July last year I was rushed to hospital
with suspected viral meningitis, I had all
the usual symptoms- headache, nausea,
temperature and I remained in hospital for
a couple of weeks however my recolections
are few due to being so unwell. I was
discharged from hospital three weeks later
even though I still felt so ill.
The exact diagnosis of what I had was not
confirmed because the lumbar puncture that
they performed was 'unconclusive' and was
later found to be lost. A repeat lumbar
puncture performed some months later was
clear.
Since being discharged then I have had
this constant pressure in my head, which
eventually becomes painfull and my vision
has become disjointed often taking a while
to focus. I often feel dizzy and in a
world of my own. When the symtoms become
more severe I tend to become very anxious
and panicstricken.
I have seen a few neurologists and had
every test under the sun, CT,MRI, Blood
etc. I have been prescribed amytriptaline
which helps to calm me down when the
symtoms become more severe but I do not
feel that it is doing anything to combat
the underlying cause of the pressure. The
neurologist is now treating me as a
migraine sufferer, but after being out of
hospital for over a year I do not feel any
better.
Do these symptoms seem to consistent with
migraine or post viral meningitis- if so
can anyone suggest any ways to help
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dawnczar
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 14
Same Thing Posted: 11-07-07 14:01pm
Hello, I have been suffering from almost
the same symptoms, same tests, although my
spinal tap is set for tomorrow. My
symptoms started at the end of September
with Flu-like symptoms. From then on I
have constant pressure(as though someone
is squeezing the left side and top of my
head) Often my left ear feels full and my
left cheek and jaw go numb. I felt as
though I were "falling" all of the time.
My Neuro put me on Meclozine for vertigo.
It does help, however I still feel like
crap. I am normally non stop with a ton of
energy and it is not there. I try, I have
a 4 year old son and a full time job, it
is very frustrating. My doctor seems to
think it is definately something viral
that takes forever to get out of my
system. I am going to get that spinal
tomorrow and they are sending it to
California to test it for Lymes although
it did not show up in my lab work. I just
want an answer!
|
stevesm
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 3
Posted: 11-07-07 14:51pm
Sorry to hear about your symptoms and can
only sympathize with what you are going
through.
On a positive note I have, touch wood,
being feeling a little better and the
specialists, after a bit of prompting,
have maybe found what caused the
suffering.
It does look like I had viral meningitis
and the side effects of the virus appear
to have affected my balance. Apparently
there are two parts of hearing, firstly
the hearing bit and secondly the balance
side. Your symptoms appear similar to
mine and may be also to do with hearing or
balance. Ask you GP/ specialist to see an
ENT specialist and get them to do a
hearing and balance test. It was only
down to me perservering that they sent me
to the ENT specialist and surprisingly the
first thing he said to me was that he
should get far more referral for post
menengitis patients then he does.
Good luck
|
dawnczar
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 14
Reply to Stevesm Posted: 11-07-07 15:46pm
I do have an appt for my balance test on
the 16th. (my neuro ordered it) the ENT
believe it or not, did not pick up on it.
So far I am just going through a bunch of
testing. Fortunately the MRI, CAT scan and
blood work are all ok. I am really banking
on the spinal tap to pin point exactly
what type of virus I have. Unfortunately,
if it is a virus, time is the only cure.
How long did it take for you to start
feeling well again? Did they give you a
special diet or meds? Take care, thanks...
|
stevesm
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 3
Posted: 11-08-07 06:03am
Its now been a year and a half since I was
in hospital. I am now (just this last
couple of weeks) begining to feel more
like myself.
Its difficult to know what has made me
feel better, the medication (amytriptline
35mg) or the timeous factor. Or maybe
myself just trying to do the simple things
I did before, like go out on a Friday
night for a few drinks with my mates.
All you can do is be patient and its
probably the most difficult thing in the
world especially when you dont really know
whats wrong with you. The more you stress
and strain about what is wrong with you
the longer it will take to get out of your
system.
|
ovni
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 5
Posted: 01-09-08 14:27pm
I was very surprised to read about the
symptoms described in this thread, as they
sound remarkably similar to what I have
been experiencing for the past six months.
I originally went to urgent care in July
2007 with awful flu-like symptoms:
headache, nausea, slight fever, trembling,
etc. I was diagnosed with a sinus
infection and prescribed antibiotics. I
felt fine for nearly two weeks before the
symptoms returned. Over the next several
months the symptoms came and went, and I
saw numerous doctors. All my tests (blood
work, MRI's, CAT scans) came back fine.
I've had numerous theories as to what's
wrong with me (fungal infection,
depression, meningitis, etc), but no
doctor could diagnose me with confidence.
I think I've been slowly improving, but I
still find myself experiencing slight
headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, a
sense of being "distant" from the world,
and gloomy thoughts. When I asked my
neuroligist again yesterday if he had any
theories, he suggested it could be viral
meningitis, but doubted it. After reading
some of these forums, however, I am
becoming more confident that this is what
I had. The personal description of
symptoms are much more revealing than what
you find in books or diagnostic sites,
which usually seem to describe viral
meningitis as a one to two week ordeal.
I hope both of you are doing better.
-M
|
dawnczar
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 14
Posted: 01-09-08 17:05pm
|
dawnczar
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 14
Diagnosis Posted: 01-09-08 17:08pm
I am sorry that you are feeling like this!
I finally went to see an
otognorologist(better than an ent) He did
the Epley Manuever on me and diagnosed me
with Benign peroxymal postional vertigo. I
am currently on Meclozine, but over all I
still feel the same. I may have to go to a
vestibular specialist. You may want to
check out a web site called "The dizzy
lounge" Hang in there! Dawn
|
ovni
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 5
Posted: 01-10-08 21:42pm
Thanks for the additional info. Best of
luck to you.
--M
|
Gobucks1234
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 3
Sick With Black Mold Toxicity!!! Posted: 02-10-08 10:01am
I also have had very similar experiences
to what people are experiencing here.
Headache, vision problems, neck stiffness,
chest pain like I had a broken rib, etc.
The doctors ran 4 blood work ups, a urine
analysis, cat scan of my head and an MRI
of my head. The only thing they found was
a sinus infection. I am fairly certain
that what I have been experiencing is
Black Mold Toxicity (sick building
syndrome). It produces all the symptoms of
meningitis but tests come back normal. I
will know for sure by the end of this
week. I hope this helps!!!
|
dawnczar
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 14
Wow Posted: 02-10-08 14:53pm
What tests do they give you for mold? Wow!
I work for a place that was rebuilt twice
in the last 8 years because of 2
nor-easters that left the town in 6+feet
of water! I wonder if that had anything to
do with my symptoms! I would really be
interested to hear what happens with
you,please let me know! Thanks,Dawn
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ovni
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 5
Very interesting Posted: 02-11-08 14:17pm
I have also suspected mold as the cause of
my problems. Shortly after my symptoms
began, I realized that there were patches
of mold in my carpet, and my condition was
very similar to accounts I read online of
mold-related illness. Despite the strong
circumstantial evidence, however, I have
found no proof that this is related. I
had some of the mold analyzed, only to
learn that it is relatively harmless
(cladosporium cladosporioides). After
some persistence, I also got my doctor to
run a black mold blood test, which came
back negative. It was also questionable
whether I felt better when away from my
apartment.
I still think mold is a definite
possibility, but it's hard to know for
sure. Unfortunately the topic is quite
controversial, and many doctors refuse to
recognize mold as a valid concern.
