normal again.But did you know that PHARMACYTICALS in GREEK mean to do harm and poisen. I did not spend hrs rejoicing typing all this when I can barely type a regular pace to not have this in some way HELP SOME ONE out there.I am a living testomonial that it works and was taught by the best in homepathics and natural doctor.When he gave me knowledge and took time out for me to know how. All he asked of me was if ever there was a time to help others on what I have taught you. Show them also in need of help.If you have some questions on pulling out of this and feeling better I may be able to direct you in the rite direction on what you can do. You may contact me at: zutechi@yahoo.com

Hi, I am 24 yrs old i contracted mennigitis of my 3 days after my 24th birthday its was absolutly horrible i had all the sypmtoms even the horrible rash. i believe i recovered fast cause we caught it at the 3rd day i was in the hospital for 2 wks and got discharged on meds i still have head aches now and then but i found that for no reason i am extremely depress and just most the time feel down i also have issues with balance and a bit of dizzyness still if i move to fast but the thing that has me most worried is my depression... can anymore help or give me advise please feel free to email me ruffcuttsbarbados@gmail.com thank you

My son was diagnosed with menengitis at 23 months. We took him straight to the hospital as it was a sunday morning and they reckon that is what saved his life as by the time we got there his body was covered with the rash and he was going into convutions... after being discharged from hospital a week later we thought, we are so lucky no loss of limbs, no brain damage etc and home we went. Only to discover this year that there are a lot of complicated after effects, tiredness, limb pains, headaches, to name a few, but the biggest thing are the difficulties in his ability to concentrate, retain information, forgetfullness, and because of this he gets very aggitated, he has also shown signs of depression, we are struggling to get his school to accept the fact that his problems there are to do with him having had menengitis we have even presented them with information from the Menengitis Research Foundation and we feel it has been ignored. We are very frustrated because he wants to be in school but they are making it very difficult for him to cope on a daily basis... please if anyone has been through a similar situation and found a solution to help the school help him my email is shylocklisa@eircom.net.

To Jo Wilkinson
Here's some hope for you all.
My brother (14) and I (15) both came down with Meningicoccal Septicemia in 1973. He died and I survived. The after effects are huge but you can have a life.
After 6 months I was back at school with sore spine, migraines and confusion. I worked so hard to barely pass my exams. I went on to Naval College and sailed the Seven Seas as an engineering officer for seven years.
Married in 1980, my wife and I moved from UK to Canada. Worked in industry in Calgary and hunted and fished the Rockies. Had to give everything up gradually...soccer in 1982, archery in 1989, golf in 1993, fishing in 1996
Quit work due to physical limitations in 1997 and became an artist. Still there.
Two children, daughter (23) married with 2 children, son (22) philosophy student and Army reserve.
I was finally diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome as a result of the Meningitis in 2001. I had been complaining of pain to the doctors since 1986.
After years of massive and ineffective morphine use, nerve blocks that didn't work, Lidocaine infusions that partially worked, I have a spinal cord stimulator and am back to functioning fully.
I'm not on any meds and love life.
My McGill Pain Index number was 44/50 .Now it is probably 5.
I suggest you look into C.R.P.S. and Spinal Cord Stimulation. I'm 53 and I feel like I am 35 again instead of 75. We are all awestruck by the difference after 30 years of pain.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS YOUR SUPPORT! I couldn't have made it without my wife of 31 years. Oh and don't forget the sense of humour dealing with everyone who doesn't get it.
Bill

I am 24 years old,I contracted meningococal miningitis at age 10.I died 3 times an was life flighted.I have never looked in to after math sides.Once I read all the blog I know maybe a lot of my health probs might have to do with it.I still have some scares an have had a prob with some self body things but I never tell people bout whats under the clothes.Every one thinks im so pretty an self confadent because of my looks an its been 14 years an am just starting to relize that as you get older no one cares about scars an if they do then FU.I am woundering if any one nos any kind of suport groups for it all?

I am 24 years old,I contracted meningococal miningitis at age 10.I died 3 times an was life flighted.I have never looked in to after math sides.Once I read all the blog I know maybe a lot of my health probs might have to do with it.I still have some scares an have had a prob with some self body things but I never tell people bout whats under the clothes.Every one thinks im so pretty an self confadent because of my looks an its been 14 years an am just starting to relize that as you get older no one cares about scars an if they do then FU.I am woundering if any one nos any kind of suport groups for it all?

Truly floored after reading everyones comments. I had H flu meningitis when I was six months old. I was in the hospital for around a month, I'm told. It caused me to go deaf in my left ear and my left knee swelled up really bad. Since then my knee has always been larger than my right knee. Now at 40 years old I'm starting to experience some pain in my left knee, which is what caused me to seek information about the disease. What I never expected to find was answers to some things in my life I never associated with being sick as an infant. Depression, leading to being diagnosed bipolar II, short term memory being bad, trouble concentrating, back and neck pain, poor balance, difficulty saying what I'm thinking. It just explains so much about my life. I never knew what to "blame" for my problems, nor did I seek to. I've always thought it was just genetics. Now I know it is more then that. Truly eye opening.

I have been reading you alls comments
WOW
It's me- I had spinal meningitis at 3
Horrible- doc kept sending me home saying had a cold-ear infection
Coma- near death- just like you all
Deaf in ear
I am 49 now- ear infections constant- constant horrible headaches
I shake
Constantly turn bright red
Balance is horrible
I'm starting to wonder if we are left with chronic inflammation
Also- my torso is short! And my rib cage is 2 inches wider than my sister's
I suffer from horrible bashful ness

I have been reading you alls comments
WOW
It's me- I had spinal meningitis at 3
Horrible- doc kept sending me home saying had a cold-ear infection
Coma- near death- just like you all
Deaf in ear
I am 49 now- ear infections constant- constant horrible headaches
I shake
Constantly turn bright red
Balance is horrible
I'm starting to wonder if we are left with chronic inflammation
Also- my torso is short! And my rib cage is 2 inches wider than my sister's
I suffer from horrible bashful ness

My name is Monique. I am 32 years old. I have just been recently diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder and OCD. There is no family history of mental illness on my mother or fathers side so I began to research what could have possibly went wrong. Well when I was 6 I got Scarlet Fever. In 1997 I started developing Tonsillitis every several months for 3 years, followed by several bouts with walking pnuemonia, and topped off with the final bout with meningitis in 2004. Scarlet Fever has been link to OCD due to the Strep A infection, which also can develop later meningitis, pnuemonia, sinusitis, as well as certain types of arthritis. I have found several articles on people questioning whether meningitis can be linked to the development of Bipolar Disorder. I can say that I have to believe that these are related. I know that very shortly ago nothing was wrong with me. After the onset of meningitis I have the mood swings, the forgetfulness, the headaches back pain, confusion, malaise, fatigue, and balance problems. I used to be sports active, and enjoyed life and learning. Now I have to wind up to do everything. I find some comfort in knowing I'm not alone, but I still feel isolation, because without a clear medical explanation it is hard for people to understand.

