Laurie Ildau's story

I was diagnosed on December 29, 2014 with viral meningitis.

After a headache the likes of which I have never felt before, I went to the ER, where I spent 6 hours on the floor in a ball and vomiting. I was finally admitted, given pain meds and a lumbar puncture, and spent three days in hospital and the next week in bed resting, taking 2400mg of Ibuprofen daily and Tylenol in between.

After-effects

Now, after two weeks, I get tired quickly. I get sweaty if I move too quickly. I’m stiff, but I have been lying down a lot.

What’s bothering me most of all is my head.

I feel very out of it, like I’m drunk, disconnected, head pressure that moves around from temples to lower back of head to crown of head…it’s tough to explain but it’s very frustrating because it’s present more often than not. It’s a foggy, ‘off’ feeling…it can be slight or intense. It definitely gets more intense when I do too much (which really isn’t a lot right now.)

I’m trying to push myself and get back to work (preschool), but it’s tough because I feel really ‘heady’ all the time and the noise of the children is bothering me as well. My eyes are not focusing normally and bother me. I seem to be forgetting things…

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