Memory loss after meningitis

I was 20 when i was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. When I first became ill i thought it was the Flu.. for two days i had the worst headache anyone could imagine and a high fever. By day three my mom found me under my bed in the fetal position covered in vomit. I was non responsive. I was in a coma for a week. The doctors told my family that i was most likely not going to make it. After being int he hospital for a month and having to learn how to walk again...here i am.. The scariest part is that once i awoke from my coma i could not even remember the faces of family and friends that were visiting me. Now i am 39 and my memory is shot to hell.. people think i fake it but they dont understand what i go thru on a daily basis. My worst fear is that one day i wont remember my children or who i am...

I had meningitis when i was 16 months old. I am now 44. I have severe enough hearing loss in my left ear to need a hearing aid as well as less severe hearing loss in my right ear. My hearing loss started in my thirties. My memory is terrible. I do not seem to have retained many memories that other have. Some periods in my life more so than others but still significant memory loss. I am finding that now alot of times i go to say one thing but wind up saying something completely different. But sounding close. I am a borderline insomniac and suffer headaches. Not all of them from grinding my teeth. Lol. I do seem to get angry rather easily and have been called cold on occasion. My health is not to bad. Nothing serious besides the meningitis. That and a condition called vasovagal symcope. To put it in lay,ans terms, a pre fainter. Dizziness and a whole lot of. Rap that goes along with it but not life threatening or anything close. It is good to know others are experiencing these same symptoms and i am not kust losing it.

I have a friend who is in the hosiptal now for three weeks she had e-coli but has not recover the way she needs too; they do not know why she has loss most of her memory and gets names mixed up and will call you somone else.She has not been able to walk feed herself of even set up without help . She is 78 and i am very worry about her. What could this be no one or doctors know what is going on. I have read some about E-coli Meningitis and i wonder if this could be what is going on.Thanks for any help you can give me so i can tell the doctor's to try.

I was diagnosed with Bacterial Meningitis early this year. I am relieved to come by this site knowing im definetly not alone. I recovered with long term n short term memory loss, clumsiness, severe head aches, tiredness and some joint pains. I was hospitalized for a little over two weeks, and after that i was in and out. I was put into induced coma and had my spinal tap. I woke up not remembering the faces in my room, it took me a minute to realize who they were. Although till this day i still have no memory of being hospitalized. I went on for a few months being in denial and that my memory n everything i recovered with was normal, until it took a full effect on my job and personal life. I am an executive cordinator for a cosmetic company, worked for them for about seven years, i use to love my job and love being at work... but with my memory taking over it was hard for me to function. I can barely remember my employees name, im often in meetings n teaching seminars and finding myself in really akward moments. I can barely hold conversations. It all led up to frustration and how i was treating others around me. It takes something or someone to help jog my memory, i often have flash backs or i guess u can say deja vu. I wake up n forget that i even have a memory problem n just go about my day. And when i do remember, i would flood myself with notes, or constantly on my phone putting things down when i can. It still is hard for me to get use to things. I would wake up n read some of the things i write or talk to my friends about stuff and have no idea it happen. Places events conversations the whole nine yard. Its very difficult because friends n family would assume im being dis honest. Id forget how to get to my friends house after being there a million times, forgetting which subway to take home, how to get to work sometimes. I find it worst when i am extremely tired that my memory is worst. I find myself not wanting to fall asleep sometimes because i was afraid of waking up n not remembering nothing at all. I am 26 weeks pregnant, n still employed for the same company. Although i am still struggling, i have great supporters. I try n write to myself everynight... its alot to get use to. And definetly challenging.

II had spinal meningitis at age 2 my mother said I WAS IN A COMA and when I came out of the coma I couldn' walk or talk( I was before I was got sick) At 4 years I still weren't walking.. Now I am 83 years old and walking and talking I always had a speech defect and poor balane, found out several years ago thatI have one leg shortewthan the other. My memory iwass't too good when younger..but I wrote two families genealogies..

I have been struggling with my daughter tonight as she seems not to have grasped any of the phonetics over the past 3 years at school. I went on line to see if I could find something re. learning difficulties which could account for this.

WOW..she barely survived meningicoccal septicaemia when she was 6 years old...I was told that there would be no lasting symptoms by my GP. I was just so happy that we had not lost her at the time, I did not seek further advice and support. I am sooooo cross that my GP is ignorant of the after affects of her condition.

By coincidence i too have had viral meningitis caused by herpes virus 4 times. The first time I was unable to see for 6 months and was hospitalised for over a month. Again I was given no support and basically was sacked from my then role as I could not perform effectively when I returned to work. I thought I had lost my marbles as I was never able to focus and concentrate effectively again.

I cannot thank this site enough, as it allows me to now visit my GP tomorrow and seek support for my daughter.

Why are the medical professionals ignorant to this disease?

Wow, I am so thankful to have found this website. I am now 36 and had meningitis when I was 9. I don't really remember my childhood at all prior to having it it. And as time goes on, I find that I just don't remember things in my past like others do. It really bothers me and always had, I just didn't realize others experienced this as well. I'm just glad to hear I'm not the only one...

I was diagnosed with viral meningitis at the age of 9, after experiencing a seizure. At one point the left side of my body was completely paralyzed for approximately a month. I am now 34 years of age. I have been struggling with both long and short term memory loss. I have beat myself most of my life - telling myself that I didn't remember things because I "simply didn't care to". This would include remembering my own father's birth date. Although I'm sad that there are so many of us evidently experiencing these incredibly grave after-effects, it is very comforting to see that there are others out there, and that what I'm experiencing is not my fault or choice. I am a Mgr. at a very large financial institution involved in complex software QA testing. I struggle to retain important information constantly. I have to keep lots of notes and visual aids around my office to keep me from feeling completely frustrated and hopeless. My memory issues have greatly contributed to the level of anxiety I feel from day to day. Wish there was something I could do to change things. Finding you all and this place has already helped me.