I am 30 years old. Had meningitis when I was 8-years-old. My parents took me to the hospital after I had a seizure and I was unconscious in ICU for one week and then gained consciousness and was moved to a regular bed in the hospital for one week. I had crossed eyes for a while, but they returned to normal. I have always had some problems that other people don't seem to have, but none of them seemed really extreme and I didn't start searching for the answers until the last couple of years. Today is my first day of researching meningitis. It really seems all the puzzle pieces are coming together: headaches, dizziness, lack of concentration, poor short-term memory, bed-wetting (until I was 11 years old) and continued bladder control difficulty until today (not sure if that's a symptom), difficulty hearing - but "perfect hearing" when tested, very sensitive ears (is this a symptom?). I don't want to just blame all my problems on this. I want to be reasonable about it, but I also want to be informed and not blind to the possible problems. My main questions right now are: Does it get better? Does it get worse?

I'd like to contact Tom Kennedy, we have had similar experiences with manningitis

I would like to talk with Tom Kennedy, we have similar experiences with meningitis contracted in the army.

Hi my name is eileen I was diganost with b minigitis when I was 15 in a half.I had a six mounth son then iam now 25..I thought I had a flu affter a fwe days everyone was telling me to go to the er and I said later an hour latter I started talking funny saying weird things yelling and seeing thangs that wernt there my mom rushd me to the er and thay put me in icu I was in the haspital for seven days thay said if I have wated a hour later I would have died...iam 25 now I have a lot of porbloms I have back pain and serve migrans and I don't talk right all the time and ihave depersshion frome befor then I use to play baskitball bacball and was a helthy young lady now I have so menny thangs wrong with me its sad but it seems my dr thanks minigitis has nothing to do with it is there reserch on it so I can prove to him it dose because I need some dr to help I wanna be in no pain so I can live a happy life with my kids it. Hurts me so bad to know I can't run with them because my back is hurting or because I have to lay down due to a migran pleese help my e mail is.....alfredo.jimenez765@gmail.com thank u

I contracted Bacterial Meningitis when i was 14 while visiting America on a three week holiday. At first i just thought i had the flu, severe coughing, runny nose and a headache but then i started blacking out saying wierd things and even calling my mum by a different name! My parents rushed me to the hospital where they then transfered me to St Peitersburg childrens hospital in florida. I was in ICU for a week and told doctors told my mum and dad that if they had left me for another hour longer and i would have been dead. Since recovering i have lost almost every memory of my life from before i got sick and things i think i remember im not sure are real. I am now 19 and suffer with extreme headaches, migraines and anxiety. I now realise that i was very lucky and thats all it is Luck.

My name is Roxanne, I am 26 years old. I was diagnosed with viral spinal meningitis when i was 12 years old. The doctors thought I had the flu, until my eyes crossed on their own. Turns out it was the pressure on my brain that caused that. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks, 1 week in ICU. It has made a severe impact on my eyesight, memory loss, and back pain. There were 7 people that contracted the disease in the same time frame that I had it in my county. I am the only one who survived and I thank God everyday for that. My prayers are with anyone who is facing this disease.

At 18 years old I contracted viral, spinal mengitis. I was quarentined in the hospital for almost a week and was then on bedrest for a month. Since then I have had problems with my back, extreme head aches, for a short while I had fainting spells, and I find my memory not as good as it used to be. I had problems with reading and concetration since then as well. I often wondered what kind of long term damage besides hearing and balance could be caused by this illness, I also get scared, since I had the virus, that I could come down with it again. Any time I get a cruppling headache, I get nervous. Does anyone know a good place to find reserch on this?

I was drafted into the US Army on 12-65, & on Jan. 6, 66 I came down with a rash, 6 days later, I was sent to the Base Hospital, High Fever, Neck & throat sore. I cannot remember the next 5 day's. On Jan 31-66 the lab report came back. N. Meningitidis. types B&C isolated, sulfa resistant. Have had Migraine's ear ache's, hearing problims, & Tinnitus. From Jan. 1966, & now I have arthritis, & bone & joint trouble. Was this meningococcal meningitis?? My entire basic training company was put on Quarteen!! Any answers? Thanks

i had miningitis when i was around 16.. i didnt had those many thing but i did had some. now i am 22 but i have some after affects. some how my back and my brain didnt come back to their own selfs again.now i have a question everytime i pop my back there is always a ball of air flowtting to my brain and after that it always starts hurting.. does any one know why? i don' t know if its normal or if i have to go to the doctore...? any one know?

Came down with bacterial meningitis at the age of 18 month, I am now 50 years old. The after effects I had to live with are, speech problems, I could be thinking one word and another word will come out. I love to read, I want to be writer, but grammar has been a struggle for me and still is. I have gotten ear, sinises and respitory infection once or twice a year for the last twenty years. Body tremors, balance and constant headaches, and add menopause with hot flashes and mood swings, and you misery. My father was a maniac depressed, I thought I might inherited my depression from him, but hearing your stories, I realize it could be an affect from my illness. All my life , I felt, I was border line slow or mentally challenge. I have some theories of why the survivors of meningitis have so many health problems. I like to hear from anyone who had similar experience.

Okay I've read many Comments please email me @ bbengaged@gmail.com.....My bestfriend is 19 an she has a 2 yr old daughter an a recently born about 3 week old daughter who we rushed to the CHKD ER about a week or so ago....She had : green gunk caked on her left eye, it was red an swollen shut......she was screaming extremely louder than normal newborns. I'm only 17 an have been by my bestfriend's side even before she had Layla. Now Layla is about 3weeks old and in CHKD being hospitalized for Meningitis. Doctors are still unsure of exactly the cause except that her mommy my bestfriend has a bacteria in her uterus lining which they believe is how Layla contracted Meningitis during the pregnancy. Now, I'm concerned because my bestfriend keeps calling me an they have tried pickines to get the antibiotics through into Layla but, they keep getting pulled out....now she has gone under anesthesia twice to get what they call a catheter in her chest....yes they cut open her chest. I'm extremely concerned as the long term effects we could possibly be looking at.....She is currently still in CHKD an under going her 2nd chest Catheter. Please someone email me @ bbengaged@gmail.com my name is Bionca.

My name is Alyssa. I'm 22 and was diagnosed with Viral Meningitis my junior year of high school. My doctor thought it was mono. I missed two weeks of school and on the Friday of the second week I experienced 3 seizures back to back. I was in the hospital a short while, but made it back in time to finish the school year. Since then I experience consistent headaches and severe migraines. I've also noticed short term memory loss, loss for words, slower reflexes and balance issues. I am grateful there are so many of you who have shared your stories. Sending positive thoughts to those still effected by this disease.

