Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Diagnosed with Viral Meningitis / Still have symptoms 7 weeks later
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Diagnosed with Viral Meningitis / Still have symptoms 7 weeks later
by John_Madison CT, Aug 22, 2006 12:00AM
OK folks, I need your help.
About 7 weeks ago I had fever, bad headaches, sensitivity to light, nausea, etc etc etc.... Was hospitalized for 4 nights.
During my stay, I was given IV antibiotics. (starts with a Z) and Doxycyline. Docs say all Lyme type tests came up negative. MRI was negative.
Also had a spinal tap, which showed some elevated White blood cell counts. (I needed a blood patch because I got a Spinal Headache the next day when standing up)
I also saw a Neurologist who seems to think, so far, that I have viral meningitis and it could take 3 months to get better.
Anyway, after getting better from the original symptoms of the fever, profound headache and profound malaise, I got the shakes, weak-knee symptoms, and what seemed to be profound depression and anxiety.
I still get some headaches, ringing in my ears and other malaise of just not feeling well but do not know what component is caused from the depression and anxiety. I tried Paxil(10mg only) and Buspar for 5 days, but did not feel well after trying them. I do not know if this was from the Meningitis, or just psycho-symatic from taking meds.
I'm at a loss here really. I want to know if its normal to feel poorly from viral meningitis so long after the initial strong onset of symptoms, nearly 7 weeks ago.
Is it normal to get into depression and have anxiety from such a dramatic change in life. I have not been able to get back to "normal" really with work and fun.
I've read some horror stories about things like Paxil which make me very concerned. Should I be?
About 7 weeks ago I had fever, bad headaches, sensitivity to light, nausea, etc etc etc.... Was hospitalized for 4 nights.
During my stay, I was given IV antibiotics. (starts with a Z) and Doxycyline. Docs say all Lyme type tests came up negative. MRI was negative.
Also had a spinal tap, which showed some elevated White blood cell counts. (I needed a blood patch because I got a Spinal Headache the next day when standing up)
I also saw a Neurologist who seems to think, so far, that I have viral meningitis and it could take 3 months to get better.
Anyway, after getting better from the original symptoms of the fever, profound headache and profound malaise, I got the shakes, weak-knee symptoms, and what seemed to be profound depression and anxiety.
I still get some headaches, ringing in my ears and other malaise of just not feeling well but do not know what component is caused from the depression and anxiety. I tried Paxil(10mg only) and Buspar for 5 days, but did not feel well after trying them. I do not know if this was from the Meningitis, or just psycho-symatic from taking meds.
I'm at a loss here really. I want to know if its normal to feel poorly from viral meningitis so long after the initial strong onset of symptoms, nearly 7 weeks ago.
Is it normal to get into depression and have anxiety from such a dramatic change in life. I have not been able to get back to "normal" really with work and fun.
I've read some horror stories about things like Paxil which make me very concerned. Should I be?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Aug 25, 2006 12:00AM
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes. I agree that the symptoms and history you describe sound like viral meningitis (viral infection of the covering of the brain). Viruses can also infect the brain itself (called encephalitis), which generally (but not always) will have lesions on MRI. The recovery from viral meningitis can be prolonged and some people develop a "post-viral syndrome" that is similar to chronic fatique syndrome. The mechanism/cause of this association is not well understood. Depression and anxiety and even cognitive problems are possible after an episode of viral meningitis/encephalitis.
Given your symptoms I would recommend that you get a repeat MRI with contrast at the 3 month point. A small focus of scarring or old/chronic encephalitis may be present. Another possibility is that an area of your brain was damaged from your immune system reaction. I would also recommend an EEG (electroencephalogram or "brain wave test") to ensure that you are not having sub-clinical seizures (often associated with viral meningitis/encephalitis). If the paxil does not work for you, try another drug with a slightly different mechanism, such as effexor, Wellbutrin or Elavil. Your recovery is going to take some time, some complications of this disease can be life long (cognitive problems, chronic fatique syndrome), but most people recover fully in 3-6 months.
I hope this has been helpful.
Given your symptoms I would recommend that you get a repeat MRI with contrast at the 3 month point. A small focus of scarring or old/chronic encephalitis may be present. Another possibility is that an area of your brain was damaged from your immune system reaction. I would also recommend an EEG (electroencephalogram or "brain wave test") to ensure that you are not having sub-clinical seizures (often associated with viral meningitis/encephalitis). If the paxil does not work for you, try another drug with a slightly different mechanism, such as effexor, Wellbutrin or Elavil. Your recovery is going to take some time, some complications of this disease can be life long (cognitive problems, chronic fatique syndrome), but most people recover fully in 3-6 months.
I hope this has been helpful.
I guess I just want to know if its normal to still have a general "sick", crummy feeling, with headaches, ear ringing, some shakes after 7 weeks.
OR, are these problems caused by the Depression and Anxiety that have seemed to come on the heels of my initial very poor health which lasted about 3 weeks.
Thanks,
John
I find it very hard to face each day, and this means sleepless nights too.
Facing months on end of this makes it tough, but knowing there is some light at the end of the tunnel helps a tad.
I'm on day 5 of my Paxil (only 10mg) and I hope this begins to take away some of the depression/anxiety and despair.
John