I collapsed at my desk back in April 2010 with what they think?? was Bacterial Meningitis and Encephalitis. Fortunately i work in the hospital where i was cared for and have been told by the doctors that if i had been anywhere else i probably would have died.

I spent 3 weeks in hospital and it took me 6 months to get back to work full time. I'm still finding it very difficult to concentrate at work and my memory is very poor these days. The tihing i find most difficult is finding the words to say when speaking to people, it has effected my confidence massively and i feel like everyone most think i'm stupid as i often get the words out in the wrong order or begin words with the wrong letters.

The illness and subsequent problems have also had a huge effect on my personal life as i now suffer a shorter temper and this has led to my wife leaving me recently taking my daughter with her.

But i still consider myself very lucky to be here today and from others posts i can see that many of you have suffered more severe, longer effects than myself! Hopefully i will be able to run in next years London Marathon for Meningitis.org and raise money to investigate this terrible illness!

I was diagnosed with viral meningitis at 10 days old. I struggled with memory problems (especially names!) through elementary and high school. I use to have boyfriends tell me over and over again about our first kiss and how we even met. I did realize there was one major positive about memory loss though, I never held a grudge. I was always the happiest person around cause I forgot all the bad stuff that people did. An MD told me that any memory problems I had due to the meningitis was permanent. Once I hit college everything changed though. All the sudden school became so easy, I was remembering everything SO much easier. It took me 18 years but my brain somehow created new pathways to work properly. So any of you who was told it's permanent, don't give up. The brain can do amazing things.

I contacted spinal meningitis in 1977, I was in 7 or 8th grade. Was unconscious for 3 days, woke up strapped to a bed due to hallucinations and uncontrolled movements. My mouth was a complete sore as any of us who have had this horrible disease knows. Lucky for me a military doctor had just diagnosed a case overseas and he knew immediately I was in trouble, did the spinal tap on site, no meds, mom said I was totally out of it with my eyes rolling back in my head. I lost most all my memory from childhood before and struggle with memories thereafter more than most. People always wonder why a person at 15 would have no memory of their past but thats my life and yes, I also never realized it until later in life. My dad always said I was never the same person.

I contacted spinal meningitis in 1977, I was in 7 or 8th grade. Was unconscious for 3 days, woke up strapped to a bed due to hallucinations and uncontrolled movements. My mouth was a complete sore as any of us who have had this horrible disease knows. Lucky for me a military doctor had just diagnosed a case overseas and he knew immediately I was in trouble, did the spinal tap on site, no meds, mom said I was totally out of it with my eyes rolling back in my head. I lost most all my memory from childhood before and struggle with memories thereafter more than most. People always wonder why a person at 15 would have no memory of their past but thats my life and yes, I also never realized it until later in life. My dad always said I was never the same person.

Ek is so dankbaar om hier te lees dat mense met "meningitus" tog wel gesond geword het. My sister is 49 en is tans nog in highcare. sy het op Vrydag 12 Augusus 2011 siek begin voel en gekla oor haar nek wat styf voel en kopsere. Saterdag oggend drie uur in die oggend het haar man wakker geword van 'n gil en dit was my sussie se eerste fit ( wat sy nog nooit gekry het nie) Hy het die paramedisie ontbied en hulle het haar gestabiliseer. Die middag het hy haar na haar GP geneem wat voorgestel het sy moet gaan vir 'n MRI. Op die stadium wou my sister nie gaan nie want sy werk vir 'n spesialis Internis en het goedgedink om vir hom te wag. Sondag 13 Augustus 2011 het haar toestand vererger en het sy deurmekaar begin praat en het 'n hoe koors gehad. Ek het haar man versoek om haar dadelik hospitaal toe te neem. By ongevalle het ons vir die dokter aan dies al haar simptome vertal, hoe koors , stywe nek, kopseer agter in die nek en disorientasie. Hulle het bloed getrek en later vir ons gese dat haar bloed baie sleg lyk. 'n drup is opgesit en hulle het gese hulle gaan 'n internis kontak. Die internis het nie die Sondag opgedaag nie. Maandag 14 Augustus is sy in 'n gewone saa , sonder medikasie aangesien sy( my suster) die drip uittrek omdat sy nie weet wat sy doen nie. Sy het met tye baie deurmekaar gepraat en dan herken sy ons en dan weer nie. Sy het koorsig voorgekom en ons het met die saal suster gaan praat en se ons dring aan dat die internis kom kyk want daar is iets fout met my susuter. Hulle het gedink sy is so deurmekaar en doen die snaakse dinge as gewoonte. Dinsdag oggend 15 Augustus 2011 het sy 'n groot fit weer gekry terwyl sy rongeloop het in die gange en nie kon slaap nie. Daar is 'n paar toetse op haar gedoen en daar is voorgestel sy moet ICU toe gaan. Sy het self ICU toe geloop . Die aand toe ons gaan kuier was sy baie meer deurmekaar en het baie sleg gelyk.Woensdag 14 Augustus 2011 het 'n neuroloog voorgestel hulle doen 'n lumberpuch op haar en haar siekte het 'n naam gekry.. Meningitus. Twee fits het weer gevolg na die lumberpunch. My suster se toestand het baie agteruit gegaan. 'n CT scan , weer MRI en meer bloedtoetse het gevolg, sy was in 'n koma en op 'n asemhalings masjien Donderdag, Vrydag en Saterdag. Saterdag oggend het sy wakker geword, nog baie deurmekaar, kon nie praat nie en het ons glad nie geken nie. Haar bloedtoetse het egter verbetering van die virus getoon.Daar is vasgestel sy het meningitis met die Herpes tipe 1 virus het en haar imuun stelsel is baie swak. Saterdagoggen het sy weer 'n klein fit gekry, Saterdag namiddag het sy bietjie verbeter, Sondag kon sy in 'n stoel sit. Maandag 21 Augustus 2011 die oggend is die asemhalings masjien afgehaal. Dinsdag tot Donderdag 25 Augustus 2011 kon ons die liggaamlike verbetering sien maar sy kon nie praat nie.Vrydag 26 Augustus 2011 koop ek vir haar 'n journal en vra al die besoekers om vir haar iets positief in te skryf. Ek gee die boek vir haar en vra om vir my te skryf. sy skryf mar ek kan niks uitmaak nie. Ek skryf toe twee woorde en sy erken drie letters uit die woorde. Sy skryf toe self die woord "cell" en ek vra of sy my nommer wil he, ek lees en sy skryf, alhoewel haar brein soms vashaak bv. as jy 3 see skryf sy 33.( drie .. drie) Ons was oorstelp van vreugde. Ek het vir haar 'n tydskrif gekoop en gevra sy moet vir my lees. Sy spreek sommige woorde soos bv. is as die engelse is uit. sommige woorde sukkel sy. Vandag 28 Augustus 2011 toe ons by die hospitaal kom is sy van ICU na HIGHCARE toe geskyf en my suster het weer baie deurmekaar voorgekom. Ek het weer die boek gevat en vir haar gese sy moet vir my skryf. Ek skryf vir haar ons name bv. Maria dan skryf sy onderaand my naam weer en langs my naam soek sy my cel nommer, alhoewel sy dit soms verkeers skryf tel sy en besef daar moet tien syfers in die cel nommer wees. Prys die Here vir al die vordering. Ek wil graat weet wat kan ons doen om haar brein te stimuleer en haar te help met haar spraak. Kan ons aangaan met wat ons doen met die journal en is daar hoop dat sy sal regkom?