-A

Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) meningitis used to be the most common type of meningitis in children under 5 in many countries. Since the introduction of the Hib vaccine in 1992 cases have dropped by over 90% in the UK. Symptoms & possible after effects of Hib meningitis are the same as for other bacterial meningitis. If you live in the UK and wish to talk this through tel: MRF freefone 080 8800 3344

When I was 11 months old, I contracted H. flu meningitis from another baby in our church daycare. I was also septic. Luckily, my mother is a nurse and knew the signs (high-pitched cry, seizure, high fever and unconsciousness) and my folks got me to the ER (where my mom worked) right away...I may not have made it otherwise. H. Flu is the most deadly form of meningitis...At first the doctors thought I'd either be deaf, mentally disabled or I wouldn't survive, but I came out with no visible disabilities. The baby I contracted it from, or vise versa, is now mentally disabled. I'm very lucky.
I'm now 26, and I have a lot of joint related problems (mostly my back and knees). I also, didn't grow as tall as I was projected to according to my growth charts as a kid and I have a broader rib cage with a shorter torso. I'm curious if having meningitis and having been given all those medications at such a young age caused the issues I'm having now. I also have vertigo issues, bad vision and slight hearing loss. I wonder if anyone is doing research out there regarding all the issues on this blog?
I guess in the big scheme of things, I'm thankful to be alive. I just married the love of my life and I pray that I'll never have to go through with my kids what my parent's went through with me.

In March 1994 I too had surgery to remove a brain tumor (an acoustic neuroma). In Feb. 1996 I experienced my first post-surgery head cold. Within 24 hours I was so ill I was incoherent and incontinent. I spent nine days in hospital in a coma while the swelling in my brain subsided. (The cold virus apparently migrated into my cranium through a gap in the tissue affected by the tumor.)
Over the ensuing months I slowly recovered only to succumb to a second head cold/meningitis episode in Dec.1997. This bout was less severe, but resulted in a subsequent operation to repack the surgical site (the third and [hopefully] final repack).
I have been treated for depression since the first surgery and struggle with both short and long-term memory loss. I used to be a highly organized, energetic person with an almost photographic memory which served me very well. Following meningitis, I have had to learn to accept making frequent mistakes and being disorderly due to my now much poorer memory. It has been much harder to cope with the post-meningitis cognitive effects than it is the physical aftereffects of the acoustic neuroma (which include hearing loss, facial paralysis, scarring and vestibular dysfunction).
My life following meningitis has been a constant emotional struggle, as I alternately try to reinvent myself while still accepting who I've become. As difficult and challenging as it may be, I realize it is nothing compared with the grief and suffering of those who have lost a loved one to this hideous disease. My heart goes out to all who must live with the consequences of meningitis.

Hi guys. My name is Alyse and im from New Zealand. When I was 10 years old I was diagnosed with Meningitis- Meningococcal Disease. According to the doctors I was only 10 minutes away from dying. Luckily I pulled through and only spent 10 days in hospital. However, since then I have been suffering from cronic calf muscle cramps. It use to happen every month or so but now it has lessened and I only get them once a year. Still they are a giant pain in the bum and im wondering if they are caused from me having Meningitis 14 years ago? I also suffer from memory loss, for example I cannot remember what happened in a movie right after watching it.
Hope we all find the answers we are looking for.

Hi, my name is Hidayat & I'm from Singapore. I've had meningitis twice - first, back in 2005 and it relapsed just last month, July 2011.

The first time was a bacterial meningitis and I was placed in Special Intensive Care Unit for 3 weeks. The symptoms were general - neck pains down the entire back, splitting headache, vomiting, joint pains and my eyes are sensitive to light.

The recent case, I had both viral & bacterial meningitis. Did an X-Ray and the doctor saw a blood clot in my brain. My blood and entire body system was contaminated with bacteria. I didn't expect it to relapse because the doctor said it wouldn't!
So, I would advice to those who have had meningitis once to monitor your health closely to avoid a relapse! You wouldn't want to go through meningitis twice, trust me.

Recently, I found myself to suffer from side-effects of meningitis. I had little recollection of the past years. I had trouble sleeping at night, my mood is uncontrollable; one moment I'll be happy & the next moment, I'll be angsty and all. I also discover that my balance was off even by simply standing. Residual headaches also happened. It's quite bad as its hard for me to retain information within a short period too. I'm still schooling, and I'm doing terribly so far! :(

Here's my email, speedwater_2005@yahoo.com.sg if any of you have any solutions for me. You are welcome to drop me a question too :)

i was 28 when i caught meningitis i was in a coma for six days and hospital for a few weeks i still suffer from severe headaches and memory loss and sometimes get confused i started back work for about seven years manageing to put up with the side affects but the past 3 years i have been getting dizzy spells and blackouts so had to stop working been trying diff drugs for it but none seem to help much i am now 40 and seems to get harder every day

I had menegitis when I was 10 months old, my main problem is I have a speech impediment, people always ask me if I am from another country. I am from Georgia and have always lived here. I want to know if anyone else has had this problem. People always say it sounds like my accent is Irish or English. Email me at jwall817@hotmail.com

I want to offer some words of hope for parents whose children have meningitis. I had meningitis when I was seven years old. I was in a coma for seven days and in the hospital for 17 days. I was on anti-seizure medication for 5 years afterwards. But otherwise I have thrived, have been active my whole life (I am 42 now), did well in college and law school, practiced law in Paris and later London, and now have a beautiful young daugher. I know my parents must were terribly distressed when I was sick and for some years afterwards, but now, 35 years on, it's a distant memory. Just hang on.

I went in to hospital to have a brain tumour removed, (an acoustic neuroma). After a two week hospital stay, I was discharged home. Within 4 weeks, I contracted bacterial meningitis. Excruciating headache, stiffness in back of neck and all down the back, vomitting, and feeling very cold. I went back to the hospital and after a diagnostic lumbar puncture, was admitted. I spent 2 weeks on anti-viral/anti-biotics while they tested and awaited results.

Almost a year later now, I find that I can be talking, but can't find the words - I just go blank sometimes. I also have a stiff muscle ache in my neck, which causes a bad headache if I do too much bending. I have noticed that I get irritated very easily and keep losing my temper. I feel like I am not in control of myself physically, and not confident in social situations. Quite depressing. Some days I feel great, then another day, I feel queasy, light-headed, and scared. I know I am intelligent, but it must seem to people that I am slow or something......it is terrible.

