On the 17th of March all of my symptoms were getting worse, especially the back pain. We went into the ER for the third time. This is when they finally decided to do a lumbar puncture to test for meningitis. My spinal fluid was clear in color meaning that it didn't look like bacterial meningitis. The test came back positive for meningitis and I was emitted to the hospital. My mom and dad flew out to California to stay with me, which was a life saver. I couldn't imagine being there alone.
I was first treated as if I had bacterial meningitis while they ran tests and cultures for about the first four days. I also had a CT scan, ultra sound on my liver and a MRI. All tests came back negative so it was determined that I had viral meningitis and no permanent brain damage.
I was hospitalized for seven days and experienced excruciating head pain and light and sound sensitivity. I was given dilaudid and vicodin to manage the pain. After they released me from the hospital my mom and I stayed at my uncle's for a few days before flying back to Minnesota.
The flight went ok and I was finally home on March 28. Since then, I have had a few follow up appointments and been in the ER once. Although I am better than I was in the hospital, I don't feel like I have improved much. I am still on a high dose of pain medication and experience severe head and spinal pain when it wears off. My most recent blood tests show an elevated level of liver enzymes. My doctors said that this could be from the mono or the medication I am on. Since they have been elevated since I was diagnosed, I am scheduled to see a gastrointestinal specialist next Thursday. I am still bed-ridden much of the time.