I am so glad that I came uppon this site and to read all the messages. It gives me great hope.. My sister is currently in hospital with the Herper type1 viral meningitis and also have memory and speech loss. She felt ill on Vryday 1

Hello, I had meningitis and encephalitis in 1987 and then menigitis in 92 and then again last month, July 2011. Each time it was viral and each time I spent a week in the hospital. Today, finding these posts...this is the first time it even crossed my mind my crappy memory might be from this.(I'm 42) It's really upsetting sometimes when I can't remember things. I'm on Facebook and have hurt many people who I went to high school with cause I just...I got nothing. I've come to realize I have huge gaps in my memories. It makes me sad. I care for people in late stage Dementia and/or Alzhiemer's for a living so you can imaging how my own memory loss worries me. I'm so thankful to have run accross this page. Thank you all and be well.

I had meningitis in late 2009. I faced numerous seizures and months in the hospital which of it I do not remember. I was released spring 2010 to my family. From what they told me I was at times very emotional and out of it. It wasn't until my summer of 2010 when my memory had started to register again. My doctor asked me what I have been doing because I should not be as I am. He told me I should still be under hospital care ten years plus and out of it. I told him ever since August 14, 2010 my memory has been coming back to me. August 14 is my birthday and I received everyone's gifts, their prayers. Since then I've been reading my bible devotional, going to church and bible study. I am still effected by what happened to me, but I've learned to

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your
own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he
will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

God bless

I had menengitis a couple of months ago and started noticing memory loss a few weeks ago, along with the pain and clumbsiness that others describe. I'm going to the dr. this week and I will update this with any new information.

I just found website two or three days ago its nice to know what I'am not the only one having the problems like memory ,clumsy headaches forgetfulness i blame it on my spinal stenosis i never thought of my spinal meingitis being the reason i had spinal meingitis as a baby i all most dont make it iam glad i found this site reading your real life stories i don't feel alone thank you for listen

When i was 20 i was diagnosed with viral meningitis and stayed in hospital for 5 days. My lumbar puncture pain lasted about 18months and i often found it difficult to kneel and bend. I have now started to realise my memory is getting a lot worse and i am now starting to forget simple things. The names of people i have worked for, for years. My friends surnames and often names of food that i have eaten everyday all my life. I can tell its getting worse i often get mixed up when speaking and ill try again to get it out and i still wont be able to put together a simple sentance. If i mention it to anyone i feel they dont really seem to care and im so glad i found this group so i know im not the only one feeling like this

Hi. In March 2007 my mother got bacterial meningitis. In August 2008, I got viral meningitis. My mother has several other medical conditions, but it appears she has recovered from this okay.

For me, I still suffer from headaches (nothing as severe as when I had the virus...but if I don't take Exedrine Migraine when it starts, I get nauseous and it's very difficult to get it to calm down.

Also, along with others, I have some bad memory issues. I was told that whatever improvement I got from the condition would happen within the year after. Whatever didn't improve in that first year would be life-long.

My memory is still a major issue for me, along with the headaches and some mild confusion. I also have some joint pain from it.

Has anyone taken anything conventional or holistic to help with this?

So glad to have stumbled onto this site. I was feeling so alone and expect no understanding from others as I realized they just don't get it.

i have just got out of hospital i was told they thought i had viral menrngitis my long term memory is gone the mri and tests all came back normal but i cant remember anything before getting sick i am glad i found this it is hard to explain to people how i feel

I've had 3 diagnosed bouts of viral meningitis over a 7 year period, the first being when I was 5 months pregnant with my second child and the last about 4 years ago. I say about 4 years ago because I don't remember exactly. Each time I was admitted to hospital for around a week. After each time i noticed abnormalities in my memory. The first time, standing at a supermarket counter, completely forgetting how to sign my signature (I'd been married 8 years) and when I tried, I signed in my maiden name (which was totally different). From that day forward, I had to change my signature to mirror my maiden name style as I couldn't even get the flow of my married signature. So crazy I've never told anyone, not my husband, family or friends. Other things include not remembering the events of my second son's birth. Only when discussing it I pick up from my husband and mum what actually happened that day and snippets come back to me. I have found over the years I have become quite the actor during conversations pretending to know what others are talking about when it comes to events I should remember. I also find that I misplace things and can't remember for the life of me where I put it. Although I manage to function quite normally working part time as a payroll officer, I do struggle some days with this and have always known, contrary to what the doctors have said, that my memory loss had something to do with meningitis. It is such a relief to know I am not alone.