And i just came home 2 days ago with my baby. I cant believe this has happened. They said every 1 out of 100,000? Is that even real? How will I know if my little baby is okay? God please help me. Thank you all, and God bless to all you survivors!!! My daughter survived and it was my salvation.

I just got out of the hospital. My baby is 7 months old. She was diagnosed with neisseria meningitidis. Bacterial Meningitis. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me. She looked dead and would not eat or anything. The doctors said i caught it soon enough to where she didnt lose her hearing, but now she has been crying everyday, and im so scared that she will die, even after she was released from the hospital. What do I do? Anyone that has this, or has had it, please call me for help. 503 719 0648. Thank you so much.

Hi, My mane is Steve. 50 yrs old. I was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis in 2000 when I was 40, hospitalized for nearly two weeks, severe sensitivity to light and loud noises & severe headaches at the time of onset. After being released from the hospital, I went back to work as a maintence tech, and I thought I had fully recovered. I was wrong. I am now experiencing severe numbness and tingling in the left side of my body, from shoulder to my foot, major memory loss, hearing loss and anti social, anxiety, panic attacks, and confusion. I am currently filing for disability, I don't want this but I don't have much of a choice. I have a Dr. I see for anxiety and just recently starting taking pain meds, I am just being carefull with those as I do not want to become addicted. I hope to get insurance soon so I can see a neurologist and see if there is anything they can do or shed some light on it. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones to this terrible disease.

My daughter who is 8 years old was discharged last week from hospital after 6 days in there. She was diagnosed with viral meningo-encephalitis. I thought she was going to be the same happy and healthy girl in few days but now still she is not herself. She is most of day in bed, very tired and sleepy, naps long and goes early to bed. Does not want to do much, no parks, no physical activities. She is eating well and has no anemia. Now her pediatritian refered her to neurologist so I can talk with her about these symptomps that acording to her pediatritian are temporary. I am so sad to see her like this. Had to cancel all her summer plans. I Have some questions, please if you know help me: should I just let her rest? is it bad for her to take her to outings (for a couple of hours)? will it help if she rests more so she will fully recover? she seems to be doing exactly the same everyday, not progressing/getting stronger. Do you know of anybody who did fully recover? I need more faith and support, feel very sad but also gratefull she is here at home and not at the hospital anymore or with more serious complications. Thanks. We live in California, USA

I had viral meningitis and encephalitis at the age of 5. I spent one month in the hospital and went through my life with some permanent problems but I never linked this to the illness. I am 45 now and started looking into this last year.
Like a lot of people in this blog I also have problems with my memory(short term) and hearing. Very often I also feel mentally drained after a couple of hours work. Somehow I need a lot of energy to go through the day and this makes it rather difficult for me living a "normal" live. Tasks that people do almost automatically are draining me mentally.
I tested my hearing last month and this was perfect, but as far back as I can remember I experienced problems when there is a lot of background noise (e.g. conversations going on around me). Then it's very difficult to follow or join a conversation.
The result of the problems for me was/is a social drawback. This happened slowly over the years. At the moment I am trying to turn things around but it's still very difficult and mentally exhausting. Somehow I managed to go through my study and became an engineer, but I had to put a lot of time and energy into it.
People often think I made it and have it all, but in fact I don't. I find it difficult dealing with this.
This year I broke up with my girlfriend mainly because of my problems. She didn't understand me and found me very distant a lot of times. She was not the first one saying that to me.
I can't say for sure that my problems are related to the illness, but it seems plausible considering all the info there is on the internet. None of my family members suffers from these problems. Because I was only 5 years old makes it rather difficult for me or others to compare the way I was before and after the illness. According to my mother my behavior had changed somehow but I don't know in what way.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to post my story. I am glad to know I'm not alone in this.

hi i am andy im 46 yr old male and at 16 months old i contracted meningitis the gp i saw at 1st told my mum it was flu but my mum didnt believe it so took me to hospital i went into coma in a&e and stayed that way for 3 weeks doctors told her i would be brain dead deff and blind if i ever came out of coma however i fully recovered though at 1st my mum said was like having a 18 month old new born. by time i was 3 though i was like any normal 3 yr old , only real symptom i can say i had in my early years was i can never remember names so have always had problems in new situations were there are lots of people i dont know more recently over last 10 yrs i have suffered with cramps ,headaches, short and long term memory loss and trust me there is nothing worse than your brother or m8 saying can you remember when we did such and such and you cant even remember being there let alone what went on, also have noticed hearing problems over the years not so much depth of sound but more unable to hear when lots of people talking or deep background noise ie traffic, other problems i have started to notice recently are pains all over, and numbness in my feet and hands which i am about to see a doctor about, have always wondered if, anything i have gone through in life or if i would start to get problems from having meningitis, however i am 46 at 14 months old i was as gd as dead i have had an amazing life some bad bits some gd bits some bits i cant remember am getting ready to get married for the 3rd time to an amazing woman have 5 kids and so far 2 grand kids so i say u either let it beat you or u live with it and ride it like a wave enjoying those moments that make life worth living bring it on. andy

i caught meningococcal septicemia in 1997 and had my 6th bithday in hospital because of it:p (im now 20)

after the initial after effects of difficulty walking again,pain in the legs etc i started to have behavioural difficulty's at school leading to multiple expulsions and a fair few different schools i was also later diagnosed with dyspraxia (poor coordination and fine motor skills) apart from the mental issues however i have also always suffered very badly with headaches and migraines on a very regular basis i also have tinnitus and quite poor hearing my eyesight is also not fantastic

i have got quite shaky hands as well i can never seem to hold them totally steady.

these are about all the after affects i seem to have hope i was of some help

Hi I am 32 years old. I had viral meningitis 4 weeks ago. The first paramedic said it was migraine and said I would be wasting resources if I went to A &E so they went. Half hour later my symptoms got ten times worst and the out of hours GP sent for an ambulance for me. Luckily they took me seriously.
Arrived in the A&E department and I was being treated for migraine again. My mum arrived later and told the dr's I was confused and they started to take me more seriously. Luckily my care improved and I was automatically treated for for meningitis until they knew the strain. luckily it was the enterovirus. I had never felt so ill my life.
The after affects are taking its toll on me I have awful head aches,fatigue, stiff painful neck,muscle pains and I'm very irritable.
I hope by writing this it would help other people and ensure others aren't ignored by health professionals when they complain of headaches and other associated symptoms. If it had been bacterial / septicaemia my symptoms could of got a lot worse quickly.
My symptoms were identical to bacterial but no rash, which isn't always present anyway.

I´m a 36 years old Icelandic female. I had meningitis when I was around 2 years old. I was in the hospital for some time. I just cant remember at the moment how long my hospital stay was but I think it was around 2 or 3 months. The doctors didn´t think I would make it but I pooled through. I too had to learn how to walk again. I always knew that my hearing lose was from the meningitis but I was not willing to listen to my mom when she would kindly tell me that some of my struggles might be from the meningitis. It was only 2 years ago that I looked up the long term after effects. This was one of my sadist days in my life when I realized that I had to except that my short term memory lose, short temper, sadness, feeling out of place, poor concentration, not understanding new words that do not have anything to do with an experience of mine or a feeling, and hearing lose was all from having had meningitis.. I remember more of things that touch on feeling then things that don´t concern me too much. After realizing my condition, I´m amazed that I graduated as a Graphic Designer with Highest Achievement Awards and Honors. I´m revisiting my symptoms after getting a divorce in Dec. and I´m finally talking to a doctor and asking for help for the depression that I have had since I can remember. I need to go find a job now that I´m divorced, but I´m finding it hard to believe that I will be able to achieve what will be expected of me. I Thank you all for posting your stories here. It makes me feel not so alone anymore. God bless
Sigrún

Hi im Leanne
I am so glad i found this site , had meningis & septiciemia at the age of 4 after being in a coma and and several months in hospital was given a clean bill of health , often wonder if my parents were told about the long term side effects as they have always treated me different .
i am 38 now and strugle with memory loss , deppresion , back problems and wont even start with relashionships !! fiiends and family say im in a world of my own we call it leanne land ! i laugh it off but have allways wondered is it my personality or the meningitis ? any help will b greatfully recieved
leanne x

My name is Devlin and I'm 21 years old. I was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia when I was 6 years old. The doctors said I would have side effects but until reading these posts I never realized things that were happening to me, like my memory loss, trouble learning, trouble hearing, and balance problems could be from the meningitis. Lately I've been having horrible chest problems and it feels like someone is sitting on my chest and my throat is closing, and I never knew why. I haven't been to a doctor since I had my daughter over a year ago, and I'm thinking I should probably see one soon.

Thank you all for your stories and experiences, and my heart goes out to all of you.

After having meningitis at 13, my parents say i changed, I was different, depressed. I was a self mutilator, and suicidal. never did i put it together that it could have been caused by the meningitis. Since then, I have been through the air force, because the memory and learning issues had issued a drive inside me to strive to be normal and do well in spite of them. I still struggle with possible seizures and bouts of severe depression, I am now 33 years old, but am just now putting this all together in my mind, could it all be related?

Hello everybody my name is Jeremy and my story is very similar to Catrina K. I was also 3mo's old when I was diagnosed with Spinal Viral Meningitis and am now 29 years old. My parents have told me that I was extemely lethargic and had a fever of 104' when I was rushed to the hospital. The doctors believed I would die or be left in a vegitative state. They wanted to place a shunt in my skull to relieve pressure on my brain but my parents refused and placed thier faith in God and I survived.
The after effects of my bout with the illness are short term memory difficulties, constant fatigue, nearsightness(and floaters in my vision) depression and recently it has become increasingly difficult for me to have a normal conversation because I often forget what Id like to say or fumble for words. I am thankful for finding this site and believe we should all be advocates and let others know about the long term results of meningitis.

When I was 10 years old, I was dignosed with Bacterial Meningitis. I only started to get treatment about a week later. Now, I am almost 16 years old and seem to be getting some other symptoms. I get headaches more often, dizziness, stiffness in my back and neck, and other common symptoms. Does this mean that I might actually get sick again?

Hi

I have a immunity issue and have contrcated meningcocal meningitis 4 times in y life time, and have been lucky not to have died, however this recent episode has left me
with significant hearign loss , Balance issues , Memory problems, Head aches, and also muscular pains in legs..
I fully sympathise with any one who is left with health issues stemming from meningitis .

I am 50 this year and Im so disappointed to have another attack at this age , which has now effected my quality of life detromentaly .
If you want to chat about this condition feel comfortable to email me direct
keith.liz.hayes@ntlworld.com

Hey Lisa... And Catrina
I had a similar experience when I was two. I have permanent amnesia and cannot remember my life before the age of 10, and most of my life is hazy. I have balance issues, lowered immunities to bacterial infection such as bronchitis and sinusitis, PCOS (though that's genetic), and various other things.
I recently encountered a new thing though that might help you in your balance issues.
I had a sudden attack of dizziness that would not go away. It progressed to constant vertigo. Soon it settled on dizziness and vertigo with pain at loud or low pitched noises. I tell you all of this because they believe it is related to my meningitis. I have Superior Canal Dehiscence. The upper portion of the tubing in my ear was weakened when young, causing imbalance. A recent encounter with a virus finally broke though.
You should have the doctors do a high res CT to see if this might be part of your problem. I know it can't make everything better, but SCD is fixable with surgery.
Ironic that my name is Lisa too... The doctors waited for me to die. They told my mother when I servived that I was def and blind and would probably be a vegetable... I didn't walk again until I was 4... My mother's favorite saying is "Everything is ok in the end. If it's not ok, it's not the end." I'm not a vegetable. Nor am I def or blind. I count myself lucky.
If you guys ever wanna chat, let me know. Misery love company, right? :)
Lisa H.

My name is Catrina and I was diagnosed with Viral Spinal Meningitis at the age of 3 months of age. I'm now going to turn 28 and I also feel my health is getting worse. I can remember parts of my life but its like my memory is slipping away more and more. Its been a struggle my whole life but I have beat the odds out of the park. Having a normal life is not going to happen so I have begun to deal with that part. I have no mobility on my left side of my body and its not operable at all. So I totally get how you all feel maybe we should have a chat session I finally dont feel alone or out numbered anymore

My sister Star is currently hospitalized due to having contracted Bacterial Meningitis in November 2010 the day after Thanksgiving and two days before her 43rd birthday. She is paralyzed completely from the neck down and unable to speak due to the respirator trach in her neck. She also contracted AcinetoBacter while in the Surgical Critical Care Unit it is the Iraqi SUPERBUG which is antibiotic resistant. There is a chance that Star can be rehabilitated to the opoint she coulod possibly talk and with any hope get some function back in her body for she has shown signs of some feeling in her feet and arms. NO rehabilitation facility seems to want to take her due to the acinetobacter and a bed sore that she got the first month in the hospital. Our family hass exhausted all funds and we are in desperate need of help with monetary funding and gas cards to get me back to Tennessee so my Mother who is disabled and 70 years old can go home. It has been five weeks since I was last in and the doctors say my sister responds better for me than for anyone, they recommended my mother get me back home as asoon as possible for they are saying now if she cannot fight off this Acinetobacter it will eventually kill her. We are in a war against time at this point. I have set up a website for any donations anyone can possible give to help my family and help me to get home. Donations can be made to http://www.starellismeningnitishopefund.bbnow.org or made directly to any Wachovia Bank to The Star ELlis Meningitis Hope Fund acct.9735. This is our only hope now for I do not know where else to turn. I am fighting to bring forth Awareness throughout the Sate of Tennessee so that people will know of this SILENT KILLER and working to get petitions signed to pass STAR'S LAW which will make it mandatory for all children 2-18 to be vaccinated against this deadly disease. I will not stop but will continue to educate and bring about awareness to anyone who will listen. This disease knows no prejudice and can strike at any time. Had we known of the vaccination mu beautiful sister might not be lying helpless in a hospital bed unable to see the sunrise or the snowfall or to call her daughter to say I love you. I cannot let what has happened to my sister and to others be in vain. I will work side by side with this Foundation and any others to help in any way possible. May God Bless You ALL!
Love Letitia Carter