Hi, In 2005, got really sick with flu like symptoms, high fever, dehydrated, stiff neck, and horrible headaches. could not drive myself to doctor, my mom took me. The doctor sent me to the hospital to be admitted for dehydration and a spinal tap to check for meninitis and encephalitis. I was in the hospital for a week, and the tests never showed up to be meningitis or encephalitis. Doctor said he still thought, I had a viral that would not show up thru lab results. Finally went home with stiff neck and headache not near like they were. Stayed home another week, then went back to work and could not remember simple things and I had been a dental assistant for over 20 years. After my dentist would tell me I would say thats right, and remembered. Went back to my family doctor then he referred me to a specialist, I had already had a CT scan done in the hospital to check for a tumor, nothing showed up. The specialist sent me for an MRI and it showed nothing, treated me for migrianes. He said possibe lyme disease from a tick bite but to know for sure alot of expensive blood tests. Quit my jobs, cause at the time had 2, plus 3 children and a husband that farm. I don't remember alot from before either, I think back on school days, really don't remember a whole lot. I think back on my children don't remember alot of stuff, my husband gets mad and thinks I just choose not to remember. Anyway I have been recently having I guess migraine headaches, I get nausea, cannot stand noise or light. The pain is behind my right eye socket, my teeth will hurt upper and lower and the right side, and my head will be pulsating. I have all kinds of migriane meds. and they usually don't help. I also when I had my second child in 1997, I had a spinal block, and had to have a blood patch done because I lost all my spinal fluid, to this day I still have pain in my spine from all those shots. Do you think all these symtoms could be related? I am starting to have lots of headaches again, don't know where to turn never found out before what I truly had.

Hi all, I am 37 and when I was 2 I had viral meningitis, I was in hospital 3 weeks and had three lumba punches*... For the last 20 years I have had a lot of cognitive issues i.e behaviour, communication, understanding, memorie the list goes on... I have also had a lot of minor health probelms i.e anemia and joint pain.. Recently I visited the dr whilst having an attack of fatigue, which i suffer with on regular occasions which is affecting my marriage and my job...... Tests were done and they found that I had high blood pressure. I was sweaty and clammy, breathless.... Realy felt awful.. I am being checked for probelms with my adrenal gland... I wonder if the probelms I have had throughout my life is related to the meningitis. I have got to have a mri scan soon and hope that they will find an issue because at least this will answer the questions I have had for many years.. I also forgot to say I have suufered with depression on and off for most of my adult life... Im not quite sure why I wrote all this on here i think i am at a point where if anyone can answer my probelms then im willing to tell.... I hope all on here have a happy nice life and im hopeing i will too :-) lisa

I wish to thank all those who are working so hard to research this dreadful disease in order to find a solution in the Meningitis Research Centre. I also share the same sentiments to those who suffered this disease and parents who have children who have had this disease's experience and offer my greatest sympathy to those relatives with people who did not make it up to this day due to the meningitis disease. My son suffered monochocal meningitis in July 2007 although he was vaccinated against it in September 2006 which puzzled doctors. My son was in coma for 7 days by then he was 2 years old, he could not talk, walk or eat and was in intensive care unit hospitalised for 2 weeks under high dependance care later transferred to isolation room. He had to learn to walk as he was referred to a physiotherapist whom I am grateful to have helped him to regain his strength. He just started vomiting and high temperatures, was rushed to hospital and we waited for 4 hours before he was attended to, I am glad that one of the doctors suggested for a lumbar punch, head scan also temperatures that reflected to be 39%c made him think this was none other than meningitis, as the doctors rushed results it was detected the following day and my son was straight away put on drugs to fight it, Its a miracle that he survived and I thank God through Doctors and Nurses who performed an amazing and excellent work in battling this disease for my son to be here today. I fully understand what parents went through with children who were hospitalised with this disease and the ones who suffered this disease and its afer effects. Although my son fully recovered he has problem at school as he is now 5 years old in year 1, slow learning, problems with his legs he is always complaining they are aching we have consulted doctors who are still to find the solution, he can be hyper or very quiet and complain with stomach pains apart from this he is a perfect child although if he had not suffered this he could be a very intelligent child at school with his performance rated high but above all I thank the almighty God for him to be with us and each day I see God when I set my eyes on him and love him to bits.

I fell ill with Bacterial Meningitis in February 2010, being rushed to hospital and put into an induced coma. This saved my life, of course.
I have now been in recovery for more than a year. Residual side-effects for me include:

* Severe short- to medium-term memory problems.
* Severe loss of sight in the right eye.
* Tiredness and severe problems with concentration.

Medics tell me my recovery is ahead of the curve, which is nice. I have, however, had to change my life post-Meningitis, significantly.

I am husband to a wonderful wife, father to a remarkable five-year-old son. My ability to serve them as I once could is greatly diminished at this time. I am clawing back my abilities with the aid of sheer belligerence. I cannot suggest anything more than that to anyone in a similar situation; but that is all it takes (and a stubborn sense of self-belief).

My blindness (right eye) means that my driving license has been revoked and, after several attempts to return to full-time working, I have still to succeed in fulfilling a role as I would have easily before Meningitis.

I am self-employed and love my work. So, aside from all the other problems, I most of all want to work again as I did before. I am getting there though and can only say to others like me:

Never, ever stop trying; even when you are reduced to tears of abject frustration.

You can make it back, but you have to keep moving and believe that it's worth the effort (which, of course, it is).

Wishing everyone of you the very best,

Karl Littardi

No way, a reason for my poor menory. I just came across a Childs Heath Cener baby check up book. Weight and Height notes from when I was 22mos monday april 8 1957 swollen glads, sore in mouth and ear infection (Bicillian). tuesday spots on legs from shoe tops up, some on butt checks, arms sollen. Thuresday, vomiting, cough, bloody discharge from nose, Friday bumps on feet Monday the 15th arms swollen.
elex of paradenziopatio adrendelin
Punpura spelling might be off hard to read such small writting. My younger brother was born on Monday the 15th so they may have been to busy with him to see the trouble I had with my menory. School was tought, Spelling
I still have a have trouble (like that last sentance) So do I belong here?