I had a lumbar fusion in March 2009, which gave me meningitis. 10 days in hospital, sent home with a pic line of antibiotics to my heart and a nurse visiting everyday to change the antibiotics. I was never given any information on long-term affects of meningitis. Currently, I am experiencing nauseating headaches, numbness in my left hand, blurred vision, neck pain, sensitivity to light and mood swings. I was unaware this this could be "recurring" until I found this page. My doctors don't tell me anything. (Appearantly my symptoms don't really exist). Has anyone found ways to relieve these problems?

I had meningitis my last year of college. One evening I felt extremely sick and knew that it was not anything common like the flu or cold - I experienced nausea, stiff neck, fever and it all came upon me very quickly. This was easily the most terrible feeling I’ve ever had in my life. Luckily, my father was there to rush me to the hospital.

The doctor’s performed a spinal tap on me and diagnosed me with meningitis. I was quickly loaded up with all sorts of combating drugs. The next two weeks in the hospital would be the most painful ordeal of my life. Wishing death and calling out for my mother was a regular occurrence. I could not drink or eat anything without vomiting and was fed intravenously through needles that constantly fell out and had to be put back in.

Then one day, I felt better. Boy did I want to go home. They performed some tests and then in a day or two, I experienced an extreme euphoria – I was released. This euphoria lasted for about a week and then I dropped into depression for a couple of weeks. I became less detail oriented as I used to be. I have had family said I was different after the sickness. I came in and out of depression. I had less focus, I read a little slower. I still experience these things and it’s been 8 years…. I’m unsure whether this is just me or the effects of meningitis. Anyone experience this?

hi
i had viral meningitus when i was only 1 and a half , the doctor told my parents i was going to die and there wasent anything to stop it , but one doctor had helped me pull through , i know seem to be up and down in moods alot and feel out of place alot

I had meningitis after a few days old. My family was told that I was going to die. It was something at the time that no one really knew much about. I had the seizures, and loss of feeling of my body. I went through physical therapy until I was a year old. Once I started trying to talk they noticed that I had problems pronouncing easy words, and so then I was put throught speech therapy through school until I got to Junior high. In Junior high was placed into special education courses. Its kind of weird I can remember rythems like music but not when someone talks to me. My mom can tell me good news and within a matter of minutes i can get destracted and forget what the news was. Its tough dealing with the memory issues, espicially me because I don't tell people unless I feel like they need to know. Some people look at me like i'm crazy when they tell me something and then turn around and are asking them again. It makes me very frustrated pretty much all the time and also stressed. I have come to learn that writing things down is pretty much the only thing I can do to remember it helps alot, especially making list to do.

I had spinal menningitis when I was in the army
in 1963. I am now 66 and have numerous medical problems can some tell me if it is possible to have delayed after effectsbfrom this

hi my son had meningitis setiicaemia when he was two years old he is now thirteen and he has got quit a lot of problems now, he is partly brian damaged. loss of balance, loss off co ordenation in his hands, bad behaver problems , he has lost the tip of his finger and also the tip of his big toe and the tip of anouther toe,,

Hello everyone.. sorry to hear about all these after effects from the meningitis.
I'm here to tell my story. I am to the point where I can't sleep afraid and confused. I feel like there is no way out and like there is no one that can help me. My adopted son is 5 years old. He has had meningitis at the age of 3 because of a head injury he had from his birth mothers abuse towards him. Ever since that he has been struggling with meningitis. He has had meningitis 4 times now. He gets it every other month. I'm scared of losing him. Because of the head trauma he has gone completely deaf from one ear and barely hears from the other, he also has speach problems and thyroids. I adopted him because I knew he needed love and care. I didn't think it be this hard but I feel as if its all worth it because I have him near me and he is getting the love and attention he needs. Traveling to his appointments haas ben hard since my car is a 1996 and it only goes so far. I've gone far with the car and now its smelling like burn, I guess the car is breaking down . But my lord is an amazing god and he will help me thrue this. I was wondering if anyone had a similar problem.. no doctor wants to see him or do surgery if needed. They all brush me off and say no. Its like I'm in a deep dark hole with no way out. I pray every night that a doc around helps me. Its sooooo scary to think I could lose him because of this meningitis.. still no one can help me. My eyes burn from crying sooo much. I fell in love with my child its amazing.. it almost feels like I gave birth to him... if anyone knows any info that can be useful for me pleaseeeee email it to me at cloud9designz @ymail.com thanks you and god bless..

Hi i to had bacterial menigitis in the summer of 2009. me and my husband just got married and i got a sore throat one morning and then it just got worse my husband left and went to work and i stayed home and went and got in the bath about 5 mins being in there i couldnt feel my legs so my husband had to come home and get me out the tub. by that night i had done got so bad i couldnt respond to my husband when he tried to talk to me. then about 10 that night my body started burning he then realized i had red sores all over me including in my eyes! he then took me to the hospital i couldnt walk so he had to bring me in. they transfered me to another hospital where they said i had that and that i wasnt going to make it to call my family in. i was in icu for 3 weeks and in the hospital a total of 2 months. i couldnt walk they had to teach me how to walk again and i was a dance teacher and the dr said i will never dance again.... i proved him wrong! he also told me not to get pregnant atleast within a year... my year came up when i was 7 months pregnant and we now have a healthy baby girl! i do get headaches everyday and i cant get rid of them. ive been to the doctor and theres nothing they can give me. but i will say i am blessed to make it out alive and not have many problems and now i have my baby girl!

Hi Lisa, I wonder if your problems stem from having had menigitis as a baby when the brain is still developing and the inflammation has resulted in long term problems. I feel emotional reading everyone's experiences as I had pneumococcal meningitis 7 years ago at the age of 45. My wife found me wandering around the house in the morning and called our GP who arrived within 20 mins and I was rushed into hospital immediately. I was ventilated on ICU for 5 days, in hospital for 2 weeks and off work for 18 months. My recovery was slow and I was fatigued and couldn't concentrate for 6 months. Slowly I have recovered and after 4 years I think I was fully better, my problem latterly was tiredness. My wife still feels that I am slightIy different in some way. I do feel so lucky and my heart goes out to those of you have ongoing problems.

I had meningitis back in 2003 and was very lcuky to survive. I returned home after a month of treatment and had serious speech issues, memory problems, depression, and pain. It took me a year to return to a somewhat normal work environment but actually it has never quite returned to normal. Over the last 7 years I have had a cyclical pattern where the symptoms return for a period of time with a vengence and then they subside. The depression and memory are hte worst. It can last for up to 15 days. Now I am 48 and I find that the symptoms are becoming so much worse. I cant remember my granddaughters name at times, I cant remember a conversation from the previous day. I need to be constantly revisiting details so that I can remember project elements. The one good thing is that I can watch a movie several times and most often it is just like the first time. My favorite thing to do is watch television because there is no stress, no expectation, nothing to remember. This disease stole my memories from children's childhood - my x-wife stole the photos (which were my only memories of these years) when she left. Now the disease is stealing memories from my today. I hope you all find peace in this and I hope your futures will bring you relief and joy. It is a difficult season of life with the lasting impact of meningitis. But there is always hope.

I had meningitis 5 years ago and pheuma i am now left with very bad memory loss, no track of time, very bad fataige, muscle ache, poor concentration, clumsyness, and short tempered. I am 40 years of age but have felt like 100 years of age, had been living on red bull up to 8 cans a day, now just been prescribed tablets from doctor to give me energy, thankfully they are working. I have had to change my lifestyle to accomadate this illness. only now am i recieving the after care, Good luck to all who have had this illness.

Hi everyone, its very interesting to hear about the after effects of meningitis.
I'm 38 now but when I was 18 months old I had meningitis 4 times over a 6 month period. They then found out I had a dermoid cyst and tube of sinus pus on my spine which they think was causing it, I had 2 spinal ops to remove them.
In 1997 (23 years after the meningitis) I got an inner ear problem which has left me with dizziness, tinnitus (no probs with hearing), vertigo attacks and off balance. Doctors cant say whether its to do with the meningitis but I think it is. I vaguely remember having very occasional dizzy spells in the past but not like what i'm having now. I've always been shy, nervous, and a worrier so from what i've read this could be to do with the meningitis. Also my mum said the doctors didnt know what I would be like later in life because of all the injections, antibiotics and lumbar punctures I had, and they said I would most likely have problems when i'm older.
Julie

Hi my name is Matthew and I got bacterial meningitis when I was seventeen. My doctor at the time passed it off as flu and three days later when I was in a coma my father was told by the doctors at the hospital that I was unlikely to pull through. Fortunately I did and I am grateful. The problem I have is that before meningitis I was quite a confident and regular teenager but since meningitis I just don't feel right anymore. I find it hard to communicate and be around people which never happened before. I'm 31 soon so I've been living with this for quite a while as I don't want to make a fuss but lately I've been feeling pretty bad about it. Amazingly I've got a wonderful fiancé, two amazing kids and a job that I've had for almost ten years. My fiancé is pretty much the only person I can talk to and I've kept my job because I work on my own and don't have to talk to anyone. I'm just worried what will happen in the future. I can't help but think I'm like this due to meningitis and just wondered if anyone had experienced this?

I had bacterial M (Pneum) in 2004 when I was 55. Arrived unconscious and fitting in A&E but fortunately pulled through. Was in hospital for 16 days and off work for 3 months . Had numerous typical after effects, tinnitus, memory loss , lack of concentration, giddiness, temper swings etc. After about a year I was O.K. apart from learning problems and a lower temper threshold.
From reading the comments in the forum I think I was pretty lucky and can only say to others that hopefully their condition will improve eventually. Absolutely horrible disease.

May I say my thoughts go out to you all with the struggles and suffering that encompasse you all every day.
I want to mention, I have never had meningitis but my son had meningitis/septicimia when he was 8. Three doctors missed this in 1990 but by some miracle, he got over it when a consultant on duty suddenly realised the disease and he was given flucoxiciline interveinusly. He picked up remarkabley well and is now 27. I am greatful evry day for that recovery.
My question to anyone who is enlightened is, is dyslexia a know outcome from those who have been afflicted with meningitis?
Jonathan appears to have problems which I suspect are attributable to the disease.
Many thanks and may 2011 see better outcomes for you all.
Vivien

I had Bacterial Meningitis in April 2007. It started with ear infection and by the end of the next day I was babbling and losing my motor skills. I had a history of migraines so I assumed it was that. My husband got me to the hospital and I went into a coma for a week. I was 42 at the time. I had the infection eat through my blood brain barrier and infect my brain and spine. I barely survived but it would not leave my spine for three months. I am deaf in my right ear and now I am experiencing extra sensitivity. Too cold, too hot, too loud, cannot hear, smells bad, etc. I hurt all over. I thought it was Fibromyalgia. The only time I get relief from the pain is from Vicodin or Percocet. But my doctor says she cannot prescribe these to me anymore. I have a bulging disc from the five lumbar punctures I received. Yesterday my doctor said she was sending me to a pain managemnt doctor because these pains that I have do not relate to the meningitis. The only catch is I was NEVER sick like this before meninigitis. I would have a headache or flu, but now I am exhausted from living with pain all the time.

I contracted bacterial meningitis group b back in May 2010. I live on my own and presumed it was another migraine and ignored the symptoms for 36 Hours. I finally gave up coping with the pain and called NHS Direct. they were amazing and diagnosed me straight away, called an ambulance and got me to the hospital really quick. within 1 hour i became unresponsive and remember nothing from the Saturday to the Wednesday. aparently at 1 point the doctors didnt think i would of survived for longer than 6 hours if I had stayed at home any longer. I stayed in hospital for 10days. I now have tinnitus, blackened skin around my eyes ( looks like ive been in a fight and come out with 2 black eyes!), my short term memory is useless, i can stop mid sentance and not remember what im talking about, my brain doesnt seem to recognise the feeling of thirst, hunger, needing the loo and needing to sleep, my hearing is super sensitive, my temper has changed dramatically and i have a pain in my back from where the lumbar puncture was done. unfortunately there doesnt seem to be much medical help for after effects. if it wasnt for the meningitis research foundation i really wouldnt know what to do. the doctors just think im being a pain and dont help much at all. the answers i always get it see what happens with time.