I'm both happy and sad I found this site. Sad because of what everyone is going through but happy to know that I'm not just paranoid. I'm 43 now. I was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with bacterial spinal meningitis when I was 10 (in fact, I was rushed to the hospital in the middle of my 10th birthday party). Over the years, I've lost long term memory but recently I've had many other memory issues that are getting worse. Rhymes and melodies I use during storytime (I'm a childrens' librarian) will sometimes escape me even though I've been practicing and performing them for a few years. I've tried Ginkgo Biloba and increasing Omega-3 foods and so far nothing. I hope something can be done soon.

I am 34 years old and had meningitis in Aug of 2010 I thought I was the only one going through these issues. I am sorry to heard that so many others are having to deal with this too, but at the same time relieved that it's not just me!!! Every time I go to my doctor nothing ever comes back "abnormal" my MRI's look normal and even looked normal when I was in the hospital, go figure on that one. I'm just frustrated because no one understands, my family, my work, no body. Just glad i'm not ALONE.

Oh my gosh, I'm so glad to have stumbled on this, just to know I'm not alone. I suffered from Meningitis in 2004. I still struggle with short term memory loss, migraines and other cognitive functions. Stress and barometric pressure make it worse. Is there ANY help? As I get older it sure isn't getting any better!!

i had viral meningitis and encephalitis in march 2009, i collapsed in my local chemist after buy painkillers for my headaches, i went numb on my right side and couldn't speak, ended up in hospital for 3 mths have loads of diff meds and spinal taps, i went partial blind in both eyes, but lucky enough for it to right it self and i now have to wear glasses, i was a yes away from saying i needed to have brain surgery for a tap in my head , i was lucky to be on meds that help it and didn't need surgery,, today im still having head aches, very bad some times, nothing i take helps it, ive been back to my docs today and he's referring me back to the hospital for tests, i have terrible memory loss i don't remember being hospital for 7 wks, i have trouble remembering passwords, conversations, films i've watch plus some of my life before i had it. its so getting me down and frustrating, i am tired all the time, my eyes hurt, feel like crap all the time. i hope they can sort me out.

i had meningitis in1997 and stayed in hospital for a week,after that it's hard to remember anything,got headaches like hell,have trouble with my tummy,cant even eat right.its good to know i'm not alone,it's hard to pretend that there is no problem.i want to study but its hard.at least i know i'm not alone.

I was diagnosed with spinal meningitis and encephalitis in 1976. I was 12 years old. I was hospitalized for 5 months. I became paralyzed and had to learn how to walk all over again. I have no feeling of temperature from waist down since. (I can't tell the difference of the pain - if it's ice cold or raging hot - it just hurts) If I dip my foot in a pool or a bath I can't tell if its cold or just right to get into. I have 30 percent hearing in my left ear. My memory before the age of 12 is very limited. I have suffered from short term memory since and have difficulty in retaining information. I have to write so much down if I want to remember it. I never grew after (only 4'10) and my voice never developed. My voice sounds like a child. To this day I still never tipped the scale over 100 lbs. I was told I had a third disease and that is what made me paralyzed but it was unknown. The back of my neck hurts if it is touched. Before I was 12 my mom always said I was her sunshine girl. (She had six girls) When I came out I was a different person. . . . . . . .

I myself have had meningitus about 12 years ago when i was about 19 years old, and till this day i can't remember a lot of my high school days and i have such a terrible memory that i am affraid, I almost feel crazy. My husband felt that since i could not remember a lot of my past i must be not wanting to tell him things but i truly could not remember to save my life, it actually takes something or someone to jog my memory for me to put things together that had happened in my life before i got sick. NOW i can't remember simple conversation. I feel crazy.

im so glad ive found this site !! 2 years ago aged 42 i had bacterial menengitis ,i was in isolation for 2 weeks it was the worst time of my life !! ive had trouble my memory and headaches ever since !!!!

I had viral meningitis ten years ago. I was in hopsital for ten days and experienced headaches for months afterwards and I still now in periods of stress and tiredness experience very similar headaches. When I saw my consultant after leaving hospital for my follow up appointment I mentioned to him about my memory problems and was told "you're not the only one it happens to us all, I have trouble remembering things too" so basically my concerns were dismissed. I did not think any more about it but the memory problems continued and the last couple of years it has become worse. Only in the last couple of months have I discovered that many more people who have had meningitis have this problem.My memory used to be fantastic but now when I try and think of things I have forgotten it's really painful and very frustrating. It's also hard to get people to believe you. Even my partner. Just to talk to others in the same situation will help.

@ LaQuetta Walker. I had viral meningitis 9 years ago (aged 34) and have memory problems too, they have improved a bit over the years but can get quite bad when I'm tired. I took Omega 3 fish oil supplements which I think helped as it was noticeable if I ran out and didn't take any for several days.
I also understand your feelings of frustration about not being believed - you can't prove it and it's not a visible thing.
I get annoyed about people dismissing VM as everything I see about it says 'full recovery within a few weeks' which in my experience is not true, it may be for some people but I think it depends on the severity of the initial illness.
Hope everyone that's commented learns to cope with the after effects of this terrible disease. 9 years on and I'm a lot better and leading a fairly full life with only occasional relapses.

My youngest son, now 27, had HIB Menigitis as a young baby. Thankfully he recovered. However, as he progressed through primary school, the gap in attainment between him and his peers grew. He had problems with short term memory,especially. Could not remember simple things like times tables, simple rules for Maths, instructions etc. Writing was a chore and a problem for him.
he knew which letters to use but often in the wrong order. Fortunately, as a primary school teacher myself, I was able to identify that he had some special educational needs. The problem was trying to get the authorities to regognise his needs!! It took me almost 3 years to obtain extra support for him in school and I would encourage any parent to push and keep pushing until a child's needs are recognise and supported. Get back up reports from any specialists that you can and keep trying. It worked eventually for me and my son.
He left secondary school with 7 GCSE's [which I never dreamed he would pass a few years before]. He went to college and gained a great Child Care qualification. Now he is seriously thinking of going on to become a teacher. I'm very proud of him and his achievements.
He was left with relatively minor problems and succeeded in overcoming most of them. He is still forgetful and probably always will be but he's a great guy.
I thank God he's here and once again I thank MRF for the support they gave me all those years ago.

I just posted a comment but I wanted to add that I am 33 years old and was 31 when I had meningitis. I also have problems with clumsiness and being off balance when walking. I have been having problems with extreme joint pain but I put it off as lack of exercise. However, even with exercise I am aching more often than not. I don't want to continue to live like this. I just want people to believe me.

I had meningitis when I was 7 mths old. My parents tell me I was practically dead. I was yellow, very weak, and didn't respond much. Miraculously I recovered after a month. My mom has told me she seen some change in my habits after. I am almost 24 now and I feel like some things that happen to me now are related to this. I use to get sick a lot and still somewhat do. I'm ALWAYS forgetting things. I have really bad knees with no reason other than this one for it. I wish I knew if meningitis was the real cause. But I'm glad to see that I'm not alone on this issue.

I had viral meningitis a few months ago and I am also having memory problems. Came on this site to see others problems and mine are very similar. I am 42 and had a rash and "heavy head" feeling in June and was told by doctor it was sinus infection. After going back to the doctor 3 more times and to the ER once, finally had a seizure when fever got to 103 and was put in the hospital where spinal tap was done. I don't remember about 4 days there. I am like others here, always told I had great memory and now can't remember things. For example, had 3 things on my shopping list, left it at home, took me 15 minutes to rememer what they were. I have never had to make lists before but now I am going to start. I am a medical transcriptionist so have tried to warn my employers there may be some mishaps! Just thankful I am not any worse.

I was diagnosed with meningitis in May 2008. Before I had meningitis I was known for my good memory to help others remember things. I could read something and remember it for years. Now I have a hard time putting my thoughts into words and remembering things. Even simple things I forget and some family and friends think I am being dishonest about what is going on. My fiancee' made the comment, "well this is the first time I've heard of your so called memory loss" and that really hurt my feelings. It is very difficult to live with this especially being the mother of a 7-year-old active son. I am glad to know I am not the only one dealing with this. I was very disheartened when the meningitis foundation did not respond to this question when I was released from the hospital with meningitis in 2008. No one had answers for me or understood what I was going through. I hope we can figure out some solutions to this issue or atleast find some comfort in living with memory loss.

Hi everybody. I am 54 and I had meningitis septicaemia 14 years ago. I am an active University teacher and since then I feel it is difficult to me to remember not only faces and names of students, but sometimes colleages names as well. Even worse, every year I have to refresh my knowledge on the matter I teach because I forget a lot of I knew. It is quite difficult for me to remember a person who has been introduced to me recently, or a situation happened 4 or 5 months ago. It is the same for concentration: I have to do a great effort to be concentrated in a task for more than an hour.
Until now, I thought it was a matter of aging, and nobody has paid attention to my comments about this perception. I can see other people have the same problem.

I had meningitis at around 14 months of age. When I was going to school I only did well in exams if I studied extensively the night before an exam.
I have always (as far as I can remember) had difficulty remembering names. Eg a friend of mine can remember names and details of snippets from anyone who is famous eg movie stars. I cannot remember much of these things no matter how many times I read about them.
I am appalling at taking in directions having always needed to write them down. Thank heavens for the GPS.
Even when I was younger, whenever I learned something new in my job, i would write down what I needed to know in order to carry out what I had been instructed, otherwise I would forget what I was instructed to do.
Nothing is changed, if I were to do such things today I would still need to write the details down.
I am now 66 years of age and worry about my memory.
I have a sister who is going downhill fast with Alzheimer's and I worry whether my memory problems are due to Meningitis as a baby or whether I in fact am heading towards Alzheimers.
I forget almost anythying that I do not write down.
I have great difficulty remembering names.
If I see a movie or read a book - even though I might enjoy the movie or book immensely - I could not then relate what the story was.
Mind you I never have been able to - it is not just a new thing.
When I am cooking, I have to keep reading over and over again the instructions of how to make even the simplest recipe, or I will leave something out of the recipe. I have needed to do this for quite a lot of years.
Is my story consistent with those who had Meningitis as a baby?

Im 45 had bacterial at 14, it was like someone ripped my brain out and it went back with bits missing. I lost a lot of memory but could remember been 2 or even before ! Had severe depression, cupple of suicide attempts. My joint hurt so bad lower leg feet and knee in constant pain. Ive had behaviour promblems since, suffered with intermittent hearing loss and headaches most days since. I have recently been for an MRI (the first one) doctor tried talking me out of it but was keen to offer more drugs for headaches. He said what difference will it make if it shows anything ! Just got a letter today there is a "small abnormality" get to see it next month. To me its like taking your car into a garage because its loosing oil and they talk you out of investigating the problem saying its best to keep topping it up.

i got meningittis at age 26 and meningittis is a fetal desease that will destroy your life becouse your body will never function properly extreame head aches brain pain and joint pain anger and memory loss and even light can bother your eyes causing head aches or eyes pains so eating cold food or drinking a beverage and not being sure if a fly landed on it can mean the difference between life and deaf am a engeener in eletronics and i cant even go to work due to pains and sickness

I am also a survivor of Bacterial Meningitis Age 8 1960 Middletown, NY. I was pronouced dead at one point and recieved last rights, shortly after I revived surprising everyone including the Doctor and Priest. When I awoke I had no memory of people around me or of my past. I had to be introduced to my Mother and other relitives. Still today I have no memory of my early days and as other here have problems finding words during conversations.