My thoughts and prayers goes out to all whose lives have been affected by this terrible illness.
I am 34 year old living in Delhi, India. My father (age 64) has been battling this disease since April 2010. At first he often complained of headache and fever, but we thought it to be just a normal flu so didn't pay much attention at first. But when visits to GP did not work out successfully, he was admitted in August to a bigger hospital and CT scan showed "pituitary mass" and we were told surgery was the only way out!! But that changed our lives. He was diagnosed with pyogenic meningitis as a result of surgical complication.
And even now after 3 surgeries and approx 70 days in hospital, he still hasn't been able to recover. He was in a coma/deep sleep like state for few weeks and now due to be operated again in next few days.
From a fully active person, he has turned into this person who has balance problems, constant headache, worsening senses, urine incontinence, disorientation at times, and constant relapses. Worse of all the doctors have not been able to identify what bacteria is causing all this, so whatever happens they simply blame the meningitis for his condition. Our lives have changed in a way we never ever imagined even in our worst possible dreams and the one that just does not want to go away.
Isn't there any way to identify the bacteria causing this if all the culture reports are negative??

Lisa, I am sorry to hear you are still having problems. I am on the other end of this as I am still trying to get better after pneumo strep bacterial meningitis in April 2010. I have almost all of the same symptoms. Almost a continuous crushing headache, bladder/ kidney infection once or twice a month, balance problems, my ear is hypersensitive, dizziness, light & sound sensitivity, my heart rate & BP has sky rocketed since then, I also have the twitches & spasms, It feels like I have had a stroke as I can't remember anything & it takes me awhile to process things and I am weak on my right side.

Good luck to you & I do believe the symptoms could be from the meningitis as I am only 7 months out & having the same type of symptoms.

My mother-in-law had bacterial meningitis about 5 years ago and has all the symptoms of Alzheimers. She has lost the ability to remember things short term, but can remember everything from 50 years ago. She has lost the ability to do everyday personal care, I have believed that it is not ALZ but a long term result from the meningitis for the last 2 years. Our Dr. say they don't know. With all the different tests and scans she has had, I think they should be able to tell if her brain is deteriorating from meningitis. This is where we turned for answers. Please help!!

My name is Melissa and i was diagnoed with spinal meningitis when i was 14 years old. I was in intensive care for 2 weeks, and in the hospital for over a month. I am now 28 years old and have been suffering with balance problems (dizziness), fullness in the ears, chest discomfort and headaches for the past year now. I never even thought to relate my problems to my past meninigitis experience, but after reading all of your posts, i am starting to think that this could be a possibility. I have seen the doctor numerous times but no resolution...maybe i should mention this possibility. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and my prayers are with you all!

i cant believe it people exactly like myself,I too was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis 5 yrs ago and was in a coma for wks on end,and not expected to pull through, but here i am fighting every day with exhaustion,awful headaches numbness in my arms i never thought for one moment i would feel so awful after all this time, i was really active, swimming running marathons with my brothers, teaching aerobics, today i am only a shadow of that person and am so frustrated, there should be something for us unforgotten sufferers has we did not ask for this dreadful thing,to all out there who have had some sort of meningitis i pray to god to get you back on track and to wayne god be with you and your little girl at this sad time.

Like many, herein, I was a child (of ten), when I was stricken. However, unlike most, I was deafened (I say that because I'm fairly sure I am the only Deaf person, who can write this).
In 1998, I saw Dr. Scott, at a local restaurant and, when he realized that half-dead 10-year old was a, fully-alive 37 year old man, his chin dropped.

Over the years, I've had shunts placed from my brain to my heart and, later to my abdomen, the latter shunts were placed, so as to relieve pressure on my brain and, when my second shunt broke, after 27 1/2 years, I nearly lapsed into a third coma.

In 2007, I joined the Meningitis Angels and began telling my family and friends about the vaccine that could save their kids' lives.
I was shocked that so many of them took a flippant attitude and my own sister accused me of trying to start a panic.

a family member had menengitis in 1980 he was three years old at the time. he does have seizures that are controlled with meds. he seems to have memory problems.,, bladder problems and he did have to learn all functions again. considering all this he is doing well but I was wondering if a person could have a personality disorder after menengitis as he grows into adulthood

thank you

My husband had viral menengitis in november 2007. The ER docs said he had the flu. We insisted that it was not . Finally the dx him with menengitis. atmitted him to to hosp. Thank God the doctor started him on the meds that he did or he wouldn't be here today. He then in june 2009 was dx with mollerats menengitis. He has severe pain most of the time. very poor memory, balance issues,headaches, fataige, muscle aches, joint pain, hands don't work right, pain meds don't work anymore. we were at md today and they suggested to get on line. please help he is only 35 and feels like he is 85.

My father had Bacterial Meningitis 4 years ago that he contracted as a result of an ear infection. He survived and initially could not walk or feed himself, but after 2 months in rehabilitation he appeared fullly recovered and went home to live independently again. At the time he was 83 years old and very sharp mentally. About 2 years later, he began to develop balance problems and some other issues with using his hands to do tedious work. These symptoms worsened, and he experienced several falls, which resulted in hospitalization and eventually living in a long term care setting. He now has lost ability to feed himself, walk, has lost bladder control, and has difficulty talking. Meanwhle, the doctors have diagnosed Alzheimers disease. However, my father's memory is still good. He has a longstanding hearing impairment which existed before the meninigits, and basically he is about 80% deaf. My problem is that the nurses and physicians all assume he has Alzheimers, but I disagree. I believe all of his symptoms relate to the Meningitis, and right now, he is terribly frustrated due to losing much of his physical capacity, but being still sharp cognitively. Has anyone heard of this type of effect of Meningitis? or heard of it being confused with Alzheimers? Barbara

I too contracted Pneumococcal meningitis at the end of 2008, saved by the good fortune that my beloved wife ignored me telling her I was fine, just a migraine, I work within the NHS and should have known better. I have spent a year getting back to work, that was my goal, but things are not as before my balance can on certain days be very bad, along with exacerbated hearing with certain things such as plastic bags / crisp packets newspapers being crumpled and my memory can be very short term, stopping during a sentence then forgetting what I was talking about, I think I am hiding it but a good friend was honest with me the other day and told me what a bad day I must be having as he noticed things were not right. I have made appointments now through my GP to follow up these symptoms which I believe to be getting worse. I am more than grateful to be one of the lucky ones and now realise that each day no matter how difficult is a blessing, my children give me everything I could ask for and I thank who ever for sparing me and for giving me this extra time with them.
I like no doubt others wish things would return to as before and my heart goes out to you Lisa and wish you all the best, and to Wayne and your daughter, Misty would I am sure wish be proud that you could say the things you said with such meaning. Be strong, it does not get easier with time but you do learn how to cope.

My name is Wayne. Im 29 years old. My daughter is 5. We just lost her mom to meningitis on Valentines day. Her name was Misty Strong. She was 28 years old. She was the greatest woman i ever knew and its so hard to raise our daughter without her. We miss her so much