I'm sorry for everones problems, but glad to see that others have problems. I was 10 months old when I had bacterial meningitis. The doctor said there was nothing else he could do, it was in gods hands. My dad was in overseas and the red cross got him home because of my condition. I am now 46 years old and have several problems, I tell my doctors about this and I am told that it has nothing to do with my problems now. I can't get them to see that my doctor told my parents that I may have poblems later in life. I don't know where to turn.

Comment by nicola balfour
I to have been told on numerous occassions by my doctor in the last couple of months that meningitis does not have side effects and now reading all these comments made by other people that have had it i now know there is.

Hi I had meningitis septicaemia in October 2009. It was the worst experience of my life and 11 months on I'm still experiencing symptoms my hair is falling out really badly where Ive got bold patches coming up its falling out everywhere Ive even had to have my hair cut short to see if it helps with the growth but nothings changed, i have really bad memory loss a lack of concentration, And suffer really badly with headaches and migraines. May have to go back to the doctors maybe go for more tests MRI,CT scans which i had numerous amounts whilst in hospital. I would also like to add that i have been having some sort of problem when speaking whilst holding a conversation with friends and family i have noticed that i know what im going to say when in a conversation but for some reason sometimes something totally different would come out.

I had meningococcal meningitis when i was 14 i was very ill doctors at the time only gave me two hours to live, my family doctor and my mum safed my life, iam 31 now i suffer from memory loss,struggle to hold a conversation, depression,sore heads,pains in my joints the list of problems go on and on i find it hard to emotionally to connect to others, like keeping a partner, i went to my doctors about the memory loss and they told me that it wasent the meningitis that would be the problem, i was thinking with all the problems i have i was going bad intill i found this sight.

I suffered from meningitis when I was of 10 days. I was hospitalised and was constantly under medical supervision. My case was worst. Doctor Tamhane situated at Thane, Mumbai was giving me treatment. One fine day by Gods grace and by gods miracle I suddenly got completely cured. Even Dr.Tamhane admitted that I got cured just by gods grace. He did not take any credit to himself. Finally, he gave a good surprise to my parents who had lost their hope completely. But still today I do have some amount of memory loss. Due to this I was not at all good at my studies. I used to secure very less percentage. I found difficult to cope with the increasing competition. That was my biggest drawback. But today I am a MBA in the fild of marketing and Human Resource and want to secure a great career in the future. Thank You for allowing to sharing my thoughts.

I was 4 years old when i had neisseria meningitidis, then 4 days later developed herpes zoster pothalmicus, the trama never ended, I also have memory loss, depression, migranes, joint pain, the list goes on and on, im 39 now, 5 years into a new marriage trying to understand myself and why im the way I am. Its hard to hold a job, I get serverly depressed, angry, and qestion so many things as to why this happend. I have been diagnosed ,(cultured) 8 times now with shingles, yep 8 they say you can only get it 2 and thats rare, so tell me they say shingles can casue meningitidis tho it was the other way around for me.

I have had 7 episodes of viral meningitis since 1984 and have encountered memory loss following my recovery. With each episode I have become increasingly aware of the memory difficulties and it manifests itself in a word finding difficulty when talking...at times it's a real struggle to hold a conherant conversation. It's only since coming on to this website that I have discovered that the effects are not particular to me but encountered by others too...though it seems to be those who have suffered bacterial meningitis that are more frequent contributors regarding memory loss. My memory/word finding difficulty does recover over time. Has anyone else experienced a similar effect?

Meningitis & septicaemia, can be life changing. Your comments are heartbreaking to hear. I speak with lots of people about their after-effects & support is available through MRF. Please call freefone 080 8800 3344(UK) or email helpline@meningitis.org. We want to help!

Shirley Gieron
MRF Head of Helpline and Membership

i had bactrerial meningitis at 21 years old before 2 years..i went n a coma for a month.am back in college. but am failing at it.. am severly deppressed.. i've givin up hope...i get lots of sucidal thought.... help please.. am on the edge of killing myself...

My son got viral meningitis at only 3 days old,he was very ill and was in hospital for 4 weeks. he,s now 7 and he now has lots of problems with his memory,and we have been told that he will need to carry a notepad around and put things in a diary when he,s older to jog his memory. He can also be very clumsy and it wasnt until we looked on here that we realised why he has these problems.

My brother contacted Bacterial Meningitis and Septacemia and was in intensive care for a week, in an induced Coma, prior to awaking and thereafter moving into an isolation ward.
His recovery has been nothing short of miraculous, thanks indeed to the Doctors and Nurses who cared for him.
I write this to give hope to those who suffer from getting the disease, or any members of their families, that there is a positive ending.
Unable to talk, Memory loss, eat or walk, use to the wc. All these have now returned and he is back home after a near 3 weeks' hospital stay.

meningitis survivor and septcemia despreratelyneed someonetorelateto.iwas inthe ERfortwo trips by ambulance tohospital. wasfighting throwingupunabletostand urinating defacating on mysely completely disoriented was called drug ADDICT PSYCHOTIC ETC. LOST 48 HOUR OF PRECIOUSTIME. HOSPITAL SENT ME HOME ON BOTH AND TOLD ME NOTHING COULD BE DONE . HELP PKEASE!

I had bacterial meningitis 10 years ago this march. I was in a comma for 6 weeks where I had kidney and liver failure, my heart stopped twice and I lost 4 stone in weight. After coming out off the comma it took me over 2 years to get my full health back to normal. This was down to my immune system being very low. As a result I had glandular fever and tonsillitis on and off for 18 months. At this point I had moved 35 miles away and had a new GP. I struggled running my own business for the next 3 years then folded the company as I couldn’t cope any more. I then worked for 3 different companies. It was only when I worked for some one else that I realised how bad my memory had been affected. I would do a quote for some one and by the time I walked to the front of the house I could have forgotten 90% of what I had talked to the customer about. As well as short term memory problems I have about 8 years of my life I have very little memory of. The 1st two years I lived in London my GP denied that I had ever had meningitis. I went and saw my GP and explained everything I was given some pills and told to come back in 3 weeks. When I looked on the internet to see if the pills had any side affects I found out I had been given anti depressant tablets.
So I went back with my wife and was told that there was no link between my memory problems and meningitis yet my GP has refused to let me have any type of scan.
By accident in 2009 I found the meningitis web site. After contacting them, I was assessed by one of there staff how confirmed that my memory problems are down to meningitis. I had art therapy paid by the meningitis trust. The meningitis trust are the only ones that have helped me until now. I feel that I have been let down the NHS for no after care and feel disgusted by the way I have been treated my GP in London. My old GP “ the one I had when I had meningitis” has told several members of my family that I will always have memory problems but is no longer able to help me as I am not his patient any more.
I changed GP surgery in February this year and now have an appointment with the neurology department with a hospital in London.
Hopefully soon I will have some answers.

It's been 5 years since I had bacterial meningitis, I was hostipalized for almost 2 weeks and had to go back everyday for a month for treatments of anti-biotics, I have no memory at all of my whole time in the hostipal
it took me a couple months to recover back to normal, probably the worst time of my life, I had hard time holding down any food or water and lost a lot of weight, very hard time trying to sleep I had the cold sweats very bad, and had a hard time staying still, I would constantly move my legs unwillingly, and my body would feel like I was having small seizures, I am 24 now, all symptoms went away except I still get very bad headaches and still have some problems with my musules. Is restless leg syndrome real? Cause ever since then my legs feel like I can't stop moving them when I'm trying to stay still, mostly right when I'm trying to sleep! Anyone else have these symptoms?

I had Meningoccocal Septicemia 5 years ago and now suffer with memory loss. I can be in the middle of a conversation and completely forget a word. It's like it has fallen out of my head. As already mentioned by someone else, I too don't remember much of my life before and when I do it is snippets. I get very frustrated with it, but I consider myself also very lucky!

Until I read about others having memory loss, I thought not remembering anything of my whole childhood, and later, was just me. I had meningitis (not sure which) in 1965 when I was 3. I since lost my hearing in one ear (nerve deafness) and have balance problems. Does anyone else have emotional problems and not being able to emotionally connect to others, or finding they start to emotionally disconnect to parents/spouses/children?

memory loss, thank heavens for understanding the reason for it. I had bacterial meningitis 3 years ago at age 33, with 3 small children at home. After surviving the disease, i figured my inablility to put thoughts together and remember simple things was because i was overwhelmed with the kids. Now that my youngest is 4 and becomming more independent, Ive learned that the memory loss and such is directly caused by the disease. I too do not have strong feelings of remberance of my life before, and sadly, I dont remember much of my youngest childs first few years. The best way I deal with this is by being easier on myself and letting everyone around me understand they cant be so demanding of me. When driving and at a light, each time i say 'green is for go, red is for stop'...i don't trust my natural abilities anymore. I no longer work in a stressful environment..the kids, gardening, and working with animals is my life. I just can't manage a fast pace anymore. I do find though that when i go for a jog, it does help the fog and cobwebs in my head:)

i had Bacterial Meningitis 4 years ago,, aged 47. My memory before was excellent, but now short term memory can be very shaky, so have made sure my work colleagues know and I write everything down as much as possible. Also find concentrating diificult, gone are my days of curling up to read for for an afternoon. Also still get days of extreme tiredness, but consider myself very lucky .

I contracted meninniccoal septaceamia almost 3 years ago, aged 54. After 2 weeks on a life support in ITU I spent a further 6 weeks in hospital learning to walk etc. again. I was given a drug called xigris has anyone else? I am now suffereing from breathlessness due to my lung not being able to get enough air in to inflate it has anyone else? I also suffer from hot sweats now again has this happened to anyone? I also have CKD stage 3 now. Life is so different. I was fit and healthy (trekked muntains in Peru for Breakthrough Breast Cancer) now I'm constantly tired.

I have had viral meningitis 4 times (each time more severe) and have suffered lack of concentration, difficulty in retention of information and muddled speech but the doctors have put it down to depression caused by the meningitis. Anti-depressants have helped but not completely. Has this happened to anyone else ?

one of my coworkers and friends got meningitis and shortly after he completely lost his mind. now in a hospital because of his inability to think well we are wondering if anyone else hs heard of this and what happened to him. any help will be appreciated.

Lisa, I noticed you said about a change to your metabolism, after my husband had Meningitis his metabolism changed hugely! Is this a common thing to happen to people after having Meningitis?

Well, for years I thought I was the only one. 17 years since I had bacterial meningitis, and memory loss is still a problem. My life before illness I can only remember snippits of, and my ongoing memory is poor at best. My wife recons it's selective memory. Still, don't have balance issues etc, but may go some way to explain why I keep breaking things.
I find the best way to aid my memory is to write down as much as I need to in a work diary, mostly by putting pen to paper helps to commit stuff to mind, and if I can't remember specifics, I can then look them up.

I too had very severe memory loss from after having meningitus to the point i hardly remembered any of my life before the meningitus occured, only like little flash backs or de jau vu!!!!!
I have constant problems with balance clumsiness and metabilism rates changed massively! I had meningitus 19 years ago and like you said not much investigation went into these type of symptomns back then. I did undergo a few investigations however nothing ever came back!!!!!

A number of our Member families describe difficulty with memory & concentration after meningitis & septicaemia, needing to find best ways of managing the situation eg writing lists, step by step instructions etc. It can be difficult for children starting out with their education as this issue may not be apparant until they start school. Teachers need to be aware if this is the case to enable appropriate support where necessary. Young adults have experienced difficulty with exams and may be offered extra help if they have contracted meningitis & septicaemia as adolescents. Our befriending service may be helpful if you need to talk to someone with a similar